Wild fire

“I don’t think so, and I hope you don’t have to find out.”

“Me, too. Do you have bear traps on the property?”

“Definitely not. I have guests on the property, and I don’t want them caught in a bear trap.” He added, “Also, trespassers. I could get sued.” He glanced at his watch and said, “So, if-”

“Just a few more questions while we wait for the latte.”

He didn’t reply, and I asked him, “So, you’re a hunter?”

“I hunt.”

“These are all your trophies?”

“Yes. I don’t buy them as some people do.”

“So, you’re a pretty good shot?”

“I was an expert rifleman in the Army, and I can still drop a deer at two hundred yards.”

“That’s pretty good. How close was that bear?”

“Close. I let the predators get close.” He looked at me, and I had the feeling he was being subtly unsubtle regarding yours truly. He said, “That’s what makes it exciting.” He asked me, “What does this have to do with Mr. Muller’s disappearance?”

“Not a thing.”

We stared at each other while he waited for me to explain my line of questioning. I said to him, “Just making conversation.” I then asked him, “So, this is a private club?”

“It is.”

“Could I join? I’m white. Irish and English. Catholic, like Christopher Columbus, but I could switch. I got married in a Methodist church.”

Mr. Madox informed me, “There are no such requirements or exclusions, but our membership is filled at the moment.”

Kate asked, “Do you accept women?”

He smiled. “Personally, I do. But club membership is restricted to men.”

“Why is that?”

“Because that’s the way I want it.”

Carl appeared carrying a tray, which he set down on the coffee table. He said to me, “Is a cafe au lait all right?”

“Terrific.”

He indicated a small silver coffeepot for Ms. Mayfield, then asked us, “Will that be all?”

We nodded, and Carl disappeared.

Mr. Madox went to the sideboard to refresh his scotch, and I said, “I’ll have a small one.”

He replied over his shoulder, “You’ll have to take it neat.” He poured two glasses, turned around, and remarked, “I seem to be having trouble with my ice maker.” He smiled.

Rudy, you old shit, I’m going to shove those rabbit ears up your ass.

More important, Madox knew someone was on the way to see him, yet he’d made no attempt to avoid his unknown visitors, even after the gatehouse goons told him we were Federal agents. Obviously, he’d made the decision to check us out while we checked him out.

Madox handed me a crystal glass and said, “Happy Columbus Day.” We touched glasses, then he sat, crossed his legs, sipped, and stared at the fire.

Kaiser Wilhelm woke up and snuggled next to his master’s chair to get his ears scratched. The stupid dog stared at me, and I stared back. He looked away first, so I won.

Kate sipped her coffee, then broke the silence. “You said you had sixteen guests this weekend.”

“That’s correct.” Madox again glanced at his watch. “I believe they’re all gone by now.”

Kate informed him, “We may need to speak to them, so I’ll need their names and contact information.”

Madox didn’t see that coming and was momentarily speechless, which I guessed was not usual for him. “Why…?”

“In the event they saw or heard something related to Mr. Muller’s disappearance.” She added, “Standard procedure.”

He didn’t seem to like this standard procedure. “That seems totally unnecessary. No one saw or heard anything. Also, please understand this is a private club whose members wish to remain private.”

Kate replied, “I can insure their privacy, and it’s up to us to determine if anyone saw or heard anything.”

He took a bigger sip of scotch and said to Kate, “I’m not an attorney, as you are, but it’s my understanding that unless this is a criminal matter, which it is not, or a civil case, which it is not, then I don’t need to give you the names of my houseguests any more than you need to give me the names of your houseguests.”

I couldn’t resist and said, “I had my aunt and uncle, Joe and Agnes O’Leary, over last weekend. Who’d you have?”

He looked at me, and I couldn’t tell if he appreciated me or not. Oddly, I liked the guy-man’s man and all that- and I think we could have been pals under other circumstances. Maybe if this whole thing was a misunderstanding, and Harry was found in a motel or something, Mr. Madox would invite me up for a weekend with the boys. Maybe not.

Kate said to him, “You’re correct that you have no legal obligation to reveal the names of your guests-at least at this point in time-but we’d like your voluntary cooperation now, while a man’s life may be in danger.”

Mr. Madox considered that. “I’ll need to contact my attorney.”

Kate reminded him, “You don’t like attorneys.”

He smiled tightly and replied, “I don’t, but neither do I like my proctologist.” He continued, “I’ll contact the men who were here and see if they’ll agree to have their names released.”

“Please do that quickly. And while you’re at it, I need the names and contact information of your staff.” She added, “Call me tonight. Mr. Corey and I are staying at The Point.”

His eyebrows rose. “Are you having trouble spending the anti-terrorist budget?”

Good one. I really liked this guy. I said, “We’re sharing a room to save taxpayer money.”

He raised his eyebrows again and said, “I won’t touch that one.” He looked at his watch a third time, and said, “Well, if I’m going to make some calls-”

“By the way,” I said, “I noticed that we had good cell-phone reception here, and I saw that tower on the hill. Is that a cell-phone tower?”

“It is.”

“You must have some pull.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, the population of this area is probably less than the population of Central Park on a Sunday, and I don’t think a lot of these people have cell phones, yet you have a big, expensive tower right on your property.”

“You’d be surprised how many rural people own cell phones,” Madox said. “Actually, I had that built.”

“For yourself?”

“For anyone who has a cell phone. My neighbors appreciate it.”

“I didn’t see any neighbors.”

“What’s your point?”

“Well, the point is, Agent Muller had a cell phone, made and received some calls from this area, and now he’s not calling or receiving. This is why we’re concerned that he may be injured or worse.”

Mr. Madox replied, “Sometimes, because of the distance to surrounding relay towers, service is lost. Sometimes people lose or damage their phones. Sometimes a particular phone company has bad service in an area, sometimes the cell phone is faulty, and sometimes the battery goes dead. I don’t make too much of a non-responsive cell phone. If I did, I’d think my children were kidnapped by Martians.”

I smiled. “Right. We’re not making too much of it.”

“Good.” He uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. “Anything further?”

“Yeah, what kind of scotch is this?”

“Private label, single malt. Would you like a bottle on your way out?”

“That’s very generous of you, but I can’t accept a gift. I can, however, drink a bottle here and not commit an ethics-code violation.”