Part 24 (1/2)

”I know one way that might do it,” said Stillman. ”Another burglary.”

”On what?”

”The pharmacy. The old guy said it was the only drugstore in town. That makes it the only place you can fill a prescription. There are federal record-keeping requirements. Paper, not computers. Over the years, just about everybody needs a prescription once.”

”So our guy would be in the records. How do we know which he is?”

”Same way: the process of elimination. Some are women. The ones who work for New Mill Systems will all have the same health insurance. The ones who work for the city will have another. Some would be paid by Medicare, and that would mean they're over sixty-five.” Stillman paused. ”There may be other things that I haven't thought of yet that will eliminate others. I'll let you think of those.”

Walker glared at Stillman for a moment. ”It's a lousy idea. Let's go do it.”

Stillman immediately began packing his lock picks and video camera and flashlights into his leather bag. ”Get that jacket I bought you in Nashua, the navy blue one. And put on a different s.h.i.+rt. Green would be good. And dark shoes. I'll meet you in the car.”

When they were on the road again, Stillman stopped sorting his equipment. ”You didn't happen to look closely at the door locks in that place, did you?”

”I don't remember very clearly,” said Walker. ”The ones on the front door were old bra.s.s. There was a long handle with a thumb latch.” He squinted. ”I think there was a dead bolt above it.”

”What did the keyhole look like-the regular kind, or a weird shape, like a circle?”

”Regular, I think,” Walker answered. ”Why this uncharacteristic concern?”

”I told you about security systems,” said Stillman. ”Some are simple and easy.”

”I take it this won't be one of them.”

”I doubt it. Even in small towns, the drugstores are full of drugs. In some circles, money is a second choice. Having cash just puts a middle man between them and what they really want. We might run into some features we can't easily defeat.”

”If we can't get in, what are we doing?”

”Oh, we can get in,” said Stillman. ”The only thing that's at issue is how we get out.”

When they reached the COULTER COULTER sign, Walker made the turn. He was getting comfortable with the road now, and soon they were in the open between the two fields. Stillman said, ”Slow down and watch this side.” sign, Walker made the turn. He was getting comfortable with the road now, and soon they were in the open between the two fields. Stillman said, ”Slow down and watch this side.”

”For what?”

”There's a dirt road up here. There ... stop.”

Walker stopped, and Stillman got out. He lifted a section of fence rail that served as a gate and walked with it, then waved Walker in. Walker drove off the road and found himself on a dirt surface. Stillman closed the gate and got in again.

”Turn off your lights.”

Walker obeyed. He looked at Stillman, who was watching him impatiently. ”It's a dirt road,” said Stillman. ”Follow it.”

Walker sighed. ”I think the term 'dirt' is accurate. I'd hardly call this a road.” He cautiously moved forward.

”Keep going. I have a theory I want to check.”

”Does your theory tow stuck cars?”

”Just do it.”

Walker b.u.mped along over the rutted, uneven ground, and then the ride became smoother. The road was so narrow that at times he could tell both front tires were pa.s.sing over gra.s.s at once.

”See the barn ahead?” asked Stillman.

”Yeah.” In the dark field, it was a high rectangle of deeper darkness. Walker drove on slowly. He found that he could see much better than he had expected, and soon he was approaching the black shadow of the barn.

”I got this idea when you said there were no cows,” said Stillman. ”Stop.” He got out and ran ahead. In a few seconds, Walker saw his flashlight go on, then sweep the floor of the barn, then go out. When he returned, he said, ”It's empty. Pull inside, and turn around so you're facing out. Then kill the engine.”

When Walker had done it, he joined Stillman. They began to walk across the field. After a few minutes, Stillman spoke again. ”Here's how we do it: we go up the back of Main Street. There's a pa.s.sage. I don't know if it counts as an alley, because it's empty ground and unpaved. But it runs behind the row of businesses. Anyway, we walk it without going up Main.”

”Okay,” said Walker.

”When we get to the drugstore, we take a few minutes to see what we're up against. If we can't get in, we'll leave. If we do get in, we'll do just what we did before. We'll videotape the records.”

They crossed the second bridge into town and hurried off Main Street before they reached the first street lamp. They made their way up the pa.s.sage behind the long row of buildings. When they reached the back of the drugstore, Stillman stopped. He examined the windows, and Walker's heart sank. They all had bars on them.

He saw Stillman's flashlight go on, then saw the beam of light inside the gla.s.s. It moved slowly, then went out. A moment later, it went on again at the next window. Walker went to join Stillman at the back door.

”What do you think?” he whispered.

”It's a dummy.”

”What?”

”The alarm. It's not turned on. Maybe it's not even hooked up. Anyway, there's no power going to the panel. The indicator light's not on.” He quickly picked the lock and opened the door. ”Come on in.”

Walker stepped inside and closed the door, then ducked low and began to search the back counter. He flicked his flashlight on to confirm his impression, then let it play along each of the walls slowly. He stood up. ”It's not a pharmacy. It's just a storeroom. There aren't any prescription drugs.”

”Yeah,” said Stillman. ”I've been trying to remember that conversation since I looked in the window. I asked the old boy if it was the only drugstore in town. He said yes.”

”There's nothing here but over-the-counter stuff. There's not even a locked cabinet.”

”He said drugstore. He didn't say there was a licensed pharmacist around who could fill prescriptions. People must do that in Keene.” He touched Walker's arm. ”Let's go.”

They made their way back to the barn, then drove out to the highway. The silence seemed to have settled on Stillman, and he didn't speak again until they were back in Keene. ”I'm going to try working with the phone book. Go think about this some more. If you come up with another way of finding out who the cousin was, I'll be in my room.”

When Walker opened the door to his room, he looked inside. There, asleep on the bed, was Serena. She heard him, opened her eyes, and said, ”Boy, I'm glad that's only you.”

”So am I,” he said.

”I mean I'm glad you're alone.”

”Yeah. That's what I meant too.”

31.