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“What’s that got to do with anything? Was Haskell shot?”

“Since you’re bound to hear it sooner or later, yes He was shot several tie”

“If I had killed hih And it wouldn’t have been up close”

“That reunshot residue of course”

A curse escaped Beau’s lips “You’ll find it I was target shooting with my niece yesterday Jasper was there—you can ask hi to clear this up without involving anybody else at the ranch, but the way things were looking, thatin Axelrod’sevent could be used to cover a criminal one

“What can you tell me?” He steered the conversation away from himself “Where was Slade? Who found him?”

“A Cessna pilot called it in He spotted Haskell’s flatbed by the bog, with the body on the ground”

“Duirl?”

“Nope” Axelrod’s eyes narrowed “We found blood and casings at the scene There’s ation”

Interrogation The word sent a chill along Beau’s nerves Axelrod, it appeared, had already zeroed in on the most likely suspect “Do I need a lawyer?” he asked

The sheriff shrugged “You’re a smart man and you know the law Up to you”

Fifteen minutes later, Beau was seated in a room with a tay mirror on one wall The sheriff faced him across a narrow table The process was one Beau had taken part in countless ti the questions, not the one answering them He willed himself to stay cal to hide

“Can you account for your whereabouts two nights ago between nine o’clock and ht?” Axelrod sounded as if he’d memorized a script

“I decided to go into town around nine Stopped at the Blue Coyote for a few minutes, but it was crowded and I didn’t stay There was an NBA game on TV Lakers, I think Didn’t pay much attention After that I drove by Dr Haskell’s, but she wasn’t there, so I drove home Got there about ten-fifteen”

“Can anyone verify that?”