I'll tell you something I believed. I believed that if the EPA took Devonshire dump to court just on the strength of an increase in elf-shot around the area, the lawyers Sudalds' people would throw at us would leave us so much not-toolean ground beef. I had no doubt Tony Sudakis believed it, too.

So I hit him with something bigger and harder. "Are you going to blame the immigrants for the three cases of apsychia around here in the past year?"

He didn't even blink. "Coincidence," he said flatly. One hand, though, tugged at the silver chain he wore around his neck. Out popped the ornament on the end of it I'd expected a crucifix, but instead it was a polished piece of amber with something embedded inside - a pretty piece, and one that probably cost a pretty copper.

"Speaking off the record, Mr. Sudakis, you know as well as I do that three soulless births in one area in one year isn't coincidence," I answered. "It's an epidemic."

He let the amber amulet slide back under his shirt. I deny that, off the record or on it." His voice was so loud and ringing that I would have bet something was Listening to every word we said, ready to spit it back in case we did end up in court Interesting, I thought Sudakis went on.

"Besides, Inspector, think of it like this: if I didn't think this place was safe, why would I keep coming to work every day?"

I raised what I hoped was a placating hand. "Mr. Sudakis - Tony, if I may - I'm not repeat not, claiming you're personally responsible for anything. I want you to understand that. But evidence of what may be a problem here has come to my attention, and I wouldn't be doing my job if I ignored it"

"Okay," he said, nodding. "I can deal with that Look, maybe I can clear this up if I show you the containment scheme. You find any holes in if Dave"-I was Dave again, so I guess he'd calmed down-"and I will personally shit in my hat and wear it backwards. I swear it."