Divine Evil

search and interviews. Now that Mick's on his feet again, it'll go easier.”
    “You don't really believe someone's holding her in town.”
    “I believe anything.” He looked across the street, to the Buttses′ house. That one he would search personally.
    “She could already be—”
    “No.” Cam's head whipped around. His eyes, shadowed and weary, sharpened. “No, she's not. We start here, and we spread out, and we go over every inch of these hills.” Cam looked down at the ground. “I didn't take care ofher.”
    When Blair didn't respond, Cam understood his friend thought the same thing.
    Blair stood where he was, struggling to be calm as Cam lighted a cigarette. His research had gone well. Too well. He knew much too much about what could be happening to his sister. What might have happened already. He couldn't afford to break down now. “I'd like to go out on the next search. I know you've got experienced men, but I know the woods around here.”
    “We can use everyone. Have to use everyone,” Cam corrected. “I just don't know who I can trust.” He looked up at the sun. It was straight up noon. “Do you know what today is?” He turned his head again and looked at Blair. “It's the summer solstice. I didn't realize it until I heard it on the radio.”
    “I know.”
    “They'll meet tonight,” he murmured. “Somewhere.”
    “Would they take a risk like that, with the search and the press?”
    “Yeah. Because they want to. Maybe they need to.” He swung onto the bike again. “There's somebody I've got to see.”
    “I'll go with you.”
    “It's better that I go alone. It's a long shot.” He kicked the engine. “I'll let you know.”
    “It's outrageous. Absolutely outrageous.”
    “I'm sorry, Miz Atherton.” Bud had his cap in his hands, running the brim through his fingers. “It's procedure, is all.”
    “It's insulting, that's what it is. Why, the very idea of your coming into my home and searching all over it, as if I were a common criminal.” She planted herself in the doorway, floral bosom trembling. “Do you think I've got Clare Kimball tied up in the basement?”
    “No, ma'am. No ma'am. And I sure do apologize for the inconvenience. It's just that we're looking through every house in town.” He gave a little sigh of relief as the mayor came down the hall.
    “What's all this?”
    “An outrage. Why, James, you won't believe what this boy wants to do.”
    “We're conducting a house-to-house search, Mr. Atherton, sir.” He flushed. “I got the proper warrants.”
    “Warrants!” Min plumped up like a broody hen. “Did you hear that, James? Warrants. The very idea.”
    “Now, Min.” He put a soothing hand on her shoulder.“This has to do with Clare Kimball's disappearance, doesn't it, Deputy Hewitt?”
    “Yes, sir, Mayor.” Bud always preened a bit when Atherton called him Deputy Hewitt. “It's nothing personal, and I'll be in and out in just a few minutes. Just have to take a look around and ask you some questions.”
    “You step a foot inside this house, I'll take a broom to your behind, Bud Hewitt.”
    “Min.” Atherton gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “The man's only doing his job. If we don't cooperate with the law, who will? You come right on in, Deputy, go through from attic to cellar. No one in town wants to get to the bottom of what happened to Clare more than my wife and myself.”
    He gestured Bud inside, and the deputy took a strategic step so that the mayor was between him and Min. “I appreciate it, Mr. Atherton.”
    “Our civic duty.” His eyes and voice were grave. “Can you tell me how things are going?”
    “We ain't found a trace. I'll tell you, Mr. Atherton, the sheriff's worried sick. Don't think he's slept more'n an hour at a stretch since it started.”
    “It must be a dreadful strain on him.”
    “I don't know what he'll do if we don't find her. They were talking marriage, you know. Why, he'd even called up an architect about building Clare a studio over to his house.”
    “Is that so?” Min's gossip glands went into overdrive. “Could be the girl got cold feet and ran off.”
    “Min—”
    “After all, James, she already failed at one marriage. It wouldn't be the first time a woman just up and took off when the pressure built up.”
    “No …” Atherton stroked his bottom lip gravely. “No,I suppose you're right.” He waved the thought away, hoping it had taken root. “We're holding up Deputy Hewitt. Start anywhere