We didn't speak while we were inside the property in case there were directional listening devices, but we did turn on our cell phones and beepers, which indicated that Kate had two messages, and I had none.

The dashboard clock said it was 4:58 P.M., so Tom Walsh should still be in his office defending Western Civilization for another two minutes.

At the guardhouse, the Jeep pulled to the side, and the gate slid open. As we exited the property, I could see two guards through a window of the house, and one of them was videotaping us. I leaned toward Kate's window and saluted with my middle finger.

McCuen Pond Road lay in shadow, and I turned on my headlights so I could spot the bears sooner. I asked Kate, "Well, what are your thoughts?"

She stayed silent awhile, then replied, "He's charming in a spooky sort of way."

One of the more interesting things in life is hearing a woman's thoughts on a man you've both met. Men that I find ugly, she finds good-looking; men I find slimy, she finds sociable; and so forth. In this case, however, I sort of agreed with Kate.

She said, "I think he liked you." She added, "Don't take this wrong, but he sort of reminded me of you."

"How's that, darling?"

"Well, the self-confidence and the ... for want of a better expression, the male macho bullshit."

"Good expression. More important, does he know more about Harry than he's telling us?"

"I don't know ... His whole demeanor seemed almost nonchalant."

I replied, "The sign of a sociopath and narcissist."

"Yes, but sometimes the sign of a person who has nothing to hide."

"He has something to hide, even if it's only oil-price rigging. That's why the Justice Department is interested in him."

"True, but-"

"And yet," I said, "he invites us in without his lawyer present."

"What's your point?"

"He wants to know what we know, and he can learn that by the questions we ask him."

"That's one way to look at it."

"And how about that story of the Custer Hill Club?"

She nodded. "What a story. It's really amazing if you think about it ... I mean, these young officers, staying in touch, some of them getting rich and powerful ... and Bain Madox building that lodge."

"Yeah. What's more amazing is that he actually admitted to us that this group is or was some sort of secret society that somehow influenced events on the world stage during the Cold War. Including engaging in illegal activities."

She thought a moment, then replied, "He wants to sound important and powerful ... guys do that ... but if any of that is true, then it puts a whole different light on the Custer Hill Club." She pointed out, "He raised some suspicions he didn't need to raise."

"He may have thought we already knew about the history of the club."

"Or," Kate said, "it's past history and he's proud of it, like he's proud of his Vietnam service. I don't know ... but then he said he was a little involved with the war on terrorism."

"Right. That's like being a little pregnant." I said, "As I suspected, there's more to this group than meets the eye. There's a political element here, and in today's world, Mr. Madox's oil mixes well with politics."

"It always did."

I changed the subject back to our immediate concern. "So, did Madox have anything to do with Harry's disappearance?"

She stayed quiet, then said, "The one thing that bothered me was his stalling ... like he was waiting for Harry to ... turn up."

I nodded and said, "That would take the heat off him." I added, "I have this bad feeling that Harry is going to turn up soon, and not on Bain Madox's property."

Kate nodded silently, then said, "I need to check my phone messages." She listened to them and said to me, "Tom, twice. He says I need to call him ASAP."

I wondered why Walsh had called her and not me, too.

She checked her beeper and said, "Tom, twice."

"He's a persistent little shit, isn't he?"

"He's not ... What is your problem with authority?"

"My problem is with supervisors who bullshit me and expect loyalty in return. The essence of loyalty is reciprocity. If you're loyal to me, I'll be loyal to you. Bullshit me, and I'll bullshit you. That's the contract."

"Thank you for sharing that. Now, I'll call our supervisor while you give your undivided attention to the road. Drive slowly so we don't run out of cell-phone coverage."

I eased up on the gas and said, "Put it on speakerphone."

She dialed, and Walsh's voice came through her phone. "Where the hell have you been?" he asked.

Kate replied, without bullshit, "We interviewed Bain Madox at the Custer Hill Club."

"What? I specifically told you-was this your idiot husband's idea?"

I cut in. "Hi, Tom. Idiot husband here."

Silence, followed by, "Corey, you have really screwed up this time."

"That's what you said last time."

He was not a happy man and almost shouted, "You totally disobeyed my orders. You're history, mister."

Kate seemed a little ruffled, and said, "Tom, we've gotten permission from Madox to conduct a search on his land at first light. Meanwhile, he promised to begin a search with his security staff immediately."

No reply, and I thought the call was dropped or Tom was having a seizure or something. I said to Kate, "Do you want some of these Cheez-Its?"

Kate asked, "Tom? Are you there?"

His voice came through the phone, and he said, "I'm afraid we don't need to continue the search."

Neither of us responded, and I felt my stomach tighten. I already knew what he was going to say, but I didn't want to hear it.