J3

J3

Felt asked the  sheriff, "What  made you  think to  dig in  Mr. Bergin's trash?"

"Bergin and Hansen," Walker corrected him. "They're wrapped up in some nasty politics presently going on in the Church of Green Dome, which is sort of a big deal here in Headwater. I was given that tip by Tashunka, the same fellow you mentioned over dinner. The boy who was  with Chief  Wanica., He was  also the  one who found the body. We didn't find any evidence in Hansen's trash."

Felt turned to Deputy  Bob. "Are you sure  this came  from Mr. Bergin's house, Deputy?"

"I counted four stops after I  got in the garbage  truck. There are three  houses between the  Bergin place and where  I crawled inside."

"But did you actually see that you were in front of his house?"

"No, Agent Felt. I was inside the truck. I  didn't have a clear view to the side."

Deputy Bill shook his head when Felt glanced at him. He had also been well out of sight. "But the driver of the garbage truck and the pick-up man both said they saw Paul Bergin throw this bag in his trash can just before they picked it up," he said.

When Agent  Felt absorbed  all  this  he looked  simultaneously pleased and troubled. "Sheriff Walker, I'm pleasantly surprised by what you've managed to get so far, but I wonder if you do see the glaring hole in our case?"

Walker nodded. "I do, Special Agent Felt."

"I can give you their names if you wish, Agent Felt," said Bill. "The trash men were deputized for this operation  just like the Sheriff told us to do. That gives them legal standing. "

"It also gives them elevated responsibility, Bill," said Roddy, "and I hope you explained that to them when you swore them in."

Felt said, "Then I think we're  ready to see a  judge. We might have just enough now to fingerprint both Mr. and Mrs. Bergin."

Sheriff Walker  approached  a  large  cork  board  to  look  at photographs pinned thereupon. "And if his boots and tires match what we  posted here, Special  Agent Felt,  then we will  have a little bit more than just enough.'