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or fancy.
    The fact that those vehicles were stolen upset the law enforcement officers of Prosperino. But for years Rafe and Blake led the police on a merry chase.
    The woman’s soft sobs had Rafe casting a glance across the room. Up until now the teen had been trying valiantly to put on a defiant face. But his mother’s tears were cracking his hard facade, and when the adolescent’s eyes welled with emotion, Rafe knew in his heart that there was hope for the boy. The teen’s heart hadn’t yet turned to concrete. Hopefully, the court system would get the boy into counseling where he belonged.
    David arrived in the visitation room, the dark smudges beneath his eyes clear signs that the man wasn’t sleeping well.
    â€œHow come you’re not with Libby?”
    Anxiety shaded David’s brown eyes.
    â€œShe’s perfectly safe,” Rafe assured him. “I dropped her off at the police station. She wants to do a little investigating. Talk to some people.”
    The extra murder charges might never be leveled on David, so Rafe felt it unnecessary to worry the man with more detail than that.
    â€œI’m sure she’ll come to see you later today.”
    David only nodded in response. It was so obvious that something was gnawing at the man’s thoughts, that Rafe couldn’t waste any more time with small talk.
    â€œLook, David, you need to tell me what’s going on.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” The man’s expression turned hooded. “How can you ask that? I’m being accused of a crime I didn’t commit—”
    â€œWith all due respect,” Rafe firmly interrupted, “I have to tell you that I think you know more than you’re admitting. How can Libby and I help you if you don’t tell us everything?”
    David’s mouth drew into a rigid line.
    Rafe softened his tone. “David,” he began, “any father would want his daughter protected. I understand that. But there was desperation written all over that paper you handed me the other day. Enough desperation that you didn’t want Libby to see it.” He leaned forward a fraction. “I’m going to ask you again. What’s going on? Something is obviously causing you a great deal of anguish.”
    Hesitation hovered over David like a miasma. But finally the fear he’d worked hard to conceal focused at the surface. The man’s shoulders slumped, and he dipped his head and tossed a quick glance toward the door where an officer stood guard.
    â€œLibby’s in terrible danger,” David said, his voice low. “And so am I. I’m in trouble, Rafe. Deep trouble.”
    â€œFrom whom? From what?”
    David lifted his hands to the tabletop, lacing his fingers tightly, resting his forearms on the metal edge. “I don’t know. I don’t know who…but I do know why.”
    Remaining stock still, Rafe listened.
    â€œBack in November, around Thanksgiving,” David continued, “I received an anonymous correspondence. I have no idea who sent it. But the message indicated that several barrels of DMBE were missing and it was inferred that the chemical might be illegally dumped.”
    The older man scoured his jaw with an agitated hand. “Whoever sent that message to me had to be a Springer employee. And this person was frightened enough that he—or she—didn’t want to come forward.”
    Rafe asked, “Did you tell anyone about the note?”
    David shook his head. “Not a soul. And I didn’t launch a full-fledged investigation because I didn’t know for certain that any wrongdoing had taken place. But I did startlooking into the matter. Asking some questions.” He paused. “And apparently I must have hit a nerve.”
    A torrent of apprehension seemed to swirl around David. His brown eyes glistened with fear, his throat tightened with trepidation.
    â€œI received a package in the