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"Sad?"
"I can't imagine life without my mother in it. Were you and yours close?"
"Yeah. She was great. But she was suffering." He coughed into his fist, an unnecessary, self-conscious gesture. For a moment his eyes lost some of their hard glint, leaving Berry to wonder if there wasn't a feeling human being behind them after all, if there was actually room for sentiment in their narrow gaze. Perhaps he wasn't as tough as he wanted everyone to believe.
He dragged a chair across the low pile carpeting and sat down facing her. When he did, he spread his knees wide to avoid touching hers, causing her to speculate further. Was he just being gentlemanly, or did that purposeful avoidance signify a vulnerability?
Which, of course, was a silly thing to think. He held all the advantages here. Why would he be reluctant to touch her, even accidentally?
He said, "Before I interview Lofland, I wanted to ask you some questions about Oren Starks."
The personal moment had passed, and he was down to business. As he should be. She said, "Mr. Carlisle would insist on being here."
"Call him if you want, but it's unnecessary. What I have to ask you is really background stuff on Starks. His character. Habits. Stuff like that."
Berry deliberated, then said, "All right. I'm happy to answer your questions if I can. I'm sure Ben will be equally cooperative when you talk to him."
"He doesn't have a choice. He's a material witness. I need to hear his version of what happened."
"His version? You think I'm lying?"
He remained unflappable. "I think two people can see the same incident from entirely different perspectives."
"Very diplomatically put, Deputy."
He shrugged. "Lofland may shed new light, give me some ideas as to where Starks might have gone."
"He could be miles from here by now."
"He could. But if he's hurt, he may not be up to traveling. He could be lying low, somewhere in the area, someplace close."
"Someone could be sheltering him."
"Like friends? Family? You tell me, Ms. Malone. Do you know of any?"
"Honestly, no."
"Well, we don't, either," he said. "Houston PD is helping with that angle, and nothing's turned up. He's not working anywhere. Since being fired from Delray, he's been drawing unemployment.
"His only known kin is his mother, who's elderly. She's in a facility for Alzheimer's patients, has been for several years, and she's in the final stages of the disease. For all practical purposes, she's ... gone." He made a gesture to indicate that all the woman's cognition had been wiped clean.
"Neighbors say Starks is a loner. He doesn't host parties. No one remembers friends visiting his house. Asked if he had any outside interests--like a gym membership, an obvious hobby like tennis or golf, church affiliation--neighbors didn't know. Said he kept to himself."
He gave Berry a lazy once-over, the kind of which a woman can't mistake. "You seem to be his only passion." The suggestion underlying his tone was perturbing.
"That's not true. I told you earlier today about some of his passions."
"Right. Puzzles, games, problem solving. According to the officers who searched his house, his home computer had bookmarked several websites relating to that kind of thing. He routinely visits message boards and blogs but never posts on any." Again his eyes flicked over her suggestively. "Anyway, I doubt intricate mazes could hold a candle to you."
"Maybe it's a matter of degree," she said coolly.
"Maybe." A second or two ticked past before he continued. "He's now being sought all over southeast Texas and into Louisiana. We're checking hotels, but I doubt he'd go to one. Usually they require a credit card to check in. None of his has been used since last week. No ATM withdrawals since he took out two hundred dollars three days ago at a branch bank in Houston."
"He would know better than to leave a trail that's so easily followed."
"What I figured," he said, nodding. "But we checked anyway. We're canvassing motels, cabin rentals, like that. What worries me," he said, pulling his eyebrows into a frown, "is that there's a lot of territory around here to hide in."
"You mentioned that this morning."
