Since Tami was bossing the volunteers around, Linx had some free time, so she headed for the Sixty MinersSaloon.
Paul McCall was the link to both Grady and Salem. Maybe he would know where Grady hadgone.
Midafternoon was too early to go to the bar, but she drove into town and parked in front of the old-fashioned saloon, complete with swinging wooden doors and weathered woodfaçade.
Most of the old-timers hung out at the diner, but every town had their barflies, and Linx quickly spotted the mayor, Chip Colson, and his buddies playing cards in thecorner.
She zipped by them and climbed onto a barstool. She’d served on a few crews with Paul back when she was a hotshot firefighter, working on the ground, but he was in one season and out another, depending on whether he was rebelling against his parents or taking a job in one of theircompanies.
“Linx Colson.” Paul wiped down the counter in front of her. “What can I getyou?”
“Seltzer water and a twist of lime,” she said. “And someinformation.”
“Gonna cost you.” He smirked as he grabbed a tall glass and filled it. “Let me guess, you want to know where Gradywent.”
“That’ll beit.”
“I told him to go to hell, and I reckon that’s where he’sheading.”
“Back to the fire line?” Linx guessed. “Or that last fire upnorth.”
“He went back to the burn scar nearRedstone.”
“Why would he do that?” Linx asked. “Reliving it, isn’t he? I wonder if he dreams it, replaying it over and over in hismind.”
“I wasn’t there when it happened. I was in another crew,” Paulsaid.
“I’m sorry.” Linx took a sip of the seltzer water. “Verysorry.”
“You were her friend back in theday.”
“Yeah, we were friends. She used to liveupstairs.”
“I know. That’s why I bought this place.” Paul clasped his hands and pursed hislips.
Linx drank her water. Her knee jittered, and she felt awkward talking to Paul about Salem. Another customer approached the bar and Paul served him, then returned to stand in front ofLinx.
“You done Grady wrong,” he said in a low voice. “Realwrong.”
“I know. That’s why I have to findhim.”
“To say you’resorry?”
Linx squirmed under Paul’s scrutiny. “A lot more thanthat.”
She figured, he, being the town bartender, had already heard the gossip about both Cedar andJessie.
“Then what do you want with him?” His tone was deadserious.
Linx stared over Paul’s shoulder as if seeing a ghost. “I want him back. For better or worse. Whatever mistakes we made are in thepast.”
“That’s one way of thinking about it,” Paul said. “Except the past haunts the present. There’s no way Grady can take back what he said to Salem right before she jumped to herdeath.”
“How do you know it caused her death? Maybe he wished her goodluck.”
“He’s still responsible.” Paul punched a fist into his palm. “It’s not right that he’s walking around assuaging his guilt while my Salem isgone.”
“I’m so sorry,” Linx said again. “I know you set up Salem’s Kids under her name. You have a goodheart.”
