Ill Take Forever

water, but there are other hills and trails that are appealing. Since I got Shasta, I've ventured further afield.'
    'Ever see marijuana growing?'
    'I told your Mr. Brownley, I don't know what it looks like. I may have done so or may not.'
    'I'll see we get some samples so you can look for it on your hikes. If you see anything suspicious, leave immediately. Don’t try to find out more. Tell me and I’ll confirm if it’s a pot field.'
    Jenny was quiet for a moment. While she didn't like the idea of drugs, she felt a little odd in spying on neighbors and friends, trying to uncover anyone who might be growing the drug in their area.
    'Tell me something about the people around here, the ones you know. Anyone you might suspect?' Kyle asked.
    'No. Even Nate seems too genial most of the time, more of a good ol’ boy. I've never thought about it before, but I wouldn't have thought anyone I know could be involved. You're sure there's marijuana being grown around here?'
    'Reasonably sure. Enough to have me assigned here. Anybody in town flashing money around when they shouldn't be? You know, recently come into wealth, buying expensive things with a small salary? That kind of thing?'
    'No. There’re a few families in town that have a lot of money but have always had it. No one has come into money in the last few years that I know of.'
    'Who's the town banker?'
    'Mr. Bottoms. He's about a hundred and three and has been in charge of the bank as long as I can remember. He might be able to tell you if anyone is banking large sums of money. But not without a court order and that would blow your cover.'
    'Not worth the risk. And I doubt anyone smart enough to pull this off would have an account is under their own name. If they're cautious, they won't be using this bank. Does Bottoms live in town?'
    'Yes. Across the street from my mom and dad, as a matter of fact.'
    'Why don't you live with them?'
    'Who, my parents?'
    'Yes.'
    Jenny looked around her. 'This is my home. Why should I leave?'
    'It must have sad memories.'
    'I don't know. I was very unhappy when Johnny was killed, yet I found some solace in being in the home he'd bought for us. I wouldn't want to leave it.'
    'Never?' Kyle asked softly.
    'Certainly not to go back to live with my parents.' She sidestepped the question. 'I'm all grown up and on my own now.'
    Kyle let his eyes roam down over what he could see, brought them back up to see the flush on her face as met the appraising look in his eyes. 'Very nicely grown up, I'd say,' he murmured provocatively.
    She rose and took the dishes, trying to slow the rapid rate of her heartbeat. She was vaguely pleased by the comment, but hoped he couldn't see the heat she felt spreading on her cheeks. Odd how she was so very conscious around a man she knew very little about.

    ***
    During the day that followed, Kyle spent hours questioning Jenny about the layout of the land around Palmer, the ranches and farms, the people who owned them.
    Two mornings later he brought down a topographical map of the area, and he and Jenny pored over it, Jenny drawing lines indicating ranch boundaries as best she knew them. Kyle then questioned her on some of the more remote areas.
    Jenny gave him thumbnail sketches of all the owners of the ranches and of the people she knew in town. When Kyle repeated verbatim what she'd told him, she was amazed at the amount he'd learned and could recite back.
    'Do you have to have a photographic memory to be an agent?' she asked when he surprised her one time with the facts she had briefly mentioned a few days earlier.
    'No, just a good memory. I don't know yet what I need to know and what I don't, so I'll try to keep it all. Once I get a line on something, I can forget about the rest of it.'
    'Don't you have a line on it yet? I thought that was why you were here.'
    'One small clue, but it's our only lead right now. I'm here to follow up on it,' Kyle said, seeing the skeptical look on Jenny's face.
    'I can't believe anyone in Palmer could be involved,' she said again.
    'They may not be. On the other hand dealers excel in appearing like anyone else. They don't have shifty eyes, skulk around dark alleys, or wear trench coats. That's what makes them so hard to catch, and so successful in their trade. They're just like you or me to look at.'
    Jenny shivered. 'It's spooky to think someone I know might be a drug dealer. What was the clue?'
    He smiled briefly and pointed to the map.
    'Who lives here?'
    They were off