s。
〃What's wrong？〃 Janice asked。 〃Why are you looking at each other that way？ Surely this man McGee will have to…〃
〃Rob McGee struck me as a good man； and I think he's a hell of a law officer〃； I said； 〃but he swings no weight in Trapingus County。 The power there is Sheriff Cribus； and the day he reopens the Detterick case on the basis of what I was able to find out would be the day it snows in hell。〃
〃But 。。。 if Wharton was there 。。。 if Detterick can identify a picture of him and they know he was there。 。 。 〃
〃Him being there in May doesn't mean he came back and killed those girls in June〃； Brutal said。 He spoke in a low； gentle voice； the way you speak when you're telling someone there's been a death in the family。 〃On one hand you've got this fellow who helped Klaus Detterick paint a barn and then went away。 Turns out he was mitting crimes all over the place； but there's nothing against him for the three days in May he was around Tefton。 On the other hand； you've got this big Negro； this huge Negro； that you found on the riverbank； holding two little dead girls； both of them naked； in his arms。〃
He shook his head。
〃Paul's right； Jan。 McGee may have his doubts； but McGee doesn't matter。 Cribus is the only one who can reopen the case； and Cribus doesn't want to mess with what he thinks of as a happy ending … 'it was a nigger〃 thinks he； 'and not one of our'n in any case。 Beautiful。 I'll go up there to Cold Mountain； have me a steak and a draft beer at Ma's； then watch him fry； and there's an end to it； 〃
Janice listened to all this with a mounting expression of horror on her face； then turned to me。 〃But McGee believes it； doesn't he； Paul？ I could see it on your face。 Deputy McGee knows he arrested the wrong man。 Won't