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substance had contaminated the water on Hopechest Ranch. That unknown substance had sent innocent kids to the hospital and put fear in the hearts of young pregnant girls.
    The sobering reality shifted Rory’s thoughts to the reason he was now in Prosperino.
    Glancing at his watch, he calculated he had a few minutes before he needed to leave for his meeting with Blake Fallon. At breakfast he’d overheard Charlie O’Connell mention to one of the art judges that he had an appointment this morning. Rory figured now was as good a time as any to chat.
    Just then, the inn’s front door swung open and the EPA inspector stepped onto the porch.
    â€œBingo,” Rory said softly. He narrowed his eyes against the wind and watched O’Connell make his way along the cobblestone walk, his slight limp the apparent aftereffect of his tumble down the stairs. His tan gabardine overcoat hung open over his crimson sweater and khaki slacks. Gusts of wind picked up strands of his brown hair.
    Rory waited until his quarry reached the gravel lot before pushing away from the car’s fender. “Got a minute, O’Connell?”
    The EPA inspector flicked him a look as he walked to a black sedan that displayed the logo of a rental car company on its back bumper. “A minute’s about all I have. I’m running late for an appointment.”
    â€œI want to talk to you about the water on Hopechest Ranch.”
    O’Connell twisted the key in the lock, pulled the door open, then turned and met Rory’s gaze. “What about it?”
    Rory raised a brow. “I don’t guess I need to remind you it’s contaminated. I’d like to know what your findings are so far.”
    â€œI bet you would.”
    â€œMeaning?”
    Resting a forearm along the top of the car’s door, O’Connell pursed his lips. “I don’t have time to beat around the bush, Sinclair, so I’ll lay this out for you. I’ve worked a lot of cases where private consultants were involved. It’s my opinion you’re all alike. You get hired by your client after an investigation is in full swing. You show up in your nice clothes and leather jackets with your state-of-the-art instruments, and expect us government drones to hand over the results of the work we’ve already done. That isn’t going to happen here.”
    Rory wondered what the man would say if he knew he was talking to a fellow government drone. “I don’t expect you to do my work for me, O’Connell. All I’masking is that you discuss with me what you’ve found out so far.”
    O’Connell flicked an impatient glance at his watch. “Like what?”
    â€œHopechest Ranch gets its drinking water from an underground source. Have you made any headway figuring out how the water became contaminated?”
    â€œNot yet.”
    Rory took a deep breath. It was clear the man wasn’t inclined to share information. Still, he had to try. “From talking to Blake Fallon on the phone, it sounds like all the victims came down with acute bacterial infections. Has the EPA’s lab ruled out the vibrio cholerae bacteria? If not, we might be looking at a potential cholera epidemic.”
    â€œWe ruled out cholera two days ago.”
    â€œWhat about traces of mercury in the water? Lead, cadmium, arsenic or beryllium? Find any of that?”
    â€œWhen I issue my final report, I’ll make sure you get a copy.”
    â€œYour final report is considered public record. I can get a copy for myself.”
    â€œI’ve got to go, Sinclair.”
    Rory watched as O’Connell slid into his car, then slammed the door shut. The engine coughed once, then hummed to life.
    Despite Blake’s suspicions, Rory knew just because the man wasn’t forthcoming with information didn’t mean he was involved in anything nefarious. In truth, O’Connell sounded like a disgruntled government worker—the