Chill Factor

She could hear Wes in the other room, being his gregarious self, welcoming into their home FBI agents who had come to question their son about Millicent Gunn’s disappearance.

• • •

William and Marilee left the drugstore together. Without electricity there was no point to staying open. He couldn’t operate his cash register, or the computer that stored all the data on his customers and their prescriptions. Not that it mattered, because no one had come into the store since Wes had left with the sandwiches bound for police headquarters.

Marilee took food from the soda fountain’s refrigerator for them to eat at home later, knowing that it would ruin before the store reopened and Linda returned.

They decided to leave her car there and go home in William’s. “No sense in both of us trying to navigate these roads,” he said. As he locked up, he left a note on the front door, notifying any customer with an emergency that he could be found at home.

Once they were in his car and on their way, Marilee said through chattering teeth, “If anyone ever finds out that you keep a dispensary of prescription drugs in the house, you’ll lose your license.”

“I only keep them for emergencies, and only for customers that I know won’t abuse the privilege. Besides, the drugs I give out can be bought over the counter everywhere except the United States.” He took a corner slowly, then leaned closer to the windshield and peered through the fogged glass. “I wonder what that’s about.”

They were on the street where the Hamers lived. Parked in front of their house were a nondescript sedan and Dutch Burton’s Bronco.

“Isn’t that the car the FBI agents were driving?” Marilee asked.

“I believe it is. That Begley was one of the rudest people I’ve ever met.”

“I don’t think he was intentionally rude. He’s just efficient and accustomed to exercising his authority.”

“I’m efficient, and I have authority, but I don’t talk down to people.”

Managing a drugstore with only one employee was hardly comparable to directing an office of the FBI, but Marilee decided to keep that observation to herself. She didn’t want to bicker with William, although he’d been baiting her at every turn today.

When they came even with the Hamers’ house, he said, “I’m not surprised to see Dutch here, but what business would the FBI have with them?”

“Maybe they’re talking to Wes about what he slipped into his coat pocket when I surprised the two of you in the stockroom.” She tossed it out casually to see how her brother would react.

He gave her his rote reply. “Something for Dora’s headaches.”

“You’re lying.”

“While you, sister, never lie, either by word or by deed.” Cutting his eyes to her, he added slyly, “Or do you?” He chuckled at her attempted impassivity. “Scratch the surface of even the most circumspect life, Marilee, and you’ll find duplicity. Even yours.”

She turned her head away from him and looked through the passen

ger window. “I only wish you were right, William. I would love to harbor a dark secret.”

“Perhaps the Hamers have been harboring one that the FBI uncovered. My money is on Scott.”

“Why Scott?”

“Surely by now these federal geniuses have linked him to Millicent.”

“They were sweethearts for a time. So what?”

“Sweethearts,” he said with a snicker. “What a quaint and outmoded term for their relationship. She was on birth control pills.”

“Most girls are.”

“How well I know. It’s a good part of my business. But did you know that Millicent went off them?”

“When?”

“Early last spring. She complained that they were making her retain fluid, adding weight. When she and Scott broke up, it occurred to me that perhaps they’d had a little accident.”

“You mean that she got pregnant?”