Bone by Bone by Carol O'Connell

Author:Carol O'Connell
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2010-03-31T04:00:00+00:00

Oren rode in the backseat of the stretch limousine hired for this special occasion of a carnival press conference. It was equipped with a stereo, television, a coffeemaker and a full bar. All that seemed to be missing was a hot tub. He turned to his lawyer. ‘Did my father really hire you?’

‘Who else? You thought Isabelle might’ve asked me to defend you?’ Ad Winston depressed a button on the console to raise a glass privacy barrier behind the chauffeur’s seat. ‘And now, may I ask, what goes on between you and my daughter?’

‘Sir, I’ve never even spoken to her.’

‘And yet, reliable witnesses tell me she recently decked you, flattened you out on a town sidewalk. That could pass for rough sex in the third world.’

‘I tripped.’

‘Of course you did.’

‘I’ll pay for this myself,’ said Oren. ‘What do I owe you?’

‘Not one dime. I never earned out the retainer your father paid me twenty years ago. And I won’t make much of a dent in what ’s left. It looks like you’re going to walk away from a double homicide.’

‘You think I murdered my brother and that woman?’

The attorney stared at him with keen interest. ‘The other set of bones belonged to a woman? Interesting. Don’t ever tell me how you knew that. It’ll make my job easier if I have to put you on the witness stand.’ He lifted his briefcase from the floor and settled it on his lap. ‘But I’m not anticipating a trial. Sally Polk’s about to get a direct order to stay out of the sheriff ’s way. And Cable Babitt doesn’t have the talent to catch a shoplifter.’

‘When Josh disappeared, was it your idea not to bring in the feds and the CBI? Or was that the judge’s call?’

‘Your father and I discussed the matter. I thought it was in your best interest if there was only one police agency to deal with – the mediocre one. I call it damage control.’

‘You told him to send me away?’

‘No, that was the judge’s decision. I was against it. At least he waited a few months before he shipped you out of state, but it was still a bad move. I gather you had some kind of alibi. The sheriff isn’t a complete idiot.’ The lawyer’s fingers did a little dance on the top of his briefcase while he awaited a response.

Oren had no plans to share the details of two bogus alibis. Evelyn Straub’s old statement was folded in his wallet, and there it would stay. He had set fire to Isabelle’s statement in full view of the sheriff and the patrons at the Water Street Café.

Ad Winston opened his briefcase and perused the paperwork inside. The top sheet was a list of military commendations and decorations, ribbons from combat zones, medals for Oren’s valor and medals for his wounds.

‘Stunning record,’ said the lawyer. ‘I was relieved to discover that you were honorably discharged. And that’s all the information Sally Polk is likely to get from the Army.

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