Absolutely, Positively

that the post office was located inside.

    A handful of men clad in worn denims, boots, and billed caps lounged in front of the store. Molly noticed that all of the caps bore the colorful logos of various farm equipment manufacturing companies. Malevolent eyes watched as Harry parked the car and switched off the ignition.

    “Something tells me this may not be as simple as it sounded,” Molly said.

    Harry surveyed the men hanging around in front of the store. “What gives you that impression?”

    “I'm not sure. I think it's the hats.” Molly nibbled on her lower lip. “I don't know, Harry. I don't like this.”

    “It's a little late for second thoughts. You were the one who insisted on coming along.”

    “I'm aware of that. Usually I enjoy small towns. But there's something about this one—” She broke off, unable to put her qualms into words.

    “What about it?”

    She slanted him a quick, sidelong glance. “What would you say if I told you that I had an unpleasant feeling about this place?”

    “I'd say that's an eminently reasonable feeling to have under the circumstances. We're here to see a man who's been trying to scare you to death, remember. Why would you feel enthusiastic about coming face-to-face with him?” Harry opened the door and got out.

    Molly followed quickly. Harry was right. Given the situation, there was nothing odd about her troubled mood. She smiled tentatively at the cluster of men watching her. None of them smiled back.

    Harry looked straight at the small crowd gathered in front of the store and inclined his head slightly. To Molly's surprise, one or two of the men gave him a stiff response. The others shifted their booted feet and found something else besides Molly to engage their attention.

    Harry took Molly's hand and walked into the grocery store.

    Molly took in the shelves of dusty canned goods, packages of toilet paper, and assorted household necessities. Neon beer signs hung in the windows. A soft drink machine hummed to itself in the corner.

    Harry released Molly's hand, slipped some change out of his pocket, and crossed the room to the pop machine. He dropped the coins into the slot and punched in his selections. Machinery whirred. Cans clanked.

    A massive figure appeared in the doorway behind the front counter. Molly caught a glimpse of a vast, hairy stomach draped over the waistband of a pair of old, sagging jeans. She quickly averted her eyes from the sight.

    “Can I help ya?” The voice was unexpectedly high and nasal for such a large man. There was a distinct lack of welcome in it.

    Harry picked up the soft drink cans that had rolled into the tray. “Are you Pete?”

    “Yeah.”

    “I'm Harry. This is Molly.”

    Pete squinted at Molly. She smiled brightly. He gave her a grudging nod and snapped his gum. Then he turned back to Harry.

    “Somethin' you wanted, Harry?”

    “We're looking for a man named Wharton Kendall. We understand he lives here in Icy Crest.”

    Pete chewed gum and squinted in thought. “Used to.” There was an air of challenge in the statement, as if he dared Harry to ask for more details.

    Molly was acutely aware of the tension in the air. It was probably nothing more than the natural reluctance of a small town resident to provide information to a stranger, but it was uncomfortable.

    Harry seemed oblivious to the atmosphere. He popped the top on one of the cans and took a long swallow. Then he looked at the big man behind the counter. “How long has Kendall been gone?”

    “Not long. Coupla days.”

    “Did he live nearby?”

    Pete's broad face set in lines of mulish resistance. It was apparent that he did not intend to answer any further questions.

    Harry just looked at him for a long time. The silence thickened. Molly had an urge to run out of the store. She stood her ground only because she could not leave Harry alone.

    The strain of the extended silence finally broke Pete's resolve to say nothing further on the subject of Wharton Kendall.

    “Rented a cabin from Shorty for a while.” Pete went back to work on his chewing gum.

    Harry took another swallow of his soft drink and continued to study the big man with cold, unblinking eyes. “Any idea where Kendall went?”

    Pete stirred restlessly beneath Harry's gaze. His obvious discomfort reminded Molly of the reactions of the men out in front of the store.

    “Shorty told me the crazy son-of-a-bitch was headed for California. No loss. Guy was weird,