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askovich； sitting next to him。 The security honcho looked a little gray around the gills； and beads of sweat had popped out on his temple。 The speed of the cruiser didn't seem to agree with him。 Hazen had much rather it had been Tad sitting in the passenger seat than this campus grunt； the confrontation that was about to take place would have been good experience for him。 For the thousandth time； Hazen found himself wishing that his own boy Brad had grown up more like his deputy： respectful； ambitious； less of a wise…ass。 Hazen sighed。 Wishful thinking wasn't important right now。 Whatwas important was keeping Raskovich in the loop； and by extension； Dr。 Fisk。 If he played this right； he was certain Medicine Creek would get the experimental field。
The first outlying farmhouses of Deeper flashed past； and Hazen slowed quickly to the speed limit。 It wouldn't be too swift to flatten some Deeper kid just as the case was breaking and things were going his way。
〃What's the plan； Sheriff？〃 Raskovich managed to say。 He had begun to breathe again。
〃We're going to pay a visit to Mr。 Norris Lavender； Esquire。〃
〃Who's that？〃
〃He owns half of the town plus a lot of these fields out here。 Leases 'em out。 His family owned the first ranch in these parts。〃
〃You think he's involved？〃
〃Lavender's got his finger in every pie around here。 Like I asked Hank Larssen： who's got the most to lose？ Well； no mystery there。〃
Raskovich nodded。
Now the mercial district of Deeper hove into view。 There was a Hardee's at one end of town and an A&W at the other； in between； a bunch of shabby or shuttered storefronts； a sporting goods store； a grocery； a gas station； a used car lot （all AMC shitboxes）； a coin…op laundromat； and the Deeper Sleep Motel。 Everything dated from the fiftiesuld be a movie set； thought Hazen。
He turned into the parking lot behind the Grand Theater （long abandoned） and the Hair Apparent salon。 In the rear sat a low； one…story building of orange brick； pletely surrounded by a shimmering expanse of heaved asphalt。 Hazen drove to the glass…doored entrance and parked his car across the fire lane； illegally； in your face。 Hank's cruiser was parked neatly nearby。 Hazen shook his head。 Hank just didn't know how to do things in a way that manded respect。 He left the cruiser with its pinball flasher going like mad； so everyone would know he was there on official business。
Hazen pushed through the double doors and strode into the chilly air of the Lavender Building； Raskovich at his heels。 He glanced around the reception area。 A rather ugly secretary； with a voice of such efficiency that it bordered on unfriendliness； said； 〃You may go straight through； Sheriff。 They've been waiting。〃
He touched the brim of his hat and strode down the hall； right； and through some more glass doors。 Another secretary； even dumpier than the first； waved them past。
They grow 'em ugly up here in Deeper；he thought。Probably marry their cousins。
Hazen paused at the threshold of the rear office and looked around with narrowed eye。 It was pretty snazzy； with a slick cosmopolitan look： bits of metal and glass in various shades of gray and black； oversized desk； thick carpeting； potted figs。 A couple of cheesy Darlin' Dolls prints； however； betrayed Lavender's white trash origins。 Lavender himself sat； smiling； behind the giant desk； and when Hazen's eye fell on him the man rose easily to his feet。 He was wearing a jogging suit with racing stripes； and a diamond ring in a platinum setting winked on one pinky。 He was slender and rather tall； and he invested all his movements with what he no doubt assumed looked like aristocratic languor。 His head； however； was overly large for his body and shaped like a pyramid； a very wide mouth smiling under two gimlet eyes set close together； tapering to a narrow forehead as smooth and white as a slab of sliced suet。 It was the head of a fat man on a thin body。
Sheriff Larssen； who'd been sitting in a chair to one side； rose also。
Lavender said nothing； merely extending an arm with a very small white hand at the end of it； indicating a seat。 It was a challenge： would Hazen obey； or choose a seat himself？
Hazen smiled； guided Raskovich into the seat； and then took his own。
Lavender remained standing。 He placed his childlike hands on the desk and leaned forward slowly； still smiling。
〃Wele to Deeper； Sheriff Hazen。 And this is； I believe； Mr。 Raskovich of Kansas State University？〃 His voice was smooth； unctuous。
Hazen nodded quickly。 〃I figure you know why I'm here； Norris。〃
〃Do I need to call my lawyer？〃 Lavender made it sound like a joke。
〃That's up to you。 You're not a suspect。〃
Lavender raised his eyebrows。 〃Indeed？〃
Indeed。 And here his grandfather was a damn bootlegger。
〃Indeed；〃 Hazen repeated。
〃Well then； Sheriff。 Shall we proceed？ Seeing as how this is a voluntary interview； I reserve the right to end questioning at any moment。〃
〃Then I'll get to the point。 Who owns the Deeper land chosen as a possible site for KSU's experimental field？〃
〃You know very well that's my land。 It's leased to Buswell Agricon； KSU's partner in the project。〃
〃Did you know Dr。 Stanton Chauncy？〃
〃Of course。 The sheriff and I showed him around town。〃
〃What'd you think of him？〃
〃Probably much the same as you。〃 Lavender gave a little smile that told Sheriff Hazen all he needed to know about Lavender's opinion of Chauncy。
〃Did you know in advance that Chauncy had chosen Medicine Creek for his site？〃
〃I did not。 The man played his cards close。〃
〃Did you negotiate a new lease with KSU for the experimental land？〃
Lavender shifted his body languidly and leaned his heavy head to one side。 〃No。 I didn't want to queer the deal。 I said if they chose to go with Deeper； they could have it at the same rate as Buswell Agricon。〃
〃But you were planning to increase the leasing fee？〃
Lavender smiled。 〃My dear fellow； Iam a businessman。 I was hoping for higher fees for their future fields。〃
My dear fellow。〃So you expected the operation would expand。〃
〃Naturally。〃
〃You own the Deeper Sleep Motel； am I right？〃
〃You know very well I do。〃
〃And you own the Hardee's franchise？〃
〃It's one of my best businesses here。〃
〃You own all the buildings from Bob's Sporting Goods to the Hair Apparent； right？〃
〃This is a matter of public record； Sheriff。〃
〃And you own the Grand Theater building…currently empty…and you're the landlord of the Steak Joint and the Cry County Mini…Mall。〃
〃More mon knowledge。〃
〃In the past five years； how many of your tenants have broken their leases and gone out of business？〃
Lavender's wide face remained smiling； but Hazen noticed that the man had begun winding the diamond ring around his pinky。
〃My financial affairs are my own business； thank you very much。〃
〃Let me guess then。 Fifty percent？ The Rookery closed down； the Book Nook's long gone。 Jimmy's Round Up went out of business last year。 The Mini…Mall is about two…thirds empty now。〃
〃I might point out； Sheriff； that the Deeper Sleep Motel is currently running at one hundred percent occupancy。〃
〃Yes； because it's filled with media folks。 What happens when the