CHAPTER 13
Steadman hefted open the heavy front door of the county building, noting the smell of maple donuts that always seemed to emanate from the lobby. It had taken him an hour to drive less than ten miles from the casino. Confusion reigned on the roads and it was like rush hour times three with everyone leaving their places of business to gather their families and get home, stopping for supplies along the way. When he reached the grid-locked blocks downtown, he’d pulled into a parking lot and walked the rest of the way, saving himself twenty minutes.
He nodded to Fred Winter, the sergeant manning the front desk. Fred lifted his left hand in his customary two-fingered salute. He was missing all but the pinky and thumb, so the hand formed a natural “hang loose” sign, but Fred’s face w
