Bone Dust White by Salvalaggio Karin

Author:Salvalaggio, Karin [Salvalaggio, Karin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2014-05-12T16:00:00+00:00

A billboard advertising Larson’s Used Cars hangs frozen in the air above Collier. At least twenty feet tall in his cowboy boots, a deeply tanned Toby Larson wears no more than the boots, a cowboy hat, a smile, and a carefully placed price tag. Macy can’t help but think that he looks cold. Toby steps outside to greet her and he still wears a cowboy hat and a smile, but is otherwise, thankfully, fully clothed.

He takes Macy’s hand and delivers a generous smile. “Hello, Ms. Greeley. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Macy tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear and lets him guide her into the showroom. Across from the cars on display a blond-haired woman sits at a desk behind a glass partition.

“Is that your wife, Pamela Larson?”

Pamela looks up from her desk and Toby gives her a wave. “Yes, that’s my Pamela.”

“I didn’t realize she worked here.”

“She doesn’t really work all that much. I think she just comes in to keep an eye on me.”

“It saves me having to track her down.”

His tan fades. “Why do you want to speak to Pamela?”

Macy gestures toward an office with his name on the door. “We should probably continue this conversation somewhere private.”

Toby’s office is decorated with brown leather chairs and dark wood paneling. A stag’s head and several fish mounted onto frames hang on the wall above his desk. The leather creaks when Macy sits down. Her feet are so swollen she’s tempted to ask Toby for something to prop them on.

Toby opens the door to a small refrigerator. “What can I get you, Ms. Greeley? You look like a fan of diet soda.”

“I’m not going to lie.”

Toby sits across from her and pours her drink into a glass, complete with ice cubes and a slice of lemon. Toby is smartly dressed in nicely tailored slacks and wears a cashmere sweater over a shirt and tie. His gray hair is combed back from his face, further sharpening his features.

Macy’s eyes linger on the stag. “Do you hunt, Mr. Larson?”

“I’ve hunted all my life. Fished as well.”

Macy slips a notebook out of her bag and jots a few lines while Toby fidgets in his chair.

“Where were you on Tuesday morning between the hours of ten and noon?”

“I took the morning off. Monday evening was the annual Chamber of Commerce dinner. I overdid it as usual.”

“Can anyone vouch for your whereabouts?”

“Only my two Labradors.”

“When was the last time you were in touch with Leanne Adams?”

“I’ve not heard from Leanne in eleven years.”

“I need to ask you some questions about your relationship with her.”

“I’m not sure there’s much left to tell.”

“Grace Adams was born around the time you and Leanne were seeing each other. Have you ever given the idea that you might be her father much thought?”

Toby raises an eyebrow. “Wow, you get straight to it. I thought you guys liked to start off gentle.”

“Are you going to answer the question?”

He holds his hands together, only fingertips touching. “When I asked Leanne that same question, she told me I wasn’t good enough to be Grace’s father.

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