“I’m beginning to feel like a crazy person,” she said.
“You aren’t crazy,” Wil said.
“Where did you get the phone bill?”
“From his trash,” Wil said matter-of-factly.
Samantha laughed out loud. “You took his trash? Ugh!”
“It was pretty unpleasant,” Wil said, “but it’s part of the job. You’d be amazed at what people throw away. That phone bill, for instance, was a real stroke of luck. It absolutely connects Henley with you.”
He took another muffin, commented on how good they were, and said, “Are you busy tonight?”
“Not at all,” Samantha said. “We had such a long day, I thought we’d just hang out here and take it easy.”
Wil smiled at her in a sly way. “Want to play detective?”
“You told me yesterday you didn’t directly involve your clients.”
“I said I didn’t endanger them,” Wil said. “I want to drive into Fort union and knock on Henley’s door. You stay in the car and take a look at him. Maybe the sight of him will jar your memory.”
“I’m willing to try,” Samantha said. “But what about Julie?”
“Bring her along for the ride,” Wil said. “She’s as involved in this as you are, and maybe she’ll remember him.”
“All right,” Samantha said. “We’ll get ready and go right now. It’s getting late, but I think Julie is too wired from our day out to fall asleep, anyway.”
“But listen,” Wil said, “it might be helpful if you don’t tell Julie where we’re going. If she’s not prepared, the surprise of seeing Henley may jar her memory too.”
Samantha went outside and found Julie filling the dogs’ water trough.
“What a thoughtful thing to do,” Samantha said.
“I figured the dogs needed fresh water,” Julie said. “Did Mr. Sherer leave yet?”
“He’s still here,” Samantha said. “And he wants us to go for a ride with him.”
Julie turned off the faucet, then hooked the hose on its holder.
“Yeah?” she said eagerly. “Are we helping him?”
“Sort of,” Samantha answered.
Wil was waiting for them. He opened their doors, then got into his own side. A little more than an hour later, an hour in which Julie beat Wil in a dozen games of “Twenty Questions,” they reached union Fort. Wil drove through the town, but stopped a block away from Henley’s place.
“It’s important you do as I tell you,” he said. “I want you to move into the back with Julie, Samantha. The windows are darkened back there, so he won’t be able to see you.”
“Who?” Julie asked.
Samantha hushed her.
“I’m going to pretend to be taking a survey,” Wil went on. “Even if he refuses, you should have enough chance to get a good look at him. Ready?”
“It sounds easy enough,” Samantha said, “but I’m not sure it’ll do any good.”
“We have to try,” Wil said. “Go on, get in the back.”
Samantha opened her door, pushed up her seat, and climbed in next to Julie. The child looked completely confused.
“Who are we going to look at?” she asked.
“You’ll see,” Samantha said. “It’s a secret.”
Wil drove on until he reached Henley’s address. He parked the car, picked up a phony survey from his seat, and got out. Julie unbuckled her seat belt and crawled nearer to Samantha to get a better view of the house. Wil walked up to the door and rang the bell. He waited a few moments, then rang it again. Then he looked back at the car and gave his head a slight shake.
“Where’s he going?” Julie asked.
“Looks like he’s going to check the back door,” Samantha said.
But if he does, I won’t see the man.
Wil returned to the car a few minutes later. He opened Samantha’s door and leaned down, one hand resting on the frame.
“Would you come with me for a minute?”
“Why?” Samantha said. “I thought . . .”
“There’s something I want you to see,” Wil said. “Don’t worry. He obviously isn’t home.”
Samantha looked up and down the block. Several children were playing in the street about halfway up, and a man was mowing his lawn.
“Won’t the neighbors be suspicious?”
Wil went to his trunk, opened it, and pulled out a package wrapped in brown paper. He took out a pen and quickly scribbled Henley’s address on the blank label.
“We’re making a delivery,” he said.
“What’s in the box?” Julie asked.