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"You disagree?"

"Hell, I don’t know I’ation should have been handled by people who knehat they were doing, not some hick-town cop in a six-man depart equipment out of a boathouse There’s been only one murder committed in Victoria in its entire history One It re blew it That’s what I wrote I was fresh out of JO school and just loaded with idealism, and I wrote that the city of Victoria’s police chief was less than he should be and they damn near fired me for it ‘That’s not the e practice journalis I could use the Herald as a stepping-stone in a long and storied journalism career Now, I’m not so sure"

"Tell me what you can about the case"

Salisbury sat in the chair across the table from me "Why do you want to know?"

"Like I said, it’s part of the story of the Victoria Seven"

"I don’t think so You’re on to so else"

I considered his hypothesis, couldn’t concoct a lie that would refute it in such short notice, so I told hi to find out what happened to Elizabeth Rogers"

"Why?"

"I can’t tell you"

"Then why should I help?"

"There et a call fro"

"I’ll make you a deal"

"Oh, I love deals"

"If I can solve the crime, or at least come up with a better explanation of what happened to Elizabeth than the one Chief Bohlig supplied, I’ll et the exclusive"

"Is that why you’re here? To solve the criet what I came to Victoria for"

"What is that?"

"See, noe’re back to square one again"

"You can’t tellearlier when you said book or screenplay" I hoped the lie would give hi to think about

Salisbury reached a hand across the table

"Done"

I shook his hand, then retrieved my pen and notebook