Free Firebreak: A Mystery by Tricia Fields Page A

of the band members. Maybe they’ll know where they’re staying.”
    *   *   *
    Josie followed Hank back to the bar and saw that John Lummin was no longer in his seat. She asked Sauly about him and learned that John had just left. Josie said a quick thanks to Hank and left to try and catch up with John. She waved his truck down as he was backing out of his parking spot.
    He rolled down his window. “What can I do for you?”
    “I’m trying to track down Billy Nix. Sauly said he’s a friend of yours.”
    “Is this about the fire?” he asked. “They didn’t lose their house, did they?”
    “I’m just here to track the Nixes down so that I can speak with them. Any idea where Billy was headed when he left town yesterday?”
    “Yes, ma’am. I talked to him yesterday in the bar.” John had a slow Southern drawl and a smooth-shaven face that reminded her of a young George Strait. “He and Brenda were going up north to Austin to see about booking some weekends. Brenda said she wanted to make use of the time. She told Billy, no sense laying around a hotel room for days when they could be booking dates.” He lifted an eyebrow at Josie.
    “You don’t think Billy wanted to go?”
    “I know he didn’t. Billy was worried about the house. He was worried about their friends, about people losing their homes. Brenda don’t think that way though. It’s all about the contract.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean, getting Billy to Nashville. Signing with Gennett.”
    “Signing him to a record label.”
    “Yes, ma’am. Brenda used to live in Nashville. She thinks she’s got big connections. She forgets it’s Billy’s talent that’ll get that record contract.”
    “Have you talked to them since they left?”
    “No ma’am. I got their cell phone numbers if you need them.”
    “We’ve already tried and left messages.”
    He frowned. “That’s not like either one of them. They keep those cell phones on all the time. Don’t want to miss a gig.” He said the last statement in a falsetto, as if imitating Brenda.
    Josie ignored the sarcasm. “Can you tell me what time they left the bar yesterday?”
    He rested his hands on the steering wheel and looked out the front window for a moment. He finally looked back at her, shaking his head. “I don’t remember seeing them leave. There was so much commotion I didn’t pay any attention.”
    “I appreciate your time.”
    “I’ll let you know if I hear from him.”
    Josie called Otto and told him about her conversations with Hank and John. He and the fire chief had just finished combing the living room for evidence. “Nothing of interest. Cowan’s just beginning his initial examination. The only thing he’s commented on is the position of the victim’s arms and hands, all curled up. We thought it looked like he was trying to defend himself. Cowan called it the boxer’s pose. He says when a body dies with intense heat present, the hand and arm muscles draw up. Makes them look like a boxer in the fighting position. Because of that, Cowan thinks the victim died either in the fire, or was killed just before the fire was started. If the body was experiencing rigor mortis it most likely wouldn’t have curled up like that.”
    “Good. That narrows it a little more. I’ll drive by Angela’s place to see if we can get a specific time the Nixes stopped at the Hell-Bent.”
    “Call me back in an hour. I should have more from Cowan.”
    *   *   *
    Otto stood just inside the living room with a clipboard and pencil, making a detailed diagram of the house, the furniture, the dimensions of the room, and the location of the body. Cowan stood in front of the body, dictating his observations into a microrecorder. He wore a white mask that made it difficult for Otto to hear what he was saying. Otto was anxious for him to check the victim’s backside in hopes a wallet was still intact since the couch wasn’t completely torched.
    Cowan said, “Otto. Interesting