N Is for Noose

I should call the sheriff's office?"
    "Yeah, you better do that," I said. "Later, if it turns out something's been stolen, you can follow up."
    "That's what Brant said." There was a tiny pause while she changed tacks, her voice assuming a faintly injured tone. "I must say, I've been upset about your lack of communication. I've been waiting to hear from you."
    "Sorry, but I haven't had the chance. I was going to call you in a bit," I said. I noticed how defensive I sounded in response to her reproof.
    "Now that I have you on the line, could you tell me what's happening? I assume you're still working even if you haven't kept in touch."
    "Of course." I controlled my desire to bristle and I filled her in on my activities the past day and a half, sidestepping the personal aspects of Tom's relationship with Colleen Sellers. Telling a partial truth is much harder than an outright lie. Here I was, trying to protect her, while she was chiding me for neglect. Talk about ungrateful. I was tempted to tell all, but I repressed the urge. I kept my tone of voice professional, while my inner kid hollered Up yours. "Tom came down here in June as part of an investigation. Do you remember the occasion? He was probably gone overnight."
    "Yes," she said, slowly. "It was two days. What's the relevance?"
    "There was a homicide down here Tom felt was connected to some skeletal remains found in Nota County last spring."
    "I know the case you're referring to. He didn't say much about it, but I know it bothered him. What about it.?"
    "Well, if we're talking about an active homicideinvestigation, I don't have the authority. I'm a private investigator, which is the equivalent of doing freelance research. I can't, even on your say-so, stick my nose into police business."
    "I don't see why not. Surely, there's no law against asking questions."
    "I have asked questions and I'm telling you what I found. Tom was stressed out about matters that had nothing to do with you."Why didn't he tell me what it was, if that's true?"
    "You were the one who said he played things close to his chest, especially when it came to work."
    "Well yes, but if this is strictly professional, then why would someone go to all the trouble to search the house?"
    "Maybe the department needed his notes or his files or a telephone number or a missing report. It could be anything," I said, rattling off the possibilities as quickly as they occurred to me.
    "Why didn't they call and ask?"
    "How do I know? Maybe they were in a hurry and you weren't home," I said, exasperated. It all sounded lame, but she was backing me into corners and it was annoying me no end.
    "Kinsey, I am paying you to get to the bottom of this. If I'd known you weren't going to help, I could have used that fifteen hundred dollars to get my teeth capped."
    "I'm doing what I can! What do you want from me?" I said.
    "Well, you needn't take that attitude. A week ago, you were cooperative. Now all I'm hearing are excuses."
    I had to bite my tongue. I had to talk in very distinct, clipped syllables to keep from screaming at her. I took a deep breath. "Look, I have one lead left. As soon as I get up there, I'll be happy to check it out, but if this is sheriff's department business, then it's out of my hands."
    There was one of those silences that sounded like it contained an exclamation point. "If you don't want to finish the job, why don't you come right out and say so?"
    "I'm not saying that."
    "Then when are you coming back?"
    "I'm not sure yet. Next week. Maybe Tuesday."
    "Next week?" she said. "What's wrong with today? If you got in your car now, you could be here in six hours."
    "What's the big hurry? This has been going on for weeks."
    "Well, for one thing, you still owe me five hundred dollars' worth of work. For that kind of money, I would think you'd want to get here as soon as possible."
    "Selma, I'm not going to sit here and argue about this. I'll do what I can."
    "Wonderful. What time shall I expect you?"
    "I have no idea."
    "Surely, you can give me some idea when you might arrive. I have other obligations. I'll be gone all day tomorrow. I go to ten o'clock service and then spend some time with my cousin down in Big Pine. I can't sit around waiting for you to show up any time it suits. Besides, if you're coming, I'll need to make arrangements."
    "I'll call when I get there, but I'm not going to stay at the Nota Lake Cabins. I hate that place and I won't be put in that position. It's too remote and it's