Sure enough, as soon as James and Dave enter the hallway, soft laughter greets their ears. The laughter grows louder as they approach the main dining hall.

  Dave enters the dining hall and gets another huge shock. The decor in the dining hall is much fancier than what adorned the gymnasium. Giant lit candelabras hang from the ceiling and are present on every table. The tablecloths in the enormous dining hall are much nicer as well, crisp folds running down the exact center, giving the cloths a professionally ironed appearance. Several men and women are already seated at the tables. However, the bulk of the elegantly dressed crowd is milling around the center of the large room. A tiny childish laugh issues from the middle of the dense crowd. Hazel's laugh.

  "Not bad," Dave mutters. "For a dust bowl."

  Mackey releases a short laugh. His laughter is cut short as Hazel catches sight of them and waves from behind the wall of masculine bodies nearly blocking her from view. Dave stares in Hazel's direction, unmoving. More than ever, he wants to wring Detective Mackey's thin neck. He can almost sense the corrupt thoughts banging around in the other men's heads, their eyes subtly scoping out Hazel's voluptuous form.

  "Well, well. If it isn't your lil honey bear, Dave?" Mackey teases. "I think she's trying to say 'hello'. You might want to go and save her from the natives."

  "Ah...Eat it!" Dave grumbles.

  Despite his grumbling, Dave moves in Hazel's direction. The group of men part and allow Hazel to pass through their midst. Her eyes narrow, red lips drawing upward into a wide smile.

  "Dave?" Hazel coos in a sweet voice. "James said you might be coming. I wasn't sure you would."

  "Huh?" Dave sputters. "You and Detective Mackey...You planned this together?"

  "Planned what?" Hazel asks, glancing at Detective Mackey in confusion. "James, I thought you said..."

  "You know what? Let's not worry about the details right now. We're here to get information about a case. Where's Detective Bennett? Is he here?" Mackey says, quickly steering the conversation in a different direction.

  "Yes. He went to the men's room. He should be back momentarily," Hazel replies. To Dave, she says, "You look really nice, Dave. I rarely see you in a suit. It fits you very well."

  "Thank you," Dave says, his eyes appraising every inch of Hazel and finding much to be grateful for. "You look really nice too!"

  "Have you been able to glean any information from the local population, Hazel?" James interrupts. "Any of the witnesses still around?"

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  "Um...Yes. Sort of," Hazel says. "I spoke with one of Sabrina's roommates from back then. A Lisa Glenn. She moved to Lich not long after Sabrina went missing. She helped Sabrina's family for a bit. Ended up staying here in town even after the murder investigation was concluded. She mentioned that Sabrina was kind of a rebel. Did things her own way. Liked rock music, dyed her hair a different color every other week, and dated some really colorful local characters. She even had...Get this...A tattoo. An extremely naked mermaid, on her left forearm. I've seen some photos Lisa has on her phone. The tattoo makes even me blush. It was actually very beautiful. If not, a little risque. Like the coffee shoppe mermaid. Except with bigger...Um."

  Hazel stops talking and glances over at Dave, whose eyes are narrowed to thin slits. She slides her gaze over to Detective Mackey. The detective's face is nearly one big grin, the fake mustache over his lip making him appear even more crafty. Hazel sighs before continuing.

  "And what the mermaid was doing with her hands? Oh god...Definitely not child's play. However, the tattoo was missing when Sabrina's body was found. Her whole arm was so mangled and mutilated...If I remember correctly, the poor girl's arm was partially burned. The local police thought the tattoo might have been destroyed during transport of Sabrina's body by the suspect. Or possibly during a failed attempt to get rid of evidence. We now know, that probably wasn't the case. I think you're right, James. It's the same guy. He simply changed locales."

  "Wait a damn minute!" Dave growls, waiting for Hazel to finish talking. "You're using Hazel as a damn spy? Does Sheriff Northrop know about this little wrinkle in your ethical fiber, James?"

  "Not a spy, Dave?" James protests. "I only asked Hazel to root around a bit. Try to pick up little details here and there by mingling with the locals. She's here of her own accord."

  "It doesn't matter how you try to spin this, Mackey! You've got my girlfriend acting as an informant for you?" Dave hisses. "Do you realize what kind of danger you could be putting Hazel in? What if the killer is here in Lich?"

  "Doubtful," James says. "No one can be in two places at once, Dave."

  "Dave?!" Hazel says at the same time, her surprised voice drowned out by James' protestation.

  Before Dave can respond, a wide man steps forward out of the crowd. The big man wears a fancy western suit and black cowboy boots. He eyes Mackey and Newsome in a suspicious manner.

  "Detective Mackey?" Detective Robert Bennett enunciates in a thick accent.

  "That's me," Mackey says with a wide grin, extending his right hand to his detective counterpart. "Detective Bennett, I presume?"

  "You presume right," Detective Bennett says with a serious expression.

  "Follow me and we can talk, Detective Mackey," Detective Bennett says. "It's been quite some time since I've revisited that particular case. But I'll fill you in on what I know and remember."

  Detective Bennett turns to Dave, giving the deputy a thorough looking over.

  "Enjoy the party, Deputy!"

  Detective Bennett nods politely at Hazel and then walks with James to the other side of the huge dining hall. Dave's face contorts into a confused scowl.

  "What the Sam Hill? I did not come over four-hundred miles to dance in dust bunnies and get dirt in my underwear. I came here to get information about a case," Dave growls. "Excuse me, Hazel. I'll be with you shortly."

  Dave storms in the direction of where Detectives Mackey and Bennett are holding conference. Hazel watches him go with a sinking feeling.

  "But, Dave. Wait," Hazel exclaims in a soft voice. "You called me your girlfriend?"