"Detectives 'R Us," he answered.

"Don't hang up on me," Doug growled. "Where's Richard?"

"What did you find?"

"Couple of things. You guys didn't tell me the Hudsons got a ransom note."

Steve made a noise. "We couldn't tell you that."

"And you deliberately withheld it until you'd talked me into checking on Worden's connection with Cygnet."

"Aw---"

"Anyway, forget it. I'm amazed to report I found something. Bud Worden's half-brother, Charles Kerrick, lives just outside Cygnet. They served time together a few years back for a gas station robbery."

I grabbed the phone book hanging next to Steve and furiously turned pages.

"So thanks for the lead," Doug continued. "And stay out of it from here on. I'm bringing in the Feds. We're going to handle this very carefully."

"Charles Kerrick, you said?" Steve asked, grinning. I held up a page to show him the address.

"I'm not repeating anything. Like I said, stay out of it. This isn't a job for kids--"

"Woof, woof."

"Huh?"

"You're barkin' up the wrong tree," Steve said, and hung up.

Back in the car, Richard asked, "What did he say?"

Steve grabbed the map, unfolded it. "He said he's proud to know such fine, clean-cut young men."

Richard scowled.

"Charles Kerrick," I said. "Half-brother."

"225 East Dalton road," Steve added.

Richard started the car.

© Copyright David T. Jarvis 1997, 1998, 1999