As he stared back into the building where the night security guard was at the front reception desk, an idea struck him. The white Stetson almost ruined the hard-ass effect he wanted. If you live in Texas, Wyoming or South Dakota, the Stetson is fine, legit. If you live in a crooked river city in Illinois, youre just playing cowpoke. That he wore it while he was inside was even more of a joke. But even with the Stetson, I knew he would be dangerous. What do you mean by immediately? A matter of seconds, a matter of hours, or a matter of days? I relaxed for the first time since Id pushed open the door to the cop bar. That the guy ran out and bought a new truck was probably not a good thing. The person who hired him might have been afraid the cops would take a second look at Myers, and hed fall apart and start pointing fingers, said Devine. Vanessa stirred.Did I hear you talk about shooting people? Im Ellen, this is Fred. What if the police ask me? I cant lie to them. Oh, sure, Mason said, unless they have already. However, Ill have a nice little heart-to-heart talk. Stone looked at his watch.Do you need anything from upstairs? My fathers middle name, plus two exclamation points. Mason held the witness with his eyes, but the margin of his consciousness told him what was going on, the amusement of the spectators in the courtroom, the anger of the district attorney. Hes rich. He makes more every day than you do in a month. She looked at him calmly, with an utterly uninterested expression, which, under the tense standoff, was terrifying.You should have just let me die, Travis. It would have been much better for me and certainly much better foryou. The crews had returned to their cottages, and everybody else was on cognac and coffee when a dog barked somewhere. Ask her if shell wait for me there. Ill be down right away..