But Culbeau remembered her cold eyes and the steady point of the knife under O'Sarian's chin. He said, "Juice ain't worth the squeeze."
The redhead walked into the lockup.
O'Sarian was looking too. "Well, that fucks things up a bit."
Culbeau said slowly, "No, it don't. Harris, get that truck over there. And keep the motor running."
"But what about her?" Tomel asked.
Culbeau said, "I got plenty of pepper spray."
Inside the lockup Deputy Nathan Groomer leaned back in the rickety chair and nodded at Sachs.
Jesse Corn's infatuation had grown tedious; Nathan's formal smile was a relief to her. "Hello, miss."
"It's Nathan, right?"
"Right."
"That's some decoy there." Sachs looked down at his desk.
"This old thing?" he asked humbly.
"What is it?"
"Female mallard. About a y
ear old. The duck. Not the decoy."
"You make that yourself?"
"Hobby of mine. Have a couple others at my desk in the main building. Check 'em out, you want. Thought you were leaving."
"Will be soon. How's he doing?"
"He who? Sheriff Bell?"
"No, I mean Garrett."
"Oh, I dunno. Mason went back to see him, had a talk. Tried to get him to tell where the girl was. But he wouldn't say anything."
"Mason's back there now?"
"No, he left."
"How about Sheriff Bell and Lucy?"
"Nope, they're all gone. Back at the County Building. Anything I can help you with?"
"Garrett wanted this book." She held it up. "Is it okay if I give it to him?"
"What is it, a Bible?"
"No, it's about insects."
Nathan took it and searched it carefully--for weapons, she supposed. Then he handed it back. "Creepy, that boy is. Somethin' out of a horror movie. You oughta give him a Bible."
"I think this is all he's interested in."