Death on the High Lonesome by Frank Hayes Page A

going to get much better.”
    â€œWell, if it’s any consolation, I’ve had more than a couple of those days in my life, too.”
    Virgil smiled broadly.
    â€œDid I say something to cause that reaction?” Kyle asked.
    â€œThat’s the second time today that I’ve wasted my sad tale on people who can match me stroke for stroke. I’ve got to find someone other than a county coroner who spends a good part of his time cutting up dead people and a narc who’s lucky if he can get through a day without someone trying to hand him off to that coroner.”
    â€œYeah. I guess that old saw about being judged by the company you keep places us on the list of untouchables for most social invites. But it does keep the adrenaline flowing through our veins, doesn’t it?”
    Virgil winced. “Is that what we are? Adrenaline junkies? Waiting for our next fix?”
    â€œI don’t know, but my wife says my eyes light up every time I get one of those calls in the middle of the night.”
    â€œThat’s pathetic,” Virgil said.
    â€œYeah, it is, but I gotta admit she’s right.”
    â€œOkay, before I kick you out the door so I can deal with the latest thing that just got dropped in my lap, what’s so important that we couldn’t deal with it in a phone call?”
    Kyle got up from the chair he had sat in next to Virgil’s desk. He walked over to the small table against the far wall and poured himself a cup of coffee. After he took a swallow, he turned toward Virgil.
    â€œYou always have the best coffee.”
    â€œThat’s because I forbid anyone to make it except Rosie. But you didn’t come all this way to compliment us on our coffee-brewing skills. What’s up?”
    Kyle walked back to sit in the seat next to Virgil’s desk. “Two things,” he said. “The first, we could have talked about on the phone. U.S. marshal. I told you after that huge bust a couple of months ago, you’d get on the radar. So here it is. I’ve been asked to feel you out on the idea of becoming one of us. Before you say anything, I want you to take some time and think it through. We don’t need an answer right now. Actually, it’s kind of an open-ended invitation, so if the timing isn’t good now, maybe sometime down the road. Think about it. If you have any questions or concerns just ask.”
    Virgil didn’t respond right away. Instead, he got up, walked around the office, looking at it like it was the first time he’d ever seen it.
    â€œYou know, my mom told me I took my first steps here. That chair I sit in was my dad’s. One way or another, I’ve been tied to this place my whole life. When I graduated from college, then was accepted into law school . . . Well, if anybody told me then that I’d be here twenty-some-odd years later, I’d have said they were drinking the Kool-Aid. But here I am, still sitting in my daddy’s chair. Back then I would have jumped at that offer or pretty much any other, just to put this place in my rearview mirror.”
    â€œTiming is everything, I know, Virgil, but things change. I guess like they say, change is the only constant in life. You’re still a young man. You’ve got a lot of life ahead of you. I know you’ve got deep roots here, but sometimes it’s good to shake things up.”
    Virgil retuned to sit in his chair. “Well, thanks for the offer. It’s good to be wanted. For now I’ll put it on the back burner and let it simmer. Now, what about that second thing?”
    â€œThat’s something a little more unusual, and for that I’ll need you physically for a couple of hours.”
    â€œAfraid that’s not happening today. Got something that just jumped to the top of my list. Matter of fact, I should be on the road now. I put in a call to Dif, my part-timer, but he hasn’t called back.”
    â€œVirgil,