was somewhere near the ranch, but couldn't place it.
'Did he work from photographs?' he asked.
'Yes. His camera was stolen in the burglary.'
'Tell us about the burglary,' Sara prompted. Erma shook her head in exasperation.
'My fault entirely. I ran out to the grocery store this morning and didn't lock up. They came in through an open window.'
'What was taken besides Sammy's camera?' Sara queried. Erma picked up the notebook and put on her reading glasses.
'I just made a list. Two more cameras, a bedroom television, a VCR, and several pieces of jewelry I left out on a dresser. That's all I've found missing so far, and I've been through the house twice.
'The officer who came said it was probably a drug addict who robbed me. I guess they just take what they can carry out quickly and sell for money.'
'Do you know where Sammy developed his photographs?' Kerney asked.
'Here,' Erma replied.
'I have a darkroom in the corner of my garage.'
'Are his prints and negatives there?'
'I'm sure they are,' Erma said, rising to her feet.
'Shall we go and see?' The darkroom had a sink and a long counter with shelves above containing all the necessary chemicals and bins below for equipment and supplies. A cardboard photo storage box sat on the counter. While Sara and Kerney watched, Erma searched the contents once, and then a second time.
'My mistake,' she said.
'Sammy must have taken them.'
'Probably,' Kerney agreed.
'Were the cameras stolen from the darkroom?'
'Yes.'
'Are your prints intact?' Sara asked.
'As far as I can tell, yes. Should I search to see if anything else was taken?'
'I don't think you need to do that,' Sara answered.
'Did Sammy leave anything else with you for safekeeping?' Kerney asked.
Erma withdrew her attention from Sara and looked at Kerney.
'The theft is connected with Sammy somehow, isn't it?'
'We don't know that,' Sara said.
Erma's back stiffened, and she raised her chin.
'Kevin?' she demanded.
'It might be. Aunt Erma.'
'Now I am upset.'
Kerney took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
'I want you to call someone to come and stay with you for a while,' he said.
'That isn't necessary.'
'Then how about a cup of tea?' he suggested. Erma brightened.
'That is necessary.'
Over tea, Erma learned what she could about Sammy's disappearance from
Kerney while Sara carefully wrapped the watercolors in clear plastic sleeves. When Erma expressed the hope that Sammy would be found alive and well, Kerney's attempt at reassurance felt forced. It only made her more worried about the boy.
'He has such a rare talent,' she said wistfully. At the front door, Kerney promised Erma he would come back for a long visit.
'See that you do,' Erma replied, reaching up to give him a motherly hug.
'In fact,' she said to Sara, 'I want both of you to come back for a nice dinner so you can tell me exactly what this is all about.'
'Sounds like bribery to me,' Sara said. 'I accept.'
'It's a date,' Kerney said.
Walking to the truck, Sara looked back at Erma. 'What an exquisite lady she is. I hope I have that much class when I'm her age.'
'I don't think you have a thing to worry about,' Kerney said. Sara didn't break her stride.
'Do you think Andy has a deputy he can spare? I'd like your Aunt Erma to have some protection for a few days.'
'That's a good idea,' Kerney allowed, 'but you'll have to ask very nicely. He's still smarting from that tongue- lashing you gave him.'
Sara frowned.
'I forgot about that.'
Chapter 6
Andy Baca studied the five watercolors that were spread out on his desk.
'I don't know anything about art, but I know what I like. These are good,' Andy said. 'The question is, will they help you find Sammy?'
'Maybe,' Kerney answered. The picture of the ram on the cliff held his attention. Sammy had put three petroglyphs at the base of the cliff that didn't belong there: an Apache devil dancer, a rider on horseback, and a stylized sheep with a heart line. The arrangement of the petroglyphs matched perfectly with the rock art at Indian Wells, a place Kerney knew well. Kerney tapped the picture of the ram on the cliff.
'I've seen this cliff. I just can't pin it down. See the petroglyphs? They don't belong there.'
'You're sure?' Sara asked. Kerney nodded.
'The grouping is perfect. That's Indian Wells. Sammy's been there. So have I.'
'Where is it?' Andy asked.
'North of Rhodes Pass, in the San Andres.'
'That's a start,' Andy suggested.
'Not much of one,' Kerney countered.
'It's a hell of a long way from the test facility.' He returned his gaze to the watercolor.
'Was Big Mesa covered by the search teams?' he asked, looking at Sara.
'No, they stopped at the 7-Bar-K Ranch,' Sara replied. 'Is Big Mesa where you think the cliff is?'
'It's possible. The land form in the picture fits the area.'
'You could spend a month in those mountains and find nothing,' Andy speculated.
'I know it,' Kerney replied. He waved his hand over the watercolors. 'Alonzo Tony said Sammy took him to Big Mesa or Sheep Mesa-he wasn't sure which-and from the looks of it, I'd guess Big Mesa.'
'Where do we start?' Sara asked.
'We go where Sammy has been,' Kerney proposed. 'I've got a fairly good idea of three or four locations.'
'Can you get us into that area undetected?' Sara asked.
'You're kidding,' Kerney said. 'You want to sneak onto the base?'
'That's the idea,' she replied.
'Why?' Andy asked.
'I have my reasons.'
'Is the Fergurson burglary one of them?' Andy prodded.
'You bet it is,' Sara shot back. 'Let's leave it at that, okay?'
'I'd rather not,' Andy retorted. 'Bulldozing me isn't going to get you an answer.' Andy waved off the argument and grinned.
'Bulldozing? I'm just testing the waters.'
