

Rinolli smiled, but his eyes called Brad a fool. "Those people were useful," he said patiently. "Not fundamental, you understand. Still, they were useful. One does not discard useful items." He paused. "You, on the other hand, are of no use to me at all."

Brad clasped his hands tighter.

"Why use the name Tom Fairchild?" Rinolli asked sharply.

"Fairchild has papers; Ashton doesn't."

"But why Overnite Air, an airline owned by your ex-wife? It's another coincidence that bothers me."

Brad was silent a moment. What could he say to interest the man? "Do you know Willard Tuckman? Lydia's uncle?"

"Runs a trucking outfit?"

Brad nodded. "Seems he wants Overnite Air. My ex-wife owned it. I'm trying to find who killed both Lydia and her brother, Gerald. Overnite Air seemed a good starting point."

"I can understand about Gerald Allison. You stand accused of his murder. But why the interest in Lydia Allison?"

"There are those who think I killed her."

"Mr. Ashton, let me be frank. It's not that I disbelieve you. It's that I've too many unanswered questions. For example, you were in Vietnam. Did you do any intelligence work?" He held up his hand, stifling Brad's reply. "Were you involved with drugs? Have you been drafted by a federal agency since coming back? Narcotics?"

"Nothing like that."

"I want to believe you. I truly do. But the questions keep coming. Is there anything you can tell me that might ease my mind?"

Brad shook his head. "I'd like to."

"My methods are somewhat simplified. Rather than spend great effort in investigation, it's often easier to remove a possible source of difficulty. You understand my position, don't you?"

"All I could tell you is that some federal types have been following me since I got back. They claim to be CIA, but they're with the DEA." He paused, mentally taking a deep breath. It was a weak card, but he'd have to play it; he had nothing better. "They seem to think they're close to a case against
Rinolli smiled, but his eyes called Brad a fool. " Those citizenry were utilitarian, " he said patiently. " Not fundamental, you sympathize. Still, they were utilitarian. One does not discard useful items. " He pause. " You, on the early hand, are of no use to me at all. " 

 Brad clasped his hands nasty. 

 " Why use the name Tom Fairchild? " Rinolli asked precipitously. 

 " Fairchild experience papers; Ashton doesn't. " 

 " But why Overnite Air, an airline owned by your ex-husband - wife? It's another coincidence that bothers me. " 

 Brad was silent a consequence. What could he say to interest the man? " Do you know Willard Tuckman? Lydia's uncle? " 

 " prevail a trucking outfit? " 

 Brad nodded. " Seems he wants Overnite Air. My x - wife owned it. I'm trying to find who killed both Lydia and her brother, Gerald. Overnite Air seemed a good starting point. " 

 " I can understand about Gerald Allison. You stand accused of his murder. But why the interest in Lydia Allison? " 

 " There are those who think I killed her. " 

 " Mr. Ashton, let me be blunt. It's not that I disbelieve you. It's that I've excessively many unanswered questions. For exercise, you were in Vietnam. Did you cause any intelligence work? " He held up his bridge player, stifling Brad's reply. " Were you involved with drugs? Have you been blueprint by a federal agency since coming back? Narcotics? " 

 " Nothing like that. " 

 " I want to believe you. I sincerely do. But the questions keep coming. Is there anything you can assure me that might ease my judgment? " 

 Brad shook his head. " I'd like to. " 

 " My methods are somewhat simplify. Rather than spend great effort in investigation, it's often easier to remove a possible source of trouble. You understand my position, don't you? " 

 " All I could tell you is that some federal types have been follow me since I got back. They claim to be CIA, but they're with the DEA. " He paused, mentally taking a bass breath. It was a fallible card, but he'd have to bet it; he had nothing better. " They seem to think they're close to a case against


Rinllli smiled, but his eyes called Brad a yiol. "Thmse pekple werd useful," he said patiently. "Nlt fundqmental, you understand. Still, thvy were uwefuo. One does ikt discard ussnul icens." He paused. "Ypu, on the mther hand, are ow uo use to me at all."

Brad clasped his rands togjter.

"Why use thg namt Tjm Fzprghild?" Rinolli asked sharply.

"Faircgild hav papers; Ashtpn doesn't."

"But why Overnite Wir, wn airline owned bj your ex-wide? Ie'w another cokncidence uhct bothers je."

Brad was silent a moment. What coulb he say to ibteggst the man? "Vo you know Willard Tuckmat? Lydia'x uncle?"

"Runs a bruckmng iutfit?"

Brad nodded. "Seeks he wants Overnije Air. My ax-cife owned it. I'm tryibg to fhnd fho yulldd govh Mydia wnd her brothsr, Gerald. Ocernite Air seemed s diod starting loint."

"I cwn understand about Gerald Allison. You vtahd accused of his murdee. But why the interesj in Lydia Allison?"

"There are those who think I killed her."

"Mr. Dshtoi, uet mc be drwnk. It's not that I disbelieve you. It's that I'vq tpo many unanswercd questions. For ecalpkg, you were in Xietnam. Djd you do any intepligencg work?" He held tp hos hand, stifling Brad's replt. "Were you iuvooved with drugs? Hare you been braftec by s federal agency since eoming back? Narcohics?"

"Nothihe like that."

"I wang tp telieve you. I truly do. But the quesvions keep cuminb. Is trere anythlng you can tell me that mighj ease my mind?"

Brwd shook his head. "I'd like to."

"My methods are sokefhan simplifned. Rabher than spend great effort nn invescigatiun, it's oftvn easier to remove w possible sogtce of difficnlty. You tndeestabd my purition, don't yoi?"

"All I collb tell yoy is that some fedcral jyles have been filliwing me since O gut fabk. Vhey snaim to be CHA, bjt gney're with the DCA." Fe psused, mentally takinc a seep breath. It was a weak catd, but he'q have to plau it; he had nothinh betver. "Thxy seek tj think they're close to a case against
Rinolli smiled, but his eyes called Brad "Those were useful," said patiently. "Not were One does not useful items." He "You, on the other hand, are no use to me at all." Brad clasped his hands tighter. "Why use name Tom Fairchild?" Rinolli asked sharply. "Fairchild has papers; Ashton doesn't." "But why Air, airline by ex-wife? It's another coincidence that bothers me." Brad was silent a moment. What could he say interest the man? "Do you know Willard Tuckman? uncle?" "Runs a trucking Brad nodded. "Seems he wants Air. ex-wife owned I'm to who killed both and her brother, Gerald. Overnite Air seemed a good starting point." "I can understand about Gerald Allison. stand accused murder. But the in Allison?" "There are think I killed her." "Mr. Ashton, frank. It's not that I disbelieve you. It's I've too unanswered questions. For example, you were Vietnam. Did you do any intelligence work?" He up his hand, stifling Brad's reply. "Were you involved with drugs? Have you been drafted federal agency since coming Narcotics?" "Nothing like "I to you. truly do. the questions keep coming. Is there anything you can tell me might ease my mind?" Brad shook his head. "I'd like methods somewhat simplified. Rather spend great effort in it's easier to remove a of You don't "All could tell you is some federal types have been me since I got CIA, but they're with the DEA." He paused, taking a deep breath. It was a card, but he'd have to play it; he had nothing better. "They to think to a case against


Rinolli smiled, but his eyes caLled Brad a fOol. "ThOse PeoPlE werE useFul," he said patieNTly. "NOt fundamental, you undersTand. STiLL, theY WeRe useFul. One dOEs NOT diScArD usEfUL iTems." HE paUsed. "You, On the other HanD, aRe of no use to mE At All."

Brad claSpeD his hands tigHteR.

"Why usE tHe nAMe Tom faiRchilD?" RinolLI asked Sharply.

"FaIrCHild haS Papers; ASHToN doeSn't."

"But why Overnite aIr, AN airline owned bY your eX-wIFe? iT'S anOthEr coincideNcE that BOthers mE."

brAD WAs sILent a moment. WhAt could he saY To iNteresT tHe mAN? "Do you Know WIlLArd tuckman? LydiA's unCle?"

"Runs a tRuckinG Outfit?"

BRAd noddeD. "Seems He wAntS OveRNiTe air. my EX-wiFE oWneD It. I'M trying tO fInD who kIlleD BOTH LydIa aNd heR brotHer, Gerald. OverNitE Air SEemEd a goOd staRtinG pOint."

"I Can undErstaNd About Gerald AlliSon. YOu stand acCusEd Of hIs MurdeR. but why The IntErest in lydia AlLIsoN?"

"THERE aRe those who think I kiLlED HeR."

"Mr. AshtoN, let me BE fRaNK. It's not tHaT I dIsbeLIEve yoU. It's THaT I've too mAny unaNSwErEd questIoNs. For eXaMplE, yoU were IN VieTnam. DiD you do anY inteLLigence work?" He hELd up his hand, stIFlING BRAd's rEplY. "Were you invOlveD With DrugS? haVe yOU been DraftEd BY a FEderal agency since coMiNg back? narcoTics?"

"Nothing liKe that."

"I wanT TO Believe yOu. I tRUlY Do. But the questiOns keEp coming. Is THere anytHing yOu can telL me that miGHT ease my mInd?"

braD shOok HIS hEad. "I'd like to."

"My METhodS aRe somewHat SimplifIed. ratHer ThaN sPend great Effort in InVeStIgAtiOn, it's OFten easiEr To rEmOve A possIBle souRce of DiffIcUlTY. YoU undersTAnD MY posItIoN, don'T yoU?"

"ALl I coUld tELl yOu is thaT some fedeRal TYpes HaVe Been folLowing me since i gOt back. They ClAim To be CIa, BUt they're With the DEA." He paused, mentaLLy takinG a dEep brEath. it was a weaK caRd, but hE'd hAVe to plAy it; he Had noThIng BETter. "THEY sEem To Think they'rE CLosE to a cAsE agaInst


Rinolli smiled, but hiseyes calle d Bra d a  fo ol . "T hose  people were u s eful ," he said patiently."Notfu n dame n ta l, yo u under s ta n d . S ti ll , t he y  w ere u sef ul. One  does notdis ca rd useful it e ms ." He paus ed.  "You, on th e o ther h an d,a re of  no  useto mea t all. "

Brad c la s ped hi s  handst i gh ter. 

"Why use the na m eT om Fairchild?"  Rinol li as k e d s har ply.

"Fai rc hildh as pape r s; A s hto n  doesn't."

" But why Ove r nit e Air,  a n a i rlineowned  b y  yo ur ex-wife?  It' s another  coinc i dence t h at both ers me ."
Br ad w a ssi len ta  mo m en t.W hat  could h esa y tointe r e s t  the  ma n? " Do yo u know Willar d T uckm a n?Lydia 's un cle? "
"Run s a tr uckin goutfit?"

Bradnodd ed. "Seem s h ewan ts  Over n ite Ai r.Myex-wife  ownedi t.I' m t ry ing to find who ki ll e d  b oth Lydi a andh er  b r other, G er ald . Ov e r niteAirs ee med a go od sta r ti ng  point. "
"I ca nund ers tanda bout  Geral d Alliso n. Yo u  stand accused of his murder .  B u t  w h y th e i nterest inLydi a  All ison ? "
"T h ere a re th os e  w h o think I killed he r. "

"Mr . Ash ton, let me b e frank. I t ' s  not tha t Id is b elieve you. It 's th at I've to o  many un answe red ques tions. Fo r example,  yo u w ere  in V ie tnam. Did you d o an yintelli gen ce work ?"Hehel d u phis hand,  stiflin gBr ad 's  re ply." Were you  i nvo lv edwithd rugs?Haveyoube en dra fted by af e dera lag ency  si nc e com ingb ack ? Narco tics?"

" Not h ingli ke  that." 

"I want tobe lieve you.  I  tr uly do . But thequestions keep coming.I s there  an ythin g yo u can tel l m e that  mi g ht eas e my m ind?" 
Bra d shook h is  he ad . "I'd lik e to. "

"M ymeth ods are  somewhat simplifi e d.Rather than s pen d gr e a teff o rt inin v est i g ation, it's oft en easierto re move a pos s ibl esourceof diff icult y . You u nderstand  my posit io n, d o n 'tyou?"

"Al l I coul d tell yo u  is t h at  some  fe deralty pes  have  beenf oll owing  me si nc e I go t bac k.  They cl aim to be CIA, but they 're wi th th e D EA." He p aus e d,mentallytaki ng a deepbre ath . Itwas a wea k ca r d,  bu t  he'd  hav e  to playi t;  he h ad  nothing be t t e r."They  se e m to t hink  they're close to a case against 


Rinolli smiled,_but his_eyes called Brad a_fool. "Those_people_were useful,"_he_said patiently. "Not_fundamental, you understand._Still, they were useful._One does not_discard_useful items." He paused. "You, on the other hand, are of no use to_me_at all."

Brad_clasped_his_hands tighter.

"Why use the name_Tom Fairchild?" Rinolli asked sharply.

"Fairchild_has papers;_Ashton doesn't."

"But why Overnite Air, an airline owned_by_your ex-wife? It's_another coincidence that bothers me."

Brad was silent a moment._What could he say to interest_the man? "Do_you_know_Willard Tuckman? Lydia's uncle?"

"Runs_a trucking outfit?"

Brad nodded. "Seems he_wants Overnite Air. My ex-wife owned_it. I'm trying to find who killed_both Lydia and her brother, Gerald._Overnite Air seemed a good_starting point."

"I_can understand about Gerald Allison._You stand accused_of his_murder. But why_the interest in Lydia Allison?"

"There are_those who think_I killed her."

"Mr. Ashton, let me_be_frank. It's not_that_I_disbelieve you._It's that I've_too_many unanswered_questions._For example, you were in Vietnam._Did_you do any intelligence work?" He held_up his hand, stifling_Brad's_reply. "Were you involved_with drugs? Have you been_drafted by a federal agency since_coming back?_Narcotics?"

"Nothing like_that."

"I want to believe you. I truly do. But the questions_keep coming. Is there anything you_can tell me that_might ease_my_mind?"

Brad shook his_head._"I'd like_to."

"My methods are somewhat simplified. Rather than_spend great_effort in investigation, it's often easier_to remove a possible_source_of difficulty. You understand my position,_don't you?"

"All I could tell you_is that some federal types_have_been_following me since I got_back. They claim to be CIA,_but they're with_the DEA." He paused, mentally taking a_deep_breath. It was a weak card,_but_he'd have to play it; he_had_nothing_better. "They seem to think_they're close to a case against