FifteenThe river valley on both the Iowa and Illinois sides of the Mississippi were, outside of the Palisades, predominantly low lands. In seasons of high water, like that spring, much of the land took a bath, becoming twisted, tree-filled back channels and, in the open clearings, temporary lakes. It abandoned its usual look of monotonous stereo corn and became something beautiful and mysterious. But, in so doing, it also created uncounted miles of blind waterways in which the Pucket boat bandits could run and hide. Searching those channels required more volunteers, with boats, than the authorities had on hand. If that weren't enough, the Jackson County Sheriff's Department had to work without the help of the Savanna Police. Strangely, Savanna couldn't locate their senior officers. Neither
