" 'Eccentric' is an odd term for the murder of a Forest Service supervisor, I would think," Strickland said, looking to Marybeth and Broxton-Howard for confirmation.
Joe waded in, taking advantage of the moment, wanting to make a point while Melinda Strickland was in front of him.
"I want to let you know," Joe interjected, "that I met a man named Wade Brockius a couple of days ago. He's the spokesman of sorts for the-" But before Joe could get any further, Melinda Strickland suddenly noticed that the cookies were gone from the nearest desk and excused herself to admonish the employee. Broxton-Howard faded into the crowd.
Joe and Marybeth looked at each other.
"Well, she's interesting," Marybeth added. "In a bad kind of way."
"Remember what Nate Romanowski said," Joe added.
"You're quoting a murder suspect, Joe," Marybeth smiled.
"I'll stop doing that," Joe said sourly.
"But did you notice how Melinda was acting with you?"
Joe shook his head.
"She wasn't talking with you or even listening to you. She was assessing you," Marybeth said.
"Why?"
"To see if you'll be any value to her personally; if you'll buy into her agenda, her career path, or hurt it. Remember when you told me she almost turned back on the mountain? It sounds to me like when it got tough physically, she looked up and saw that probably nobody in that party really mattered to what was important to her. She saw a bunch of local yokels and the state DCI. A bunch of losers. The only person in that group who mattered was the journalist, and she was already in her camp. The rest of you meant nothing. She's a user, and she's dangerous."
"You got all that from a two-minute exchange?"
"Yes."
Marybeth nodded toward Broxton-Howard, who now commanded the attention of McLanahan and Reed.
"She's nice-looking," Marybeth said in a flat tone. "It takes hours to make your hair look that casually wind-tousled."
Joe wisely said nothing. While Marybeth searched for the bathroom, Joe sought out County Attorney Robey Hersig.
"What are your plans tonight, Joe?"
Joe rolled his eyes. Their New Year's Eve plans were the same as they had been since Sheridan was born eleven years ago: They would go to bed early. Missy had asked about parties and celebrations in town, and hinted that she might want to go. Joe had offered her the use of their minivan, and she had wrinkled her nose, but accepted.
"Got a minute?" Joe asked. Hersig nodded and motioned Joe into an office behind them. He entered and sat on a desk and loosened his tie. Joe eased the door closed behind them. The office had been Lamar Gardiner's, but was now, obviously, occupied by Melinda Strickland. A framed photo of her cocker spaniel stood on the desk. Joe hadn't realized that she'd already moved in.
Hersig was from one of Twelve Sleep County's oldest ranching families, and after a bout of college rodeo he had gone into law at the University of Wyoming. His first term as county attorney would end in the coming year, and there was speculation as to whether he would run again. Although almost brutally cautious when it came to prosecuting a case, Hersig had an impressive track record of convictions. The summer before, Hersig and Joe had discovered that they were both fly fishermen, and had floated the Twelve Sleep river together in Hersig's flat-bottomed McKenzie boat. They got along, and made plans to do it again. To both, fishing together successfully created a special bond.
Joe had called Hersig earlier in the week to talk about April, but their conversation had been brief; Hersig's phone was full of static, thanks to damage from the storm.
"We're not sure what we can do about Jeannie Keeley," Joe said. "Can we ask for a restraining order or something?"
Hersig shook his head. "Joe, she has to do something first. Just her presence isn't enough. And legally, since April hasn't been adopted, Jeannie has a damned good chance of getting her back."
Joe winced. "How could a judge possibly give her back to that woman after what she did?"
"Judges do things like that, Joe. Birth mothers carry a lot of clout, even when it's clear that you and Marybeth care for April. In Wyoming, if the mother's maintained contact in some way-even with the judge-the child isn't considered abandoned."
"We love her," Joe said firmly. "She's one of ours."
"Too bad the adoption got delayed so long," Hersig commiserated. "That's where the problem lies."
Joe cursed, and looked away for a moment.
"I wish this punch had a kick," Hersig said idly, looking into his cup as if willing a shot of bourbon into it. "It's New Year's Eve, after all."
"How's the case against Nate Romanowski?" Joe asked. "You know, he called me the other day-I met with him and he told me he was innocent."
"I heard about that," Hersig said, shaking his head. "Imagine a man in jail claiming that." Hersig threw down the last of the punch.
"I wish our case against him was stronger," Hersig confided. "It's compelling, but largely circumstantial. I'd be nervous taking it to a jury without more direct evidence. Did he tell you anything of interest?"
Joe relayed the story about Mrs. Longbrake and what Marybeth had told him about the women at the library, but nothing about what Romanowski had said about Melinda Strickland, or the supposed incident in Montana. Joe wondered why he felt guarded about what Romanowski had said. Joe's allegiance, after all, was supposed to be to Hersig and the law.
"I've got to admit that I found myself questioning his guilt," Joe said.
Hersig turned his head to look at Joe.
"Questioning his guilt, or being taken in?" Hersig asked.
Joe shrugged and admitted, "I'm not sure."
"Mrs. Longbrake is out of the country," Hersig said. "The sheriff checked. So we can't confirm that part of his story yet although now maybe we'll interview the women she played bridge with."
Joe nodded. "What do you know about Nate Romanowski? What's his background?"
"It's pretty mysterious." Hersig raised his eyebrows. "He's a Montana boy, from Bozeman originally. He was appointed to the Air Force Academy and played football for them. Middle linebacker for the Falcons…"
"Falcons?" Joe repeated, thinking about Romanowski's birds. He hadn't fed them yet; there had been no time. He had to get out there soon.
"Then he vanished off the face of the earth from 1984 through 1998. Nobody can vanish like that unless they've got special help from the Feds."
"Special Forces?" Joe asked. "He said something about that when I saw him at the jail." Two of Romanowski's claims-about Mrs. Longbrake's dalliances and his Special Forces background-were now much more likely true than false, Joe thought.
"Really? That's interesting," Hersig said. "I didn't know that. And Romanowski's not cooperating. Even with his P. D."
"I know. He says he's depending on me to help him out," Joe said sourly.
Hersig frowned. "Romanowski's only arrest was in 1999-he was held in Idaho for allegedly beating a rancher. He claimed the guy shot his falcon out of the sky. Spent ninety days in the Blaine County Jail for that."
"Do you see a connection between Romanowski, the Sovereigns, and Lamar Gardiner?" Joe asked. "They all sort of happened at once."
Hersig peered at the ceiling for several beats. "It almost seems like there's got to be one, doesn't it?"
"Maybe so," Joe said.
The door opened and one of the Forest Service employees looked in. "Oops, sorry," he said.
Hersig waved to indicate it was okay. "Leave the door open. We're through, aren't we?"
"Yup."
Hersig heaved himself off of the desk, and they stood in the doorway looking out. Elle Broxton-Howard stood in the middle of a gaggle of midlevel Forest Service managers as well as Reed and McLanahan. Hersig tilted his chin toward her.
"She likes 'em rugged and real, or so she says," Hersig confided to Joe. "Ranchers, cowboys, loggers. Real manly men."