Niceville

front page and Kate was watching him, thinking about the events of the night, trying to walk it back to something she could understand, something she could work into her view of the world as it had always been. So far she wasn’t getting anywhere. Nick stiffened, glanced at her, and then back at the paper.
    “What is it?”
    Nick kept his head down, folded the paper up and set it aside, reached for his coffee.
    “Oh no you don’t,” said Kate, picking up the paper. “What did you see?”
    Nick sat back, sipped at his coffee.
    “First page, under the fold, side banner.”
    Kate found it.
    B ODY F OUND IN F OREST
    State police officers doing a search of the woods in the vicinity of last Friday’s fire at the historic Belfair Saddlery discovered the partially decomposed body of a man about a half mile from the site of the fire. Theman, described as a white male in his mid-forties, was found lying against a tree. His body showed signs of being partially eaten by coyotes and other scavengers. Initial estimates place the time of death at between four and six o’clock on Friday afternoon. Cause of death was initially thought to be exposure but a preliminary examination at the scene revealed a gunshot wound to the lower back, which nicked an artery, another wound which severed the left ear, and a third wound in the middle of the throat, which caused severe brain damage and a fatal loss of blood. Fingerprint Recognition at the FBI identified the deceased as Merle Louis Zane, an ex-convict who had served time for attempted manslaughter at the Louisiana State Prison in Angola. Police Captain Martin Coors states that investigators are now looking to see if there is a connection between the dead man and the armed robbery carried out a few hours earlier at the First Third Bank in Gracie, where four police officers were gunned down during a pursuit.
    The investigation continues.
    She put the paper down.
    “Merle Zane. Nick, is this the same man who went to see Rainey in the hospital? The man Lemon saw in the elevator?”
    “Lemon saw the man in the elevator on Saturday afternoon. This guy’s been dead since Friday.”
    “Could they have the time of death wrong?”
    “Probably not. Certainly not by twenty-four hours.”
    “So it’s not the same Merle?”
    “How could it be?”
    Kate reread the item, set the paper down.
    “Of course. You’re right. How could it be? Just a coincidence—the name, I mean. An unusual name.”
    “Yeah. Just a coincidence. Talking about Rainey, what are your plans for him?”
    “My plans?” said Kate.
    “Yes. You’re his legal guardian. You’re all he has now. He’ll need weeks of physio, and probably some psychological counseling, but sooner or later they’ll release him. Where’s he gonna go?”
    Kate watched Nick’s face carefully.
    “Are you ahead of me on this?”
    “I’m thinking maybe I am.”
    “It would be a big change for us, taking on a kid.”
    “Yes, it would.”
    “You’re not crazy about the idea?”
    “I’m worried about it.”
    “You mean, the responsibility?”
    “No. We can handle that.”
    “Then what is it?”
    “It’s the kid himself. I’m not sure how I feel about having him … here. In the house. With us.”
    Kate sat back, her expression hardening.
    “I’m not sure I follow. Nobody worked harder to find that child, nobody cared more about seeing him come out of that coma. I don’t understand this.”
    “I don’t either.”
    “Is it that you know something about him that I don’t? Is that it?”
    Nick said nothing.
    “Nick …?”
    “Okay. Reed sent me something this morning. E-mail with an attachment.”
    “What was it?”
    “Something he found on your dad’s computer.”
    “What is it? Where is it?”
    Nick got up, walked down the hall to his office, came back with a printout, laid it down in front of her. A single page, close type, unsigned.
    Rainey Teague DOB questions: memo for Kate Searched Cullen County census for period surrounding R’s DOB with Gwinnetts found no entry. No entry in surrounding parishes no entry in Belfair, no State or County Records show any certificate of R’s birth or baptism. No record in adjoining states, counties, or parishes. No sign R was born or baptized anywhere in US, Canada, or Mexico in any date range corresponding to his stated age. Foster parents Zorah and Martin Palgrave: found entry Cullen County Registry of Birth Martin Palgrave born Sallytown November 7 1873 married Zorah