"Why?"

"We need to ... actually, we're trying to avoid Liam Griffith."

"No kidding? What's in it for me?"

"Well, then, just let us out on Route 56. We'll hitchhike to Potsdam."

"You might see a bear before you see a car."

"Yeah? Well, I'm armed."

"Don't shoot the bears. I'll take you."

"Thanks." I turned around to speak to Kate, but she looked a little frosty. I said to her, "I'll buy you lunch in Potsdam."

No reply.

Then, bigmouthed Schaeffer says, "Max is quite a looker. Funny, too."

"Who? Oh, the Hertz person." A little payback from the good major.

We were at the intersection of Route 56, and Schaeffer stopped the car, and asked, "Potsdam?"

I had a sense of deja vu from when I was at this crossroads yesterday and made the decision to go see Harry at the Potsdam morgue rather than go as ordered to state police headquarters.

Now, we had to decide if we were going to face the music with Griffith before we got deeper into trouble, or go up to Potsdam and hide out.

Schaeffer asked again, "Which way?"

I glanced over my shoulder. "Kate? Potsdam or Liam?"

She replied, "Potsdam."

Schaeffer turned right and headed north to Potsdam.

It's tough enough working a homicide investigation when you're out of your jurisdiction. It's even tougher when you're on the lam from the people you're working for, and your partner is pissed at you, and your prime suspect is a buddy of some guys who work for the president.

How do I get myself into shit like this?

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

We chatted a bit about the case as we drove through the park preserve. When we got to South Colton, I asked Schaeffer, "Do you know Rudy who owns that gas station?"

"Yeah, I remember him from when I used to patrol this area. Why?"

"He's Madox's local rat." I explained my brief association with Ratso Rudy.

Schaeffer nodded, and said, "This guy Madox has a lot more going on here than I realized. But as I said, he never caused us any trouble, and I don't think he's here that much. But from now on, I will keep closer tabs on him."

I thought that there wasn't going to be much more "from now on," but I didn't reply.

Schaeffer arrived at the same thought. "I guess he's a murder suspect now."

"Well, I think he is."

"Do your colleagues in my headquarters think that?"

"I reported our suspicions to Tom Walsh in New York."

"And what are you two doing in Potsdam?"

I replied, "Just taking a breather."

"Yeah? Why don't you go back to The Point?"

"Well, I think Mr. Griffith may be in our room using Kate's makeup while he waits for us."

"So, you're on the run from your own people?"

"I wouldn't put it quite like that."

"No? How would you put it?"

"Let me think about that. Meanwhile, can we be assured that you won't mention this to anyone?"

"Let me think about that."

"Because, if we can't count on your discretion, you may as well take us back to Ray Brook."

"What's in this for me?"

"You'd be doing the right thing."

"When do I know that?"

"Oh ... in about two days."

"Yeah? So, you want me to commit a breach of professional responsibility and not mention to Griffith that I took you to the crime scene, and then to Potsdam?"

"Tell you what, Major. Ask him and the other FBI guys what this is all about. If they give you a straight answer, then send them to Potsdam to find us. Deal?"

"I think you'll get the best of that deal. But okay. It's a deal."