'There are rumors floating around about everybody who lives in this town.
I pay no attention to them.'
Kerney tried again: 'Any rumors specifically about Gillespie?'
'Rumors, no. I've made it very dear to people that I'm not part of the local gossip mill. But several years ago, one of the high school girls who came to the clinic told me she thought Gillespie was creepy.'
'Creepy in what way?'
'She baby-sat for the same family on a regular basis several times a month. Gillespie would always drive by the house three or four times a night whenever she was there. But only if her boyfriend wasn't with her.'
'That's creepy enough,' Kerney said.
'I'd like to talk to her.'
'I had a fairly close relationship with the girl, and I'm sure she would have told me if anything more had happened.'
'How can I reach her?'
'Not easily. She's a medical technician serving in the navy on a hospital ship.'
Kerney got the girl's name for the record. He could track her down through her parents or naval authorities, if necessary.
'What can you tell me about Robert's family history?'
'He was born and raised in Mountainair. The family was very dysfunctional. Robert started getting in trouble with the police when he was fairly young. He spent some time in a foster home.'
'Was he sent away?'
'No. He was placed with a family here in town.'
'Who were the foster parents?'
'An older couple. I never met them. I believe they're both deceased.'
'Does Robert have any siblings?'
'An older sister, but she moved to Texas years ago after her parents divorced and left the state. Robert says he has no contact with her.'
'Does he stay in touch with his biological parents?'
'Not as far as I know.'
'Does he have any children?'
Marda made a face and shook her head.
'No. You're asking about Satan raping his daughter, aren't you?
That has been Robert's predominant delusion since the onset of his illness.'
'I wonder what it means.'
'I have no idea.' Marcia rose from the couch, signaling that the discussion had ended.
Kerney stood up with her.
'Do you know any of the local veterinarians?'
'I don't think there is one. Maybe in Estanda, but not here.'
'Do you know a female veterinarian, or a woman who works for a vet?'
Marcia shook her head.
'Sorry, I don't. But I'm sure one of the ranchers can tell you.'
After making arrangements to meet Marda Yearwood at the jail at mid-morning, Kerney started the long drive back to Santa Pc in a snowstorm that kept pushing drifts across the highway. He wondered if he was simply spinning his wheels. He dedded to give it one more day before telling Andy Baca the investigation wasn't getting anywhere. He hated the idea that the case might go unsolved.
In the morning, Kerney got an early start and drove the sixty miles from Santa Fe to the Torrance County jail in Estancia. The road had been plowed and a bright sun made the snow-coated range grass glisten like a sea of silver stems rolling across the Estancia Valley. At the jail, he had Robert brought to the staff conference room.
He wanted time alone with him before Marcia Yearwood showed up.
Robert was brought in by a guard. He wore an orange jumpsuit with torrancb county jail stendled on the back, a pair of plastic shower sandals, and a shit eating grin. His hair was combed, his beard trimmed, and he looked freshly scrubbed. He sat next to Kerney at the end of the long conference table and lit a cigarette.
Kerney adjusted his position so he could look squarely at Robert, and took a whiff. Robert didn't smell bad at all.
'Are you going to let me stay in jail?' Robert asked hopefully.
'I don't see how I can do that.'
'Charge me with something.' His foot wasn't wiggling at all, and he seemed calm.
'What would you suggest?'
Robert smiled widely.
'Rape.'
'Did you rape someone?'
'Of course I did. I already told you about it.'
'No, you told me that Satan raped your daughter.'
Robert poked himself in the chest with a finger.
'I'm Satan.'
'If that's the case, you'd better tell me who you raped.'
Robert shook his head.
'I can't. It's a secret.'
'Well, it can't be your daughter. You don't have one.'
'It was my sister. I raped my sister.'
'The one that lives in Texas.'
'Not that one,' Robert said with a scowl.
'Tell me about this other sister.'
'What I did to her was bad.'
'Where did you rape her?'
'At Serpent Gate.'
'Where is that?'
Robert waved the question away.
'I'm not going to tell you.'
'Did Paul Gillespie know about Serpent Gate?'
'I don't want to talk about that motherfucker.'
'Okay, we won't. When did you rape your sister?'
'A long time ago.'
'What's your sister's name?'
Robert put a finger to his lips.
'It's a secret.'
Before Kerney could ask another question, Marda Yearwood burst into the conference room. She stood at the end of the long table, glaring at him.
'I see you started without me.'
'We were just chatting,' Kerney answered.
Marda forced a smile in Robert's direction and moved down the table behind a row of neatly arranged conference chairs. She wore a dark blue turtleneck sweater and wool slacks under a long charcoal gray winter coat. She composed herself as she removed her coat, and sat down next to Robert.
'It's good to see you looking so well, Robert. What were you two talking about?'
Robert gave Kerney a conspiratorial look.
'Rape.'
'Really?' Marda replied, unable to mask a hint of surprise in her voice.
'I'd like to hear about it.'
'No way. Women aren't supposed to hear about shit like that.'
'That's not fair,' Marda responded gently.
