Temperatures were still in the mid-seventies by 8:00 a. m., but the front had taken most of the humidity with it, leaving bearable conditions for a change. Entering the building housing the Sheriff’s Department, Pete Scallion was in a positive frame of mind, both due to the change in climate and his anticipation of the day ahead. He had a theory to try out on Murtaugh, one he had broken in on Marti over the weekend.He hadn’t left her side the entire weekend, keeping a close eye on her recovery. Except for tenderness left from the surgery, she seemed to be doing fine. After putting Chris on the road early Saturday, they spent the next two days in the den, listening to the rain pound down, watching rented movies, and talking. “I had some of the same feelings standing by the lake as you did last week,” Pete said, as they relaxed in the den Saturday night, describing his Friday visit to the remote subdivision. “I have to admit, my antennae were activated by the caretaker’s glance at the water.
