Craig groaned. ‘No way. He’s a harmless old guy. Gets loaded, lays one on whoever’s nearest and gets slammed up till he dries out. How in God’s name did you come up with that one?’

Ernest Becker looked at Craig with something approaching anger. ‘We came up with that one, as you put it, by careful police work. You know, we were working our way through all the Kinchuinicks in Silver since your interesting interview with Hunt, and it came up with something. The man has no alibi for either murder date, and he seems to know a hell of a lot about Joe Reader’s death.’

‘Like?’

‘The organs. We haven’t released that information to anyone, have we?’

‘You’re telling me Wilber knew about the mutilation in detail?’

‘Not in so many words. But I believe the man is psychotic. The transcript of his interview with Sergeant Lenhoff this afternoon makes pretty interesting reading.’

‘I’m losing you here, Staff Sergeant.’

Becker changed his mind and sat down. ‘Look. This is a man who tells Lenhoff that a bird came to him, followed him everywhere, and told him that it would carve him up. That a man’s heart and penis were, and I’m quoting now, the bits that should fuck each other. Seemed to believe this bird was coming to get Stonerider.’

Craig’s eyes widened, mocking, but Becker didn’t catch it. ‘He said that, did he?’

‘He said that.’

‘And he was specific about Joe’s death, you say.’

‘He didn’t actually mention Sergeant Reader or the murder, but the heart and penis connection are pretty convincing, don’t you think?’

‘Curious, yes. No more.’

Becker was already regretting this conversation. His face hardened and his voice dropped half an octave like a father giving a wayward son a row. ‘Well I happen to think it’s a little more than curious, Staff Sergeant. The man is obviously a fruit, and he sounds like a fruit we should have safely in here.’

Craig was silent for a time, leaning back in his chair and rubbing the edge of his desk with both hands. ‘You’re right. We should talk to him some more. But not in custody.’

‘Because?’ It was Becker’s turn to mock with a tone.

‘Because those guys out there with cameras and notebooks are just salivating to see who we’re going to pull in. And if you pull in an Indian they’ll go apeshit. Especially if it’s an innocent Indian.’

‘And you, of course, are so sure he’s innocent.’

‘Pretty much.’

‘Want to enlighten me, McGee?’