The Beasts Of Valhalla

that stunt with the rings of fire. You always were a fast little critter.'

'Not always fast enough,' I said in what I hoped was a neutral tone.

Bolesh shrugged. 'Sorry about that. I sure was one mean son-of-a-bitch as a kid. Anyway, Garth always gave me as good as I gave you.' He paused, stared at me over the rim of his coffee container. It struck me how his eyes, viewed by themselves, glowed with a strange, muted light, as though the thoughts moving behind them had nothing to do with the chitchat coming out of his mouth. It occurred to me that, for some reason, I had Jake Bolesh worried.

''Mongo the Magnificent,'' Bolesh continued. 'That was your billing, right?'

'Right. You seem to know a lot about me, Jake.'

'Every time the local paper needs to fill up space, it runs a piece on the famous dwarf from Peru County. Also, I've seen you written up in Time and Newsweek. You earned your PhD while you were with the circus. Now you're a college professor. Criminology. Also, of course, you hire out as a private detective.'

'You have my dossier up to date.'

'Do I? It occurs to rite to ask what you might be investigating at the moment.'

Again I reached down into the bag at my feet, drew out a jar of honey and placed it on the desk in front of Bolesh.

'First coffee, now honey,' Bolesh said with a sharp, brittle laugh. 'Cute.'

'I thought you'd see the point.'

'Sharpen it for me.'

'My family still has a few questions about Tommy's death. I'm sure you understand.'

'Not really. Why didn't John or Janet come to me?'

'Maybe they would have eventually. Things have happened pretty quickly. The funeral was just yesterday, and they're still pretty much in shock.'

'But you're not.'

'It seems to me that it would be in everyone's interest to get some of the fine points cleared up quickly so the whole matter can be laid to rest for good.'

Bolesh unscrewed the cap on the honey jar, sniffed its contents. 'You carrying a gun?'

'No. Why do you ask?'

'Because it seems to me that you're doing a private detective number, even if it's unofficial, and you're not licensed in this state. Your handgun license is no good, either, unless it's registered with me. You want to register a handgun?'

'Do you think I need a gun?'

'No. I'm just laying things out, Rob, so we both know where we stand. What would you like to know?'

'I'd like to see your raw file on the case and the coroner's report, if there is one.'

'No.'

'Why not?'

'It would be unprofessional.'

'I'm a professional.'

'You have no standing in this county. It would set a bad precedent. If I let you see things like that, who knows who'd be in to second-guess me next week?'

'Who would know that you let me see the files?'

'I would. I happen to take my job very seriously. I can tell you that it's an open and shut case of murder- suicide.'

'Will there be a grand jury hearing or coroner's inquest?'

'Why should there be? There's no one to accuse, and we're satisfied that all the facts are known.'

'It seems to me that you closed up shop pretty quickly.'

'Did I? You weren't at the scene. There wasn't much to investigate. The kids were queer, Rob, as I'm sure you've heard.'

'What would I have seen if I'd been there?'

'A mess. The Lugmor kid shot out your nephew's chest, then blew his own head off. My deputies and I went over that scene on our hands and knees, Robby; the only footprints there belonged to the two boys. Besides, no one else would have a motive. Things were just the way I reported, and if I had any doubts I'd still be investigating. I'm afraid you'll just have to take my word for that. We're not hicks here, Rob, despite what New Yorkers may think. The people in this county have seen fit to keep me in this office for twelve years; they must think I know my business.'

'Aren't you interested in where Tommy might have been the week before he was killed?'

'I know where he was.'

Surprise. 'Where?'

'Shacked up with Rod Lugmor. Lugmor's folks were away.'

'How do you know Tommy was with Rodney Lugmor?'

'We found his toilet kit and a bag full of his clothes in the Lugmor kid's room.'

'Why didn't you tell my sister?'

'You tell her. Under the circumstances, I didn't feel Janet and John would be too anxious to find out that those two kids were alone with each other for a week, buggering- '

'It may be true that Tommy was with Rodney Lugmor. What you think they were doing is just your opinion.'

'Have it your way. People are close to each other in this county, Rob, and we try to respect each other's feelings. Have any other questions?'

Not at the moment, and not for Bolesh. 'I guess not. You've been very helpful, Jake. I appreciate it, and I know my family will appreciate it.'

'Okay, then let me ask you one. What was Coop Lugmor whispering in your ear yesterday at the cemetery?'

'Who told you about Lugmor?'

'A source. I've extended courtesy to you, and now I'd appreciate a little from you.'

'He was just saying he was sorry for what had happened.'

Bolesh stared at me for some time. Again, I had the definite impression that he was worried-and growing angry. I certainly didn't want Bolesh angry at me, because he could easily and quickly close me down with nothing more than a trumped-up traffic ticket. I was a long way from home, and I wanted to keep my fingers clear of the light socket that was the county sheriff-at least until I'd cut his wires.

'I don't think I believe you, Rob,' Bolesh said at last, 'but I'll let it pass. For now. In any case, if you've seen Coop you know he's pissed his life away. He's bitter, he's crazy, and he'll say anything just to stir up trouble. I'd hate to see him use you to try and settle some of his personal grudges.'

'I'll try to keep from being used.'

'Let me be straight with you, Robby. You're an old acquaintance, a private citizen with family here, and you haven't broken any laws-yet. You've got as much right to be here as anybody else.'

'Thanks, Jake,' I said evenly.

If he noted any sarcasm, he ignored it. 'Go ahead and ask around, but I'll take it as a personal kindness if you'd be very discreet about who you talk to, what questions you ask, and how loud you ask them. This is a quiet county. Outsiders-and you are an outsider-could easily upset things.'

'What things?'

'Something very good has happened to this county, Rob, and everybody benefits. I'm not going to go into detail because it has nothing to do with your nephew's death, and it isn't any of your business. Even your own brother-in-law, Tommy's father, will tell you that it's better if things remain nice and quiet. The point is that you're quite a famous dwarf, Robby; if it becomes widely known that you're roaming around Peru County and investigating something sensational, it's going to attract attention from a lot of vultures in the media. It's very important that that doesn't happen here; I don't want to come to work some morning and find Mike Wallace and a camera crew camped outside my office. Understand, I'm not trying to pressure you. I'm just asking that you satisfy yourself and your family that all the facts are known, and then go back to New York. You'll be doing everybody a favor, including