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minutes, and if the two of you are still here I’m arresting you both, and she can listen to the two of us having sex in the next cell.”
    Vic drove off, and I reapproached the Toyota with Dog watching from the passenger seat of my truck. I rapped my knuckles on the window of the white pickup.
    The border collie, Gansu, unleashed a series of yipping barksas she stood on the seat. Keasik Cheechoo pulled the Tibetan hat from her face.
    I raised my hand again. “Howdy.”
    She rolled her window down and massaged her eyes. “What time is it?”
    “A little after nine.”
    “What were you doing in there?”
    “Working.” I lied.
    “Yeah, well, I’m waiting for our meet.”
    “I’m sorry, did we schedule something?”
    “Not since you drove off and left me standing in the hospital parking lot.” She pulled the blanket aside and then reached over and took her cell phone from the dash, the condensation of her warm breath filling the open window. “My plans have changed, and I’m leaving in the morning.”
    I rested an arm on the roof of her vehicle. “Something come up?”
    “Work related, so if you want to talk to me you need to do it now.”
    “I’m sure we can just do it on the phone.”
    “Now you tell me?”
    “Well, you could’ve come in the office.”
    “I don’t like police stations.”
    “Okay.” I tapped the top of her truck. “You’re off the hook and can head back to Missoula.”
    “Colorado.”
    “Wherever, so long as I’ve got your cell phone number.”
    She lodged the blanket between her and the dog. “I thought I should let you know, I’ve already contacted the Chilean government and lodged a formal protest on Miguel Hernandez’sbehalf, stating that his ultimate death was a result of unsafe working conditions.”
    “Good to know.”
    When I said nothing more, she looked up at me. “You’re not worried?”
    “I didn’t employ the man, Ms. Cheechoo.”
    “It was your job to protect him.”
    I stared at her for a moment. “Yep, it was.” I tapped the roof once more and then turned and walked toward my truck. “Travel safe.”
    The door opened and slammed shut behind me, and I could hear her rushing to catch up as I got to my own unit. She caught me off-balance just as I was turning, and I tripped over my own feet, falling against my truck and sliding down into a sitting position, my hat landing in my lap.
    Dog thudded against the window above me and growled before breaking into a series of barks that only stopped when I beat on the door with my knuckles. “Knock it off, I’m all right.”
    She’d backed away but now was reaching down to try to help me. “I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
    Brushing her hand away, I told her, “I’m fine,” and started to stand but just couldn’t summon up the energy. “Actually, I’m not . . . would you mind helping me up?”
    Between the two of us, we grappled myself to a standing position, and I placed an open hand on the window to stop Dog’s intermittent motorboat impersonation.
    She backed to arm’s length as if the beast might come through the window. “What kind of dog is that?”
    “I don’t really know.”
    “He’s yours?”
    “It’s more like I’m his.”
    “I can see that.” Allowing me to catch my breath, she held onto my arm. “Would you like me to call someone?” She was distracted for a moment but then raised her head to look at me. “My God, you’re bleeding.”
    Glancing down, I could see a dark stain seeping through my flannel shirt. “Well, hell . . . I must’ve pulled some stiches in the drainage hole.”
    “Drainage hole?”
    “I was stabbed a while ago.”
    She stared at me in disbelief. “We’ve got to get you to the hospital.”
    “I’d rather go home and bleed, really.”
    “You can’t just go home.” She glanced back at the defunct library that served as our office and jail. “You must have emergency equipment in there?”
    “Yep, but I can take care of it