Free On Deadly Ground by Michael Norman

the Kaiparowitz and wouldn’t be back until Sunday evening.”
    â€œWhat did Mr. Clayburn want?”
    â€œHe never said. I mean it’s not unusual. People call all the time wanting to talk with David—members and nonmembers.”
    â€œOkay, anybody else?”
    She started to say no and then stopped. “Come to think of it, there was another call. I remember it because I was standing at the front door ready to lock up when the phone rang. I debated about whether or not to answer it.”
    â€œWho was it?”
    â€œDon’t know. The guy didn’t give his name.”
    â€œWhat did he want?”
    â€œHe said he was one of David’s old colleagues from Berkeley and that he was passing through town and hoped to see him.”
    â€œWhat did you tell him?”
    She paused momentarily trying to recall the conversation. “I’m pretty sure I told him David was out of town for the weekend.”
    â€œDid he ask where David was?”
    She paused again. “Damn. I don’t recall that he did, but I’m not sure.”
    â€œAnd you’re sure this guy didn’t leave a name or a call-back number?”
    She shook her head. “No, he didn’t. I’m certain of that.”
    â€œDid you notice anything unusual or anyone hanging around the EEWA office in the days leading up to the murder?”
    â€œNot that I recall.”
    Books had one last question.
    â€œIn the days before David’s death, did you notice anything different about him? Was he behaving differently, acting fearful, anything like that?”
    â€œNo, and I think I would have noticed. Other than Darby, I knew David as well as anybody. I didn’t see any change in him.”
    Books thanked her, gave her his business card, and asked her to call if she remembered anything else.
    Darby returned and handed the planner to Books. “You’ll get this back to me when you’re through with it?”
    â€œYou bet.”
    She opened a file folder and looked at him. “I want to ask you something, and I’d like a straight answer.”
    â€œSure thing.”
    â€œIf I were to give you a copy of the EEWA membership list, would I have your word that it would be for your eyes only—that it wouldn’t end up in the hands of the press, the CFW, or anybody else?”
    â€œYou have my word on it. I’m curious, though, why the change of heart?”
    She hesitated a moment as though carefully composing what she wanted to say. “I don’t know whether you can understand this, Ranger Books, but my husband had a dream. His dream was to preserve these wild lands in their natural state for the enjoyment of this and future generations. He understood that to fulfill that dream, he’d have to take on groups like the CFW and the ATV crowd. He was willing to do that, and in the end, it cost him his life. I intend to make sure his death doesn’t put an end to his dream. If my turning over our membership list helps you find his killer, then it’ll have been worth it.”
    He thanked her for her cooperation and her trust.
    The compliment brought a weak smile. “I’m also being pragmatic. I suspect you could compel us to surrender the list with a court order.”
    She was right about that. If Books couldn’t obtain membership lists from each group voluntarily, he had planned to go to court. At least now he wouldn’t have to do that with the EEWA. He intended to use this gesture from Darby to brow-beat Neil Eddins into voluntarily surrendering the CFW membership list.
    â€œWas Cathy able to provide any assistance?”
    Books told her about the anonymous caller claiming to be an old university colleague. “That doesn’t sound right to me,” said Darby. “In all the years we’ve lived here, David has never had so much as a phone call from any of his old colleagues, much less from one passing through town wanting to stop in