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comfortable—the table was way too high for the chairs, but Dan took a seat. He briefly explained who he was and why he was there—five dead dogs whose deaths needed to be investigated.
    â€œNow, how can I help?” Officer Bartlett pulled up a chair opposite.
    â€œYou were the first on the scene at the track fire, correct?” Dan continued after a nod from the officer. “What were your reasons for arresting Mr. Crumm?”
    â€œWell, other than he had blood all over him and we’d found a body and a knife. We figured we had a pretty good reason to detain him. He admitted he’d handled the knife but tried to tell us the body had disappeared and then showed up again. Some kind of screwy story. Same thing with those dogs that died.”
    â€œDid you see the dogs?”
    â€œThe bodies? No, the vet had bagged them and already had them loaded in his truck by the time we got there. Only body we dealt with was this Jackson Sanchez.”
    â€œWhy do you think Fucher said the body moved?”
    â€œWho knows? The guy’s not right—you know, a couple bricks shy.”
    Dan ignored the ill-timed attempt at humor. Bad taste, to say the least, and maybe hinted at a preconceived prejudice. Slapping cuffs on Fucher made his life easier. Solved a problem without a lot of work.
    â€œDidn’t you wonder why if he was the murderer he’d still be hanging around working—feeding and taking care of forty-five dogs?”
    â€œLike I said you can’t count on this guy to make much sense. I think he got confused, turned around by all the noise and smoke. Do I think he could have killed Mr. Sanchez and started a fire to cover it up? Yeah, I do. In my line of work you learn to never underestimate the handicapped. The call I hate to take most? When someone mentally impaired is holding a family hostage. Or doing anything threatening, for that matter. It’s like walking into a minefield. You just never know what’s going to happen.”
    â€œAnd you think he would have knowingly endangered the lives of the dogs he cared for by starting a fire? I’ve talked to Fucher. He may be a bit challenged, but I think he pretty much knows right from wrong and recognizes danger when he sees it.”
    â€œWhen it comes to all those dogs in the kennel that night, I don’t think he thought things through. I don’t think he’s capable of following a thought to its logical conclusion.”
    â€œBut this same individual was able to save the lives of forty-five dogs—that seems to take some deductive reasoning.”
    â€œHe lost five—didn’t you just say that’s your interest in the case? Five insured animals? Hey, I don’t think I can help you any so if you don’t have any more questions, I’m a little behind in some end-of-the-day R & R. By the way, it turns out this Fucher had a pretty good reason to be angry at Jackson Sanchez. Guess the guy was trying to get him fired. That’s reason enough in my books to do him in.”
    Dan stood. This was a dead end and a little unnerving. He hated closed minds and the man in front of him certainly seemed to have one. He thanked the officer, picked up the incident report from the receptionist, and walked out to the SUV. Slipping behind the wheel he instantly got a wet kiss on the ear and didn’t reprimand Sadie as she crawled over the console into the passenger-side front seat. He liked this dog and he really liked the dog’s owner. Dan was beginning to think of Fucher as having been framed. Dangerous thinking. He had no evidence and was letting emotions push in. Yet that cop left a bad taste in his mouth. Maybe he shouldn’t read more into it. It was probably just what he said, he was in a hurry to get away from work and unwind. Still…a lack of feeling and a bit too quick to finger-point. No, not enough to judge someone on. Dan admonished himself to keep an open mind.

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