But what exactly was the light?

On off, on off. Flashing.

She decided to find out.

Kayleigh made her way through the brush toward the stuttering illumination.

Bright, dark.

Light, shadow.

Chapter 18

KATHRYN DANCE WAS in south Fresno, trying to find a restaurant that Crystal Stanning had recommended.

Her thoughts, though, were on how to handle the explosion when Charles Overby or, more likely, the CBI director in Sacramento told Sheriff Anita Gonzalez that Dance was going to be running the Bobby Prescott homicide.

She actually jumped when her phone buzzed.

Ah, Charles, hope I didn’t disrupt one of your leisurely lunches….

But the number on caller ID was a local one.

“Hello?”

“Kathryn?”

“Yes.”

“It’s Pike Madigan.”

She said nothing.

“Talk for a minute?”

She thought she heard scraping of a spoon. A smack of lips. Was he eating lunch, the phone tucked between shoulder and ear? More ice cream? “Go ahead.”

“What’re you up to?”

She said, “Going for chicken mole at Julio’s.”

“Good choice. Only don’t do the tamales. Lard city.”

A pause on his part now. “I got a call from the head of our Crime Scene Unit, Charlie Shean. Spelled S-H-E-A-N. Not like the actor. Takes some grief for that. Good man.”

She recalled the efficient team at the convention center and at the trailer, on a par with a big-city CSU.

“All the forensics were negative. None of the dust or other trace on the pictures and memorabilia in Edwin’s rental matched what was in Bobby’s trailer. And one of our people ran Edwin’s credit card data? He bought everything we found in his house on eBay. And we got his prints when we booked him. None of the ones at Bobby’s or the convention center match. No footprints, no nothin’. Tire treads for his car, zip. Was a washout.”

“You let him go.”

“Yeah, an hour ago. And released everything we took.”

This was, Dance supposed, the best someone like Madigan could do for a contrition.

But she was wrong.

“I wanted to say I’m sorry.”

And the apology wasn’t over yet.

“You were right, I was wrong. I got outgunned by that fellow. It was like the only reason he came in was to find out information about the investigation.”

“If he’s the perp, then, yes, I think that’s a possibility.”

“This guy’s pretty different from what I’ve been used to. You have a handle on him better than me. If you’re still game would you be willing to help us out? We sure could use you.”

Without hesitation: “I am, yes.”

She’d be sure to call Overby and withdraw her prior request.

“That’s much appreciated.”

Dance thought back to what Stanning had said about Madigan’s concerns. “One thing I wanted to say, Detective. This is your case. I’m a consultant only.”

In other words, the glory and the press conferences are all yours. By the way, I hate them as much as your associate Dennis Harutyun does.

“Well, thank you for that. Now get yourself back here, if you would. Oh, and welcome to the FMCSO, Deputy Dance. Hey, that’s got a nice ring to it, don’tcha think?”