page62 (1/2)

Stone pretended to exaative interest Two minutes later Chapman returned to hio into the church over there”

“Why?”

“To meet with the lady”

“How did you e that?”

“Let’s just say it was a bit of girl-to-girl signaling that is impervious to male capture and translation”

CHAPTER 67

FIVE MINUTES LATER they were in St John’s Church ad the embroidered kneelers in the “presidential pew” of the house of worship

“Jalanced down at the kneelers “Impressive list of blokes”

Stone replied, “Your country certainly didn’t think that back then Revolutionaries and even terrorists, they were called”

“Well, after a couple hundred years even the thorniest differences can be overcome”

The woreen-and-khaki uniform, entered the church and slipped off her hat She spotted them and hurried over

Chap to catch our eye Thank you forwith us”

“I really don’t know if it’s anything And even though it’s our break ti”

Chapman asked, “What’s your name?”

“Judy Donohue”

“Okay, Ms Donohue, what’s troubling you?” asked Stone

“So that was said when you came to interview Mr Sykes”

“How do you knoe did?” asked Chapman “He was alone”

Donohue looked embarrassed and uneasy

Sensing this, Stone said, “How long have you been with the Park Service?”

“Ten years Really love it”

“Are you from the area?” Stone asked

She set from a place like this”

“Where’s that?” asked Chapman

“Grew up in the middle of nowhere Montana God’s country I’ve been an outdoor girl all my life” She held up her hand On the back of it was a tattoo of a bird “That’s the Sturnella neglecta, otherwise known as the western meadowlark It’s Montana’s state bird Got that when I was sixteen My friends were getting hearts and guys’ names I opted for wildlife”

“And about what Mr Sykes said? I guess you were nearby?”

Donohue dropped her wry look “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop,” she said quickly “I was just nearby working on a project and…”

“And you just heard things,” Chapman said pleasantly “Perfectly understandable”

“So what did you hear that raised questions in your mind?” asked Stone

“He said aiting on an arborist to check the tree And that ere putting together special soil and nutrients and such”

“That’s correct,” said Stone “You mean you weren’t?”

“No, we do”