Revenge by M Glenn Graves

Author:M Glenn Graves [Graves, M Glenn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: City Lights Press
Published: 2014-09-15T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

“Are you returning to the park to continue your search for human remains?” Rogers asked.

“As soon as Wineski calls. I promised to help as long as needed.”

It was late in the morning and I was back in the apartment. Coffee and dialogue with my adversarial computer. Ah, the good life. Coffee can baptize almost anything adversarial.

“He could get his grunts to do that kind of work. You’re needed on more thoughtful analysis.”

“Wow. A compliment from my alter ego computer.”

“I am many things, sweet cakes, but your alter ego is not one of them.”

“Alter ego with an attitude. And yes, I shall remain diligent in my search for the remains that left all of that blood on the rooftop.”

“Lots of blood, huh?”

“The most I have ever seen at a crime scene.”

“You are assuming, of course, that a crime actually took place, and it took place on the rooftop.”

“Touché. The blood could have been carried there and dumped. Somebody went to a lot of trouble if that’s what happened.”

“Would not be the first time a criminal went to a lot of trouble.”

“Again, your argument is flawless.”

“I am seldom with flaw.”

The phone rang and I answered it before Rogers.

“Most of the blood had been removed from the dog’s carcass,” Wineski said.

“Exsanguination,” I said.

“Yeah, that, too. And the blood of the dog matches some of the blood on the rooftop.”

“Bingo. And what did Starnes say?”

“Nothing formal, just a nonverbal grunt.”

“But good enough.”

“It’s nice to be vindicated.”

“So much doubt, so little appeasement. Back to the park for the human remains?”

“No rest for the weary. You still free to join me?”

“I have the afternoon. Such is my social life. And, you’re the one paying the piper.”

“I don’t recall anything about pay,” he said.

“I don’t do pro bono.”

“You lie. Most of what you do is pro bono.”

We were back at the park with a full team of body searchers by noon. One of the beat cops found the body in a grove of bushes not far from the USS Wisconsin. Starnes was on scene to offer her expert opinion.

“Just like the dog,” she said.

“Beg your pardon,” Wineski said.

“I’m guessing here, but I’d say that there is little blood inside that carcass. Somebody went to a lot of trouble to bleed out the dog and this human.”

The body was face down in the bushes. I watched Starnes as she carefully examined every inch of the backside. The victim appeared to be a woman. One of her helpers assisted Starnes in rolling the body over. I gasped when the face came into view.

Starnes and Wineski looked at me with the same questioning expression.

“You know the victim?” he said.

“Too well,” I said. “It’s my neighbor, Mrs. Murphy. Phoebe Murphy. She takes care of Sam when my need arises. Why would someone want to kill …”

I stopped short. I knew the answer. It was Saunders and she was sending me a message. Dreadfully clear.

“What you got?” Wineski said, pulling me aside away from Starnes.

“It’s connected to my thing.”

“That Saunders person

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