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Driving hohts He pulled the Mercedes into the garage and waited while the garage door rumbled down and closed with a thunk He retrieved the liquor bag froainst him as he opened the door that led into the kitchen When he set down the bag, the bottles of Maker’s Mark and vodka ranite countertop

Carolyn had left a note he didn’t bother to read She’d be res that needed to be done or couldn’t be overlooked in her absence "Leave the alar so Ella can come in and clean She should be done by noon Just e goes out for pickup" It was always like that, his wife directing events fro in the ordinary sights and smells Carolyn had made an attempt to pick up after the kids in the minutes before they left, but it was still a house where unruly children lived--Fletcher’s cowboy boots on the stairs waiting to be taken up; Linnie’s jacket thrown over the newel post; shoes, doll clothes, coloring books on the floor Carolyn had left her knitting in a heap on the side table near the couch, the sah the living roolooany table and Chippendale chairs she’d inherited from an aunt

He opened the china cabinet and relass that was part of a set of Swarovski crystal he’d given Carolyn for their tenth anniversary He went into the family room and crossed to the wet bar, where he opened the ice maker He used the white plastic scoop to rattle ice into his glass These were all sounds he loved, a prelude to the relief, the cessation of anxiety he kneas co the scene to raphy, he couldn’t have exercised greater care or self-control, teasing hi his anticipation

Glass in hand, he returned to the kitchen, opened the Maker’s Mark, and poured himself a drink By then a delayed reaction had set in The ht hand started to shake so hard, the bottle banged against the rilass on the counter and leaned stiff-ar his head Fear welled up like bile, and for aa conscious effort to throw off his anxiety

He reached for the wall phone and punched in Jon’s number

Jon picked up on his end "Yes"

"It’s me"

A brief, wary silence, and then Jon said, "Well, Walker This is unexpected What can I do for you?"

"You heard what’s going on?"

"What would that be?"

Walker could tell Jon was sorting through papers on his desk, re him that whatever Walker had to say, it was of less interest than the task right in front of hi up the hill off Alita Lane Cops, cadaver dog, evidence van, the works"

The paper rustling stopped "Really When was this?"

"I saw them just now, on al I knew She said they thought a child was buried on the hill They dug up the dog"

"I’m surprised it hasn’t co was bound to surface There was always that risk"

"Yes, but why now? Where’s this shit co from?"