When Erik got home, he explained what had happened to Vickie, then took a sleeping pill to try to relax. The next thing he knew, the sun was shining in on his face through the bedroom window.
“Hey, Sleepyhead,” Vickie said.
“What time is it?”
“It’s almost noon.”
“I guess those pills were more powerful than I thought.”
Vickie smiled. “You want something to eat?”
“No. Just coffee.”
“It’s already made,” she said. “Sheriff Collins called about a half hour ago. He said it was very important.”
“That’s one person I really have to talk to,” Erik said. “Let me call him back.”
Erik grabbed the cordless phone from its cradle and dialed as he made his way to the kitchen. Collins picked it up on the first ring.
“I need to see you,” Erik said. “Can you stop by the house?”
“I’ll be right there,” the sheriff replied.
Collins was ringing the doorbell before Erik had even finished his first cup of coffee. Erik poured the sheriff a cup and explained what had happened the night before.
“Dovecrest showed me how to find the thing,” he said. “I think I can take you there, if you’d come with me.”
The sheriff thought for a moment. “What the hell,” he said. “Let’s go.”
Erik told Vickie he was going out with Collins and two men went out.
“Let’s start at Dovecrest’s place,” Erik said. “That’s my landmark.”