What the Cat Dragged In by Miranda James

Author:Miranda James [James, Miranda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2021-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

“I never noticed,” I said. “After I got a look at the skull, I didn’t really examine the rest of the bones. What was the killer trying to hide, do you think?”

“I don’t know,” Kanesha said. “The most obvious reason is to stop us from identifying the corpse, if the body had been found before complete decomposition. I’m betting on that cadaver dog to turn up something for us, though. Maybe the missing body parts were buried close to where the body was originally hidden.”

“Do you think that’s why the bones were put in the attic? To conceal the original burial spot?”

Kanesha nodded. “I think that’s as good a reason as any. The other would be to incriminate someone in the house, either your grandfather or Mr. Hale, depending on when this person died.”

“Maybe for both those reasons,” I said. “Sounds to me that you think foul play had to be involved in this death, too.”

“I can’t think of any other reason for the hands and feet to be amputated,” Kanesha replied, an edge to her tone. “Unless it was a freak accident, and I’m not buying that.”

“Maybe the bones are really old,” I said. “Has Dr. Seton said anything about the potential age of the bones?”

“He says they’re from a female, an adult probably in her sixties or older. That’s from a quick examination. He’s going to do a more thorough one tomorrow,” she replied.

“Okay, but actually I meant how old the bones might be.”

Kanesha nodded. “His best guess is less than a hundred years, but that’s all he would say until he’s had time for tests. I’ve got to go. I just stopped by on the way out to your grandfather’s house. I’m meeting Dr. Seton there with his dog in about twenty minutes.”

“I don’t suppose I could come, too?” I asked.

Kanesha shook her head. “No, you can’t. I can’t have any extraneous persons on hand for this. If we find anything significant, you’ll be informed. That’s all I can tell you for now.”

I accepted defeat. “Thank you for stopping by. I wish Dr. Seton and his dog the best of luck today.”

“I’ll pass that along,” Kanesha said before she turned to leave.

Diesel and I escorted her to the door and saw her out. I watched her hurry to her car before I shut the door.

I found her news unsettling. The thought of those amputations disturbed me. The whole thing sounded so grisly. I wondered if Dr. Seton would be able to determine when the hands and feet were amputated; before or after death? For the sake of the victim, I hoped it had been after. I shuddered. Scenarios like this were the reason I didn’t watch graphic movies or read books with graphic details of autopsies or murders. My imagination was bad enough without having visual or written descriptions to stimulate it.

Tantalizing aromas wafted my way from the kitchen, and I followed them, Diesel at my heels. Azalea stood at the stove, tending pots. Ramses sat near her feet, watching her carefully in hopes of dropped tidbits.

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