Independence Day's Search (Larry Macklin Mysteries Book 20) by A. E. Howe

Author:A. E. Howe [Howe, A. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

I took the house key and went back to my car, starting the engine to let the air conditioning run while I looked through my messages. I answered several texts before I returned a call from Dr. Darzi.

“Not every law enforcement officer has my private phone number,” he told me. “But you are such a good customer.”

“Gee, thanks,” I said with an appropriate amount of snark.

“I have finished the autopsy on the foot. All jokes aside, this is a boating accident. The damage done to the bone and tissue is consistent with something like a boat prop. There are a few other things that could cause similar damage, but since it was found in the water then Occam’s razor would tell us it was most likely caused by a boat.”

“Not a chainsaw?”

“Definitely not.”

“I guess that’s good. Any ETA on the results of the DNA tests?”

“I did confirm that the lab now has what it needs. I will call them shortly. If not this afternoon, then tomorrow morning.”

Next, I called Major Parks and brought him up to date on the two cases. He wasn’t very happy but agreed that we needed to post deputies at all three houses tonight. We couldn’t afford to let anyone else disappear or get murdered around The Big Search production.

I headed toward the lake, watching as dark clouds rolled in from the Gulf. It had been a couple of days since we’d had a real Florida thunderboomer, and it wouldn’t break my heart to get a little relief from the heat.

A few knocks on the front door of the house where most of the crew was staying brought a bright-eyed woman in her late forties with a surprisingly attractive shade of fake blonde hair.

“Gabriella, I’m Sergeant Macklin.”

“Call me Gabby. Everyone does. I remember you were talking to Arianne yesterday. You’re searching for Scott.” Her accent was a little exotic, something with an island flavor.

“That’s right. I would like to ask you some questions.”

“Of course. What’s happening over at the other house? I noticed lots of cars around it this morning. Did they find poor Scott?”

“May I come in?”

“Yes, yes.” She backed away from the door and escorted me into the living room.

“How are they managing without their make-up artist?” I asked with a smile to put her at ease.

“Jackie and Arianne are able to do a little, you know, for the closeups. The real work is with that monster costume. The first one we had was awful. This one is a bit better. I still have to do much work around the eyes and mouth. With this humidity, I told them no medium shots. All long shots.”

“How long have you been with the production company?”

“Since we started. Jackie said to me, ‘Gabby, we couldn’t have a show without you.’ She is a very nice lady. Such tragedy in her life. Still, she smiles.”

“What sort of tragedy?”

“Lost her daughter, got a divorce soon after. This was several years ago, before the show. Still, she is strong.”

“What happened to her daughter?”

“Some sort of accident.

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