"Where would he have gone?" Hawkins asked Jake. "A man like Jonah Prowse would have a hidey-hole."

Eric remembered stories about Jonah, couples with 'accidents' and free mechanical work. He recalled the legal layout of Jericho, and of residents both familiar and friendly with outlaws.

"If he's not leaving the area, "Jake explained, "He went to Vietnam with Obadiah Price."

"Obadiah Price?" Hawkins echoed. "Haven't met him." He'd noted a 'Price' road just outside of town, but Obadiah Price hadn't been under suspicion, or curious.

"Obadiah came back from the war a changed man," Jake spoke the words that Jonah had once spoken: "his girl was married to someone else. Just before Jonah got divorced, he got married to a girl from New Bern, Artia Russell. Jonah helped Mrs. Price out a lot when Obadiah got a job out west for awhile, and the later, when I was in high school, found out that Obadiah was abusive. He tried to get Artie a divorce, but Miss Artie was in the hospital soon after, and then Obadiah's brakes let out."

He said the last with a vindictive grin, and Hawkins realized that the accident was no accident.

"He and the Missus remain close?"

"Miss Artie and Jonah," Johnston stated from the doorway, "we always thought they'd marry." He sniffed. "Hell, a lot of people thought they were having an affair before Obadiah died."

"You disagree?" Jake had watched Jonah around Artie, seen him acquiesce to things he would not have for any other.

"Nah, Miss Artie has a streak of stubborn pride a mile wide—you'll note that she hasn't been to town once, even for rations, since the bombs." Johnston like Artie Price, no-nonsense woman who kept to herself. "And we won't see her again until spring, she's holed up in that solar powered farmstead of hers."

"Why haven't we talked to her?" Hawkins asked. "Sounds like a woman who'd want to help."

"Bonnie and Stanley and Mimi have. Her farm is self sufficient. What she can't use goes to the town with the Richmond Farm's. She won't deal with us directly." Johnston explained. "because she has animals we might slaughter, but she needs for wool."

"She's the town's only yarn maker." Jake told Hawkins. "Keeps sheep and rabbits for that, cows for milk, and horses for any visiting."