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son.”
    Pause.
    “All right. Where are you?”
    “I’m staying at the Excalibur Hotel on the Strip. Can we meet at the coffee shop there?”
    “Sure. When?”
    “…An hour?”
    “…I’ll be there.”
    “Thanks, Bryce.”
    “Bye, Sheriff.”
    Bryce hung up and stared off into space wondering what the hell was going on in his universe. Another Carson City contact in the last few days… The city’s tentacles seemed to be reaching out to snare him for some inexplicable reason. First, the dust was stirred from the Mesquite visit, then Beth’s soft touch at the concert and now a visit from the town’s former sheriff. Dan had been a good friend of his father’s and Bryce had known him well. What could he possibly want after all this time?
     
    Bryce’s mind was completely muddled by the time he had driven over to the Excalibur. His hand actually shook giving his keys to the valet to park his car. Walking through the hotel’s front entrance, Bryce glanced around at the medieval décor and smiled as costumed actors walked by – Probably getting ready for the medieval show and dinner that would be happening in a few hours. He dodged a knight in clanking armor and a lady-in-waiting, complete with tall pointed hat and long-flowing satin gown. He smiled again and almost relaxed… Then he remembered why he was there and tensed.
    Bryce located the coffee shop and saw Dan waiting at a back booth. Dan looked up, waved and motioned him over.
    “Sheriff, good to see you.” Bryce reached out to shake his hand as he reached the booth.
    Grasping Bryce’s hand, Dan laughed. “Good to see you, son. You’re looking prosperous.” Bryce laughed at that. “Sit down, please.”
    When Bryce sat down, Dan stared at him for a long minute.
    “You look so much like your father. You know that, right?”
    Bryce grinned. “Thank you, sir. I did know that. I’ve heard it all my life.”
    “Having that Basque blood running through your veins isn’t a curse.”
    “…Didn’t say it was, Sheriff.”
    Dan looked at him for another minute.
    “You’re probably wondering what the hell I’m doing here.”
    “That thought had crossed my mind.”
    “Like I said on the phone, I was going through some old boxes that came out of my office at the Sheriff’s Department in Carson and I found this.” Dan pulled an old book from a bag sitting on his bench seat. He placed it on the table in front of him.
    Bryce knit his eyebrows. “What is it?”
    “It’s a logbook that your father kept when he had his clothing business. Do you remember it?”
    Bryce blew out a breath and then took in a deeper one. The universe was definitely messing with his head. He rubbed his forehead and took a calming breath.
    “…I…I saw it a few times. He’d be writing in it when I got home from wherever. He always waited up to chew me out about something.”
    Dan laughed. “Yup, that sounds like him.” He pushed the book over to him. “Here, take it.”
    Bryce reacted like it was a coiled snake about to strike. He touched it tentatively to test its reaction to him and found only the touch of aged leather in response. He picked it up and brought it to his nose – It even smelled like rich old leather.
    “Actually, it’s sheepskin. Remember your grandfather the sheepherder?
    “I do,” Bryce smiled. “He was a wonderful old gentleman. I’d go help Dad find him occasionally to take up his supplies in the hills.”
    Dan smiled back. “An old way of life gone from Nevada now.”
    “… Gone but not forgotten.”
    “No, indeed.”
    Bryce opened the book and scanned a few pages.
    “This is more like a diary.”
    “I think so. I know there were more books, but that’s all I could find… I’ll keep looking.”
    “The date here in the front is the year he died.”
    Dan nodded. “So he probably writes about the clothing store. It might be a tough read.”
    “…Yes…” A frown came to Bryce’s face as he read an entry.
    “You’re in business,