'Any decent person would,' I said. 'Did you locate Mary Lou Buckman?'
'Yes. She was employed with us from 1986 until 1991.'
'In what capacity?'
'Resource development.'
'Which means?'
'She was a geologist. She looked for new sources of water.'
Chapter 42
HAWK AND I were looking at the guns laid out in the dining room, where Vinnie had affectionately arranged them. There were two AR- 15s, three pump-action shotguns, a Winchester.45 carbine, a Heckler Koch with a 20- round magazine, a Jaeger Hunter with a scope, a.44 Rugar bush gun, and a BAR.
'Who owns the BAR?' I said.
'Bobby Horse,' Vinnie said.
'Bonnie and Clyde used those,' Hawk said.
'Don't know nothing about Bonnie and Whosis,' Vinnie said.
There were extra handguns on the sideboard: a Walther P38, two Brownings, a Glock 17, and three Smith Wesson.357 revolvers. The ammunition for each weapon was stacked beside it. Most of the guns were stainless steel and they gleamed happily in their orderly arrangement. The ammunition boxes were mostly green, or red, depending on who made them. The room looked sort of festive.
'Who brought lever action?' Vinnie said.
'Me,' I said. 'A sentimental favorite.'
Vinnie shook his head and went on wiping.
On the floor in front of a side window two pieces of duct tape formed a large X.
'Firing position?' I said.
'Yeah,' Vinnie said. 'Got five positions marked. Give us a field of fire cover the whole house. Got some other positions located up in the hills, case we want to bail out of here, cover any approach.'
I nodded.
'How come you got that Winchester?' Vinnie said.
'Sentimental,' I said. 'I had it in Laramie. My uncle bought it for me.'
'You only got five shots in the sucker, and you got to jack each one up before you shoot.'
'I'm not big for volume,' I said. 'I'm a careful shooter.'
'Well I hope you ain't feeding shells into that thing while one of the Dell monsters comes at you with a Tec- nine.'
'Me too,' I said.
'What are you packing for a handgun?' Vinnie said.
I pulled my T-shirt up to show him the gun on my belt.
'Same thing,' Vinnie said. 'Two-inch barrel, five rounds in the cylinder.'
'Sometimes I carry that Browning,' I said.
'You should,' Vinnie said. 'You can't hit a whale in the ass with that little Smith Wesson, unless you're right up on him.'
'I plan to be right up,' I said.
Vinnie shrugged.
I was beginning to feel defensive.
'I like it,' I said. 'It'll knock you down if you're close. It's light to carry, easy to conceal, and it works good. I can carry it in an ankle holster if I need to.'
Vinnie nodded again. With a small camel-hair brush, he was dusting the rear sight of the BAR.
'Besides,' I said, 'it's cute.'
'Yeah, sure,' Vinnie said. 'And it matches your, tie. Swell.'
Vinnie's full attention went back to tending the guns. He was like a bitch grooming a puppy.
'Bobby Horse waiting on us,' Hawk said, 'to go look at the Dell.'
'Chollo's not going?'
'Chollo says he already been there.'
'Doesn't want to make the climb again,' I said.
Hawk nodded. We were quiet for a time watching Vinnie fuss over the weapons.
'There's a lot going on here that we don't know about,' I said.
