The sheriff moved past Frederick toward the house.
"Looks like they're about to come out."
Frederick said, "Sheriff?"
As the sheriff was turning, Frederick picked up the shovel. The blade bit deep, and then it was done.
54
Biggins's directions led me to a small independent service station with a single pump island and a tow truck parked at the rear. Large yellow signs at the edge of the turnoff announced WE HAVE PROPANE and DIESEL. A thin man in a blue windbreaker came around the side of the building as I pulled up. A yellow lab gimped along behind him, then flopped to the ground by the station's front door. When the man saw me, he waved like he was waving good-bye. He was too young to be David Reinnike.
"Sorry, partner, I just turned off the pumps. We're closed."
"Are you Lewis or Conrad? I just left the Sheriffs Substation. The deputy said I would find Lewis or Conrad here. I'm from Los Angeles, about Payne Keller."
"I'm Lewis. This is the goddamnedest thing, isn't it? The god-damnedest thing. I'm supposed to take the wife up to Cambria tomorrow, and now this. I gotta get this place closed."
Lewis was looking around the station, with his lips silently moving as if he was making a list of everything he needed to do. I pointed up the road.
"Mr. Lewis, is this the right way to Payne's house?"
"Yeah, right up there. It's not much farther. The sheriff's up there."
"Okay, good."
I felt a little better thinking the sheriff was at Keller's house. Diaz would probably avoid him.
"Have any other officers come by?"
He stared at me like he was having a hard time concentrating.
"Yeah, another one from Los Angeles. She might be up there with the sheriff. She asked about it."
"Was that before or after the sheriff?"
"After. Listen, I gotta get this place closed. We got a gas truck coming up here, and I gotta get that gas canceled. Payne's dead, and we got a whole damn truck of gas on its way."
His eyes suddenly filled, and he hurried past me into the service bays. I helped him pull down the overhead doors, and talked to him as he shut the power to the hydraulic lifts.
"I know this is a bad time, Mr. Lewis. I'm sorry."
"I know. I understand. They said Payne was using a fake name. What in hell is that all about? I never knew Payne had another name."
"George Reinnike."
"I didn't know. I been here for eight years; all I knew was Payne."
"Payne had a son. Did you know about his son?"
"Jesus Christ, no. That's what the sheriff said. I didn't know anything about a son."
"His name was David."
"Jesus, next you're gonna tell me Payne was Elvis-fucking-Presley."
We moved into the office. If Lewis had worked with Reinnike for eight years, he could probably name Reinnike's closest friends. I asked him. Lewis hesitated, and I could see he was bothered by how little he knew about the man with whom he had worked so closely.
"Payne didn't have friends. He kinda stayed to himself."
"Everybody has someone."
"Maybe up at the church. Payne was big on the Bible. He was up at the church a lot."
"Anyone else?"
"Just me and Frederick, that's all I know. We helped him here at the station, then up at the house when he needed it. Frederick 's been here longer than me."
"How long has Frederick been here?"
"I don't know-ten, twelve years, something like that. You want his number?"
"What does Frederick look like?"
"Little younger than you, maybe. About your height, but heavy. I dunno. Why you asking about Frederick? What does that have to do with Payne?"
"Did Payne tell you why he was going to Los Angeles?"
"I thought he was in Sacramento."
"He told you he was going to Sacramento?"
"He called Frederick. His sister got T-boned in a bad wreck, he said. I thought he was in Sacramento taking care of her, not down in L.A. getting himself shot."
"He called Frederick."
"Yeah. Frederick talked to him."
"Payne didn't have a sister."
Elroy Lewis muttered under his breath, and we were both wondering why Frederick had gotten all the calls and not Elroy Lewis. Lewis turned off the last lights, then locked the door behind us.
He said, "If you see the sheriff up there, you tell him I went home. He said he was gonna call."
"I'll tell him you went home."
"You going up to Payne's right now?"
"That's right."
"Look for the big dead sycamore right by the drive, otherwise you'll miss it."