Ray found Duffy sweeping the sidewalk in front of the newspaper office, his head covered by a stained Tilley hat and his feet shod with socks and rope sandals. In between he wore a pair of creased green Dockers and a fleece-lined sweatshirt that read, Hark the Printed Word.

"What the heck is that supposed to mean?" Ray asked sitting his rump on the ledge of the front window and setting his wrapped package next to his feet.

"Afternoon, Ray. This you mean?" He looked down at his shirt. "It was a promotion I planned to run at one of the town anniversaries but the idiot that made them up misspelled the message. It was supposed to read, hearken. You know, think back?"

"I know what the word means, it's the message I don't get."

"Just as well I didn't do it then. Most folks around here don't have your big city smarts; they never would have got it."

"Ha, ha." He stood and brushed the seat of his pants. "Got a few minutes? Something I want to show you."

"Gonna set me straight; tell me all you know?"

Ray laughed. "I want to ask you some questions about Williams."

"You're a real bulldog aren't you? You should have my job."

"I want to know if there's any rumour or solid facts regarding him and drugs."

Duffy looked surprised and he leaned the broom against the window. "We better go inside with that kinda talk."

Thirty minutes later Duffy sat staring with amazement at the reproduction of Ray's chart, absorbing his theories and matching them to his own suspicions and store of gossip.

"Elwood Peters! Now that's an avenue I never would have gone up."

"With good reason. He's not doing anything you'd notice. Just a regular day's work."

"None of this is confirmed, right?"

"Only the five hundred from Oliver Attura. I'm guessing it went to Stella and I'm guessing she bought drugs with it... from Oliver."

"And you think she and Williams are using them." Duffy made a doubtful face.

"More like selling them. What about Williams? Anything he does seem suspicious?"

"Not really. Checks on the marina, goes around by the school and generally keeps an eye on the town, that kinda stuff." Duffy paused. "Visits the truckers and the cab drivers more than usual." His words trailed off and Ray saw his eyes drift to the window.

"That could mean something."

"What?"

"You just said yourself he makes unusual visits to the taxi garage and the truck stop down the highway."

"Unusual in my mind," Duffy corrected. "He's not goin' out of his jurisdiction when he does that."

"So why in your mind then?"

There was another pause and a long inhale and exhale of breath. "I know some of the cabbies and I also know about a couple of the truckers and drug related activities wouldn't surprise me in the least." He played with the stapler on his desk and shook his head. "I don't see where this gets you any closer to your niece's killer?"

"I'm wondering now if Adelaide stumbled onto something or overheard something. I don't believe it was just some motiveless, random act. Somebody did this for a purpose." Ray picked at the arm of the desk chair. "What else can you tell me about Hersch's death?"

"Hersch? Went through the ice on his snowmobile. That's all I know. They never found him so..."

Ray took a deep breath and sat forward. "I want to give you a theoretical scenario and you tell me what you think. No interruptions."

"Go."

"When Oliver made the rental agreement he somehow made a deal with Stella about drugs. I don't know how it came up but I believe they made this deal where he would pay ex amount for the weekend plus the extra to be used to buy drugs from him. I know, it was his money, but it was like a loss leader to get Stella to commit. He collected from the other kids anyway. Once she was hooked as a buyer he could move who knows how much through her. Now I think Stella was smart here. To keep herself at arm's length, she somehow coerced Elwood into taking part and his job was to be the go between for future purchases. I'm guessing, knowing what I do about Stella, that the incentive had something to do with sex.

I'm betting she and Williams are still a number and he is selling the drugs and building a nest egg for them both to up and split Thompson Bay one day. This part is shakier but hear me out. Something happened that exposed Adelaide to their scheme and she was killed by Williams since Stella was away with her husband at the time. I also believe that Hersch might have been murdered as well for a similar reason but that's strictly an add on of speculation." Ray spread his hands and leaned back.

The phone rang and Duffy picked it up, turning away to speak. Ray got up and walked out of the office and looked out the front window to the street. A young boy went by on a skateboard, his feet executing little jumps and trick steps. A moment later a black lab, chased by a small girl ran past. The dog stopped to get dog mail from the corner of the cleaner's store. A dry cleaners, a hairdressers and a real estate office occupied the space between the corner and a service station parking lot and each of the buildings looked quite comfortable in their setting. The police cruiser crawled by and Ray instinctively stepped back from the window. He could see the big driver turn and stare at the newspaper office as it passed. An icy river slid down his back. Did he hear them?

Duffy came out and stood beside him. "That was quite a theory."

"What do you think?"

"I'm not sure any more. You've upset my grip on things. Before you came here none of this was remotely considered."

"If, and it's a big one, I'm right, how in hell can I prove it?"

Duffy pulled at his chin and rocked on his heels. "I might be able to get proof for part of it for you."

"What part? What do you mean?"

"I can nose around the cab drivers I know and see if drugs are being moved through Williams."

"No, Duffy. That's not on. It's way too dangerous and besides, you live here. You could screw up your position in this town."

His eyes twinkled and he gave Ray a broad smile. "But just imagine if you are right. Picture the story that would grace the front page of the Herald under my byline and a first hand account to boot." He turned away and did a sloppy two-step tap dance back into his office. Ray followed, reiterating his protest but he could see it was too late. He had created a news junky monster.

Irene knocked on the condo door and waited until it opened. Elwood stood boldly, with a drink in his hand and a pair of sweat pants bottoms and no top. She pursed her lips and clutched her shopping bag a little tighter.

"Enter, my dear." He backed away and swept a welcoming hand toward the room beyond. "I see you brought the groceries. Get everything on the list, did we?"

She went directly to the kitchen and began unloading the bag. Elwood followed, lounging lazily against the counter, watching her.

"Place looks good. You did a nice job." She nodded and concentrated on the dinner. "Get you a drink?"

"No thank you."

"Nothing? I'm opening some wine for dinner, a small cocktail before wouldn't hurt."

Irene stopped and looked at him. "I'm not having dinner with you, Woody. The deal was I cooked and cleaned."

His face shrugged and he slid along the counter toward her. "Maybe we should revisit the terms."

"That's not going to happen. I have other commitments."

"Really, and what would they be? Babysitting? Answering the phone for Marty's flower shop?" He set his glass in the sink. "I'm doing more for you than either of those joke jobs."

"I am not having dinner with you. I'll cook it like we agree—"

Elwood grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. Their faces dodged side to side as he tried to kiss her and when his mouth landed on her neck she pulled away and slammed a head of broccoli into his face, twisting it angrily. Elwood sputtered and spat as he fell back against the sink board, clawing at the particles stuck in his eyes and nose.

"You bitch!"

"Deal's off, Woody, enjoy your vegetable." She grabbed her purse and stormed out leaving the condo door wide open.

He grabbed a cloth from the sink and wiped his face then went and slammed the door angrily. Nothing was going right. Stella never called. Garth terrified the pants off of him, and now his plan to seduce the vulnerable Irene Paget netted him a humiliating broccoli face scrubbing. So much for your loan extension, he thought meanly.