“Probably smart enough to call for help on his cell phone.”
“Sure,” said Sherbet, “except he didn’t have one on him.”
“Who found his body?”
“San Bernardino Sheriff. They found the body and called me out, as I was working the original missing person case. We compared notes, asked around, decided this thing was nothing but an accident. We both closed our cases.”
“Have you talked to anyone at Rawhide?” I asked.
“Sure, went out there with the San Bernardino Sheriff. We asked around, talked to the museum curator and his assistant, the last two to see Willie alive.”
“What did they say?”
Sherbet shrugged again. His shoulders were probably hairy. Sherbet was a very manly man, which was probably why he couldn’t comprehend his kid turning out gay.
“Like I said, they were the last two to see Willie alive, at least that we know of. The museum curator and his assistant-forget their names now-showed him the site where that fucking mummy was originally found. Afterward, when everyone left the site, Willie was in his own truck right behind the curator and assistant. They look again, and Willie’s gone. They assumed he headed home in a different direction. Both their stories corroborate. Granted, this is an oddball way for a bright kid to die, but unless something rears its ugly head here, we have no reason to suspect any funny business.”
I drank some Diet Pepsi. I’m not even really convinced that I like Diet Pepsi. I took another sip; nope, still not convinced.
“Jones seems to think there was foul play,” I said. “And gave me a hefty retainer fee to prove it.”
“Jones wants business. Twenty bucks says he turns this thing into an even bigger circus. He’s the ring leader, and you’re the…” He paused, thinking.
“World’s Strongest Man?” I offered.
“Sure, whatever. Look, I think he’s using you, Knighthorse. Especially you, since you have some name recognition.”
“Did you want my autograph for your kid?” I asked.
“You kidding? Kid doesn’t know a fullback from a backpack.” Sherbet shook his head some more, sipped his coffee. “All this over a fucking mummy.”
“Hard to believe.”