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Once we entered the trees, the ground wasplant material that sent up puffs of peat scent as we passed There was no path to folloere forced to create our own We split up and tras and fallen branches underfoot I heard Sutton’s startled exclah weeds, holdingtoward the shallow end of a pool When I reached him I saw the stump of the fallen oak, which was easily six feet across and hewn to eight inches or so aboveground The tree trunk was hollowed by rot The oakfrom the inside out over a period of tiht of the branches as Mr Holderht

"This is it?" I asked

"I think so I’ht up with thes "Down there"

His focus shifted froaze finally came to rest at a point soed a short distance behind, watching as he reached a sround was bordered by tall evergreens and mature live oak The tree roots had sucked all the nutrients fro bare dirt He ing The bundle on the ground was under that tree" He shook his head "The place still s is so intense It’s like you’re filtering reality through your nose Wonder why that is?"

"Survival Catch the scent of a bear once and you carry the sense memory for life"

Sutton closed his eyes and took in a deep breath

"Are you okay?" I asked

"I’m fine It just seems weird"

I took Sutton with me to the office, where I unlocked the door and flipped on a few lights He slouched in the chair he’d occupied the day before, stretching his legs out in front of him I settled in my swivel chair, picked up the handset, and punched in Cheney’s number at the police department As soon as he picked up I identified ?" he asked

I laid out the sequence of events, starting withwith Sutton’s identification of the area where he’d seen the two guys digging When I was finished, there was a silence while he digested the inforeant I’ll call you back" I wasn’t sure how long we’d have to wait, but it was clear I needed to stay put so Cheney could get back to me, if need be "You want coffee? I can make a pot," I said

"No thanks I’m wired as it is You have a bathroom I could use?"

"Take a left in the hall It’s the only door on your right"

"Thanks"

It was 3:15 and I couldn’t remember if I’d eaten lunch, which probably meant I hadn’t I opened my desk drawers in turn, but there wasn’t so much as a Tic Tac in the way of nourish and went into search-and-seizurewith a lot of nooks and crannies--outside coazines and books; inside pockets, some with zippers, some without; and a pouch on one end for car keys I found two red-and-white-striped pepper, theI could have popped one in my mouth as it was and made it last for days

I heard a toilet flush, and moments later Sutton reappeared

"Want a mint?" I asked

"No, thanks" He resumed his seat and watched me peel the cellophane off the mint He stirred restlessly "So what happens next?"

I laid the e through ainstI said, "No idea I guess it depends on how seriously they’re taking this"

We sat there in silence I picked up a letter opener and tapped the point against the edge ofto be a drummer in case the private eye biz dried up Sutton spent his ti around the office at the bad paint job and the so-called wall-to-wall carpeting that had seen better days I could tell he wasn’t ihon "day-core" Then again, neither was he Given what I’d seen of his place, he was hardly one to offer decorating tips