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which to buy those stamps; and two, Bea hates lilacs. She has for years.”
    The command post in the living room had been dismantled, and the police officers had left except for Rocco on the couch and a lone guard by the front door.
    â€œHow much sleep have you had since this started?” Rocco asked.
    â€œNot very much.”
    â€œI have some yellow jackets at home. Want me to go get them?”
    â€œSome what?”
    â€œNembutals.”
    â€œNo, I have to think. Where am I going to get that kind of money?”
    â€œThen you’re going to buy the stamps?”
    â€œOf course. If I can figure out a way to do it. We’ll worry about catching him later. Right now I want Bea released. I want her safe. I want her home.”
    â€œI know you do, Lyon. We all do.”
    â€œFive hundred thousand worth of stamps. It may as well be ten million. I looked at our bank accounts a few minutes ago, and you know what? We have eight thousand in the savings accounts, and two in the checking. There’s a few shares of stock worth a few thousand more. I’m owed some royalties, and Bea has money in the state retirement fund. I made the list and added it up. We have a net worth of forty-two thousand dollars, and that’s one hell of a long way from five hundred thousand or whatever those stamps end up costing me.”
    Rocco left the couch and walked over to the French door leading to the patio. “How many acres do you have here?”
    Lyon waved his hand impatiently. “I don’t know.”
    â€œSure you do. You had a survey made.”
    â€œI’m not interested in small talk.”
    â€œI’ll bet you have over fifty acres surrounding Nutmeg Hill.”
    â€œFifty-nine, actually.”
    â€œThere’s your answer.”
    â€œWhat?” Lyon shook his head. “I guess that’s a rhetorical ‘what’. How much does an acre around here go for?”
    â€œYour property overlooks the river.”
    â€œMost of it does.”
    â€œTen thousand an acre, not including the house. The house alone, with access and a few acres, would go for over a quarter of a million dollars.”
    â€œIn other words, the total parcel of land would be worth over five hundred thousand. I could sell off the acreage and keep the house.” Lyon’s amazed reaction was ingenuous. He had overlooked the appreciation of their property.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDo you know of anyone who might be interested?”
    â€œI know a few developers in the area who are always looking for really desirable land—even with the tight money and high-interest situation.”
    â€œI’d be appreciative if you would put them in touch—soon,” Lyon said.
    â€œWill.”
    The phone’s ring jarred them, and they both stared at the instrument as if it were an unfriendly intruder. Lyon slowly reached for the receiver. “Yes?” He listened a moment and handed it to Rocco.
    â€œChief Herbert here.” Rocco listened for a few minutes, occasionally muttering an “uh-huh.” He hung up. “The latest. The Guards finished their sweep through the state forest, and it’s negative.”
    â€œWe knew that from the cassette.”
    â€œAnd a negative on a trace on the voice box and no usable prints on the brown envelope.”
    â€œWhat you’re telling me is that we’re back to square one.”
    Rocco walked to the door. “I got to go.” He turned abruptly. “What did Bea mean about the lilacs?”
    â€œI don’t know. She was trying to tell me something, but I can’t figure out what.”
    â€œIt might come to you if you got some sleep. I’ll be back in the morning with any developers I can dig up.”
    â€œThanks, Rocco.” The front door slammed and seconds later the police cruiser screeched down the drive at Rocco’s usual frenzied pace.
    Lyon stood by the bedroom window and wanted a drink, but