Free Everyone Dies by Michael McGarrity Page B

a hillside. The storm had cleared out, and thick stands of pine blocked the weak glow of the moon. With no street lamps and only a few house lights showing, the neighborhood was masked in shades of darkness.
    Sara consulted her notes and guided Kerney to the right address. He drove by slowly without stopping. A car sat in the driveway in front of the unlit house.
    “Based on what I learned today,” Sara said, turning off the map light, “this is definitely not the natural habitat of D. merriami.”
    “Of the what?”
    “The Merriam Kangaroo Rat, or either of the other two native species, for that matter. Stop next door.”
    Kerney swung into the driveway. Lights were on inside the house. Sara rang the doorbell and an older man answered.
    “Mr. Saul?” Sara asked. “I spoke to you earlier today about Dora Manning.”
    “Oh, yes,” Saul answered, nodding his head. “I went to Dora’s house after you called, but she wasn’t home. You have us quite worried about her. She never leaves town without telling me and my wife she’ll be gone. We always pick up her mail for her.”
    “Does she often travel without her car?” Sara asked.
    Saul nodded. “She doesn’t like to drive in Albuquerque, so she takes a taxi downtown and rides the shuttle bus to the airport. Perhaps she had an emergency. Her older sister in California isn’t in good health.”
    “How old is Ms. Manning?” Sara asked.
    “About my age,” Saul said. “In her late sixties, I’d say.”
    “Does Dora have health problems?” Sara asked.
    “Not that I know of. She’s very active.”
    “Does she work?” Kerney asked.
    “She’s an artist,” Saul replied, “and works at home. We have several of her watercolors.”
    “And before that?”
    “For many years, she was a clinical psychologist here in Santa Fe,” Saul said, looking closely at Kerney. What had brought the police chief and a very pregnant woman to his front door to question him about Dora?
    “You’re the police chief,” Saul said.
    “I am,” Kerney said quickly. “Have you had any problems with rats?”
    Saul shook his head. “The only rat I’ve ever seen around here is the one Dora found in her driveway several days ago. She came and told me about it before animal control took it away.”
    “Do you have a key to her house?” Kerney asked.
    “Yes, and a mailbox key as well. My wife picked up her mail this afternoon.”
    “Did you or your wife go inside her house?” Sara asked.
    “No, we only check inside when she’s on extended trips, just to make sure everything is okay.” Saul’s worried gaze shifted from Sara to Kerney and back again. “What’s going on?”
    Sara smiled reassuringly. “Probably nothing. Could we have the key?”
    Saul nodded and left them waiting in the doorway. They could hear him talking in a hushed voice. After a few minutes, he returned with his wife in tow, who handed Kerney a key.
    “Is there an alarm system?” Kerney asked.
    “No,” the woman said. “This is very disconcerting. Why are you concerned about Dora?”
    “We’re just checking on her welfare,” Kerney replied.
    He thanked the couple and asked them to remain in their house. They nodded in unison, eyes wide with misgiving.
    At the SUV, Kerney got a flashlight and led the way along the dark street to Manning’s house. He thought about asking Sara to remain behind while he looked around, but knew she’d have none of it.
    “So, do you know Manning?” Sara asked, as they approached the house.
    “Professionally, I did,” he said. “She did a good bit of forensic psychology work for the courts before she gave up her practice to become an artist. I’d forgotten all about her. It was a long time ago.”
    He knocked hard and rang the doorbell several times before handing Sara the key. “Stay here. I’ll scout the perimeter and look for any signs of forced entry,” he said, reaching for his sidearm. Sara already had the. 38 out of her purse and in her hand.
    He