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suggest any conclusions that might be false—premature, that is. But let me just level with you and tell you what we’ve got.”
    Something told Dan this wasn’t going to be good, but he leaned forward, the elbow of his good arm on the corner of the desk.
    â€œAbout a tenth of a mile past the accident site coming back toward town, the ambulance driver reported seeing a ramp—”
    â€œWhat kind of a ramp?”
    â€œThe kind you drive a vehicle up onto in order to roll it.”
    â€œYou’re saying if he hadn’t rolled the truck when he did by passing out, he would have a little ways down the road anyway?”
    â€œIt appears so.”
    â€œSuicide?”
    â€œWe don’t think so.”
    Dan waited. What a weird twist. He was thinking how nervous Chet had seemed. Preoccupied would be the best word. “Suicide makes sense,” he said, more to himself.
    â€œUntil you realize he appeared to be following you, possibly waiting for the cut hoses on the Cherokee to strand you.”
    â€œCome on. Cut hoses? You’re saying I was set up to be maimed or killed?”
    â€œThat’s certainly one interpretation we’re considering.” Sheriff Howard got up, walked to an office fridge and took out a Diet Dr. Pepper. “Anything?” He pointed to the fridge but Dan shook his head.
    â€œYou stop for gas in Roy?”
    â€œNo, just lunch.”
    â€œEat at the Chill an’ Grill?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œRemember where you parked?”
    â€œOn the street, along the east side and a couple doors down.” He waited as the sheriff sat down and made a note, then popped the tab on the Dr. Pepper and took a long swallow. “Guess I don’t have to ask if you noticed anything suspicious or unusual?”
    â€œNothing. Empty street when I came out of the restaurant. But why me, as the saying goes?”
    â€œI think you’ll need to help me with that.”
    Dan sat back. He was drawing a blank. It made no sense. Unless the investigation—someone wanting him out of there or to slow him down…afraid he might find something. Plenty of people knew he would be in town on Monday—bank personnel and his client, for starters. But who knew he’d be coming along the back way? Up from an early morning meeting in Hobbs? And at that particular time?
    â€œIt could be work-related. I have no way of knowing. I haven’t had a chance to even begin the investigation.”
    â€œAnd that would be investigating the robbery at Wagon Mound? The bank over there?”
    â€œUnited Life & Casualty,” Dan held out a card, “insured a necklace that was lost in the robbery…for a Ms. Gertrude Kennedy. Yes, that’s what brought me out this way.”
    Sheriff Howard shook his head, “Whole thing’s weird—you hear how they did it?” Dan nodded. “Got Feds swarming all over the place. But I don’t think anyone’s come up with any answers. Not yet, anyway.”
    Dan remembered that Chet had thought no one would. Thought it was an inside job. But Dan decided he’d just keep that tidbit to himself. He looked up to find Sheriff Howard staring at him.
    â€œAnything else you want to tell me about that afternoon?”
    Dan paused, “The old guy seemed nervous, kept looking behind him. He was apologetic having to wire the door shut on my side. If it hadn’t been for that, I might have had a chance to jump clear.” Dan left the impact of that fact hanging in the air and changed tactics. “But he seemed proud of the old truck…even in its condition. Said he was the original owner—”
    â€œHe said what?”
    â€œTo quote him exactly, he said they’d been together since birth…I think he meant the truck’s. I took the truck to be a fifty-something Ford—hard to tell, there were some mismatched parts and others, like the bumpers, just missing.”
    Sheriff