'My father doesn't live here.'
'Can I speak to your mother?'
'We're very busy right now,' the girl replied.
'I won't take much of her time.'
'I'll ask her.' The girl retreated into the darkness of the front room.
The boy, about five, dressed in cutoff jeans, stood directly in front of Kerney, squinting up at him. He peeled an orange with his fingers, stuffed a wedge into his mouth, and dropped the rind on the floor.
'What kind of policeman are you?' the boy asked as he inspected Kerney's holstered handgun and the badge pinned on his uniform shirt.
'I'm a ranger with the Forest Service.'
The boy swallowed the orange slice.
'I'd like to be a policeman when I grow up,' he said.
'Or a rancher like my grandfather.'
Kerney hunkered down to get at eye level with the boy.
'Which job do you think you'd like best?'
'Ranching,' the boy replied.
'You get to ride horses and drive trucks. I like driving the tractor best. My grandfather lets me sit on his lap and steer.
That's fun.'
'I bet it is.'
The boy held out his orange.
'Want some?'
Kerney pulled off a portion and thanked the boy.
A woman wearing shorts and a peach-colored sleeveless jersey stepped through a side door that led from the kitchen to the porch. She glanced at Kerney, who rose to greet her, and paused to look into some open boxes.
'That's where my saucepan is,' she said to herself, taking it out of the carton.
'Cody, pick up that orange peel and go help your sister. I see Cody has been feeding you,' she said to Kerney as she approached.
'He gave me a piece of his orange,' Kerney answered.
Cody gathered up his litter, stuffed it into a pocket, and refused to budge. He wrapped his arm around his mother's leg as soon as she moved into striking range. Her hand dropped gently to his bare shoulder.
'Your fingers are sticky,' she said.
Cody smiled up at her.
'My parents are in Silver City for the day,' the woman said.
'Is there something I can do for you?'
She didn't wait for an answer.
'It's not a forest fire, I hope. That damn helicopter flew over twice this morning.'
Kerney shook his head.
'No.' With creamy skin, cobalt-blue eyes, and black hair that spilled against her shoulders, the woman was very good-looking.
The bones of her face, fine and delicate, were set off by a strong mouth that hinted at toughness. Late thirties, Kerney guessed. He looked down at the boy, who still had his arm firmly wrapped around his mother's thigh. Slightly above average height, the | lady had long, well-formed legs. | 'Somebody killed a black bear on the mesa,' Kerney explained.
'I'm looking into it. Have you | seen any unfamiliar vehicles go by recently? Or any strangers?' 'Why do people do that?' she demanded, stomping her foot.
'That makes me so mad.' She shook her head in disgust.
'Just a minute.' She pried Cody's arm from her leg.
'Go,' she ordered, in an even tone of voice.
Cody didn't move.
'Right now, young man,' she added, with the hint of a threat in her voice.
Cody groaned, gave her a dirty look, and shuffled off to the kitchen.
'I've been so busy moving in, I haven't noticed anything except this mess,' she answered, gesturing at the boxes.
'Besides, that damn house my parents built blocks my view of the road. I swear I'm going to tear it down after they die. I just hate it. If they want to live in a house like that, they should move to Albuquerque.'
'It looks well cared for,' Kerney noted, trying to remain neutral.
'My father prides himself on keeping things in perfect order. But the house belongs in a subdivision, as far as I'm concerned.'
'It does seem a bit out of place.' Kerney took out a business card and wrote his name on the back.
'Could you have your father call me?' he asked, handing her the card.
The woman studied the card.
'Kevin Kerney,' she said, looking over his shoulder.
'Bubba, get over here!'
Kerney turned. The puppy was busily digging up a flower bed. It took one short leap, then wheeled and trotted off toward the house the woman hated.
'Cody. Elizabeth. Go get Bubba before he destroys all of Grandmother's flowers.'
The children tumbled down the porch steps and started chasing Bubba.
'I named him Bubba because he's so damn stupid,' the woman explained.
She looked at the card again, then back at Kerney and caught him staring at her legs. Her eyes measured him directly. He was tall, with square shoulders, brown hair with a hint of gray at the sideburns, and calm blue eyes that looked back at her without flinching. His features, angular and strong, were offset by a mouth that seemed on the verge of a smile.
'I'll give Dad your card.'
'Thank you,' Kerney said, smiling in earnest now.
She watched him walk down the flagstone path with a limp that threw him slightly off-center. She switched her attention to her children, who had chased Bubba back into the yard and were trying to tackle the puppy as he barked and ran between their legs. She smiled as the chase turned into a game. She tapped the business card against the back of her hand and looked at it once more. Kevin Kerney. She liked the name.
She stuck the card in the frame of the screen door where she wouldn't forget it and went inside. There was an incredible amount of unpacking still left to do.
Stops at the last ranch in the canyon and at the bar, store, and two restaurants in Glenwood yielded no information on possible suspects.
Kerney drove the short distance down the highway to the district ranger station, checked in with Yolanda, the secretary, found an empty desk in a back office, and started writing his report. He was almost finished when Charlie Perry came in and stood over the desk, looking down at him.
Kerney glanced up, said nothing, and returned to his writing. The expression on Perry's face was enough to tell him that Charlie was steamed.
'I don't recall giving you permission to continue the investigation,'
Charlie said sharply.
'You didn't,' Kerney allowed.
'That's right. I understand you have some law enforcement experience. I relieved you on the mesa and sent you back on patrol. You should know what that means.'
'I do.'
'Are you always so fucking insubordinate?'
'Not always.'
Charlie scowled. Kerney locked his gaze on Perry's face and settled back in his chair to wait the man out. Charlie blinked first.
'Okay,' Charlie finally said, 'you're new and you're seasonal, but this isn't the Luna office. I handle all the
