4 three years ago , our old friend traveled down this stretch of 93 in the passenger seat of dale gilbertson 's old caprice , his heart going crazy in his chest , his throat constricting , and his mouth dry , as friendly dale , in those days little more than a small-town cop whom he had impressed beyond rational measure simply by doing his job more or less as well as he could , piloted him toward a farmhouse and five acres left dale by his deceased father .