“Del Maki.” “Anybody ever call you Chico?” “No. Delbert was bad enough.” “Uh-huh. Wayne Chico Maki was a good steady player for the Blackhawks. Never understood how a Finn got the name Chico.” “Me neither.” “I appreciate you driving out here, Officer.” He was wearing a good overcoat with a fur-lined hood. “You know, this whole business will probably seem pretty silly when it turns out that Noel’s been buying groceries all morning.” “I suppose. When’s the last time you saw her?” “Last night. She dropped her daughter Lorraine off before going to work at the motel. Picked her up this morning.” “You didn’t see her then?” “No, I was still, you know, asleep.” Pronovost tilted his head to one side and Del understood he was referring to his drinking the night before. “Nothing unusual about that.” He led the way into the garage. “I just got a call from Woo-San, who works days over the motel. I own the place and he’s bought a piece of it. How ‘bout we go over there a minute? Small town—it’s only a few blocks.”
