Tell-Tale Bones by Carolyn Haines

Author:Carolyn Haines
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

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The Maxwell law offices were plush and designed to give the impression of affluence, good taste, heritage, and all the things wealthy people valued. Interior design rigorously applied to create image. The overstuffed leather chairs, the expensive carpeting, the decanters of Irish crystal that sparkled in the sunlight slipping through designer sheers. It was all done with taste and care.

Oswald Maxwell had time to see Tinkie about setting up an estate plan for little Maylin. To sell the image we’d brought the baby with us. She wore a designer leopard-print onesie that matched Tinkie’s blouse and turban. Tinkie completed the look with black matador pants and tall boots. As the chauffeur, I didn’t have to dress up, thank heavens.

Tinkie didn’t need me, so I stayed in the lobby reading magazines on history and the natural world. Tinkie’s main objective was to find out where Tope had gone, if she could. Mine was to watch the people coming in and out of the offices in case our errant abuser showed up.

A lot of my friends had spent time in Memphis, the closest big city to the Delta. The Maxwell law offices were in one of the older, elegant downtown buildings, and I had a primo view of the city and the river. I called Cece to check on any developments with the airline photo, and to fill her in on Tope assaulting Elisa. Once we’d learned the truth about what happened to Lydia, she and Millie could spin the facts into a clever story for “The Truth Is Out There.” Maybe they’d be able to work in the ghost of Elvis.

“I can’t believe he hit his mother-in-law.” Cece was outraged.

“He killed his fiancée, and maybe his wife. A slug to the face is rather … minimal.”

“Elisa is his mother-in-law. An older woman.”

She had a point. If anyone had ever punched my mom, I would have made them pay no matter how long it took me. “Sorry, that was insensitive.”

Cece laughed. “How rare to hear you admit that.”

I had to laugh, too. She was right. “Look, thanks for the help. Did you ever hear from that pilot fellow?”

“He’s been out of the country, but he’s expected back tonight. He said he would call me if he had any new information.”

“Where’s he been?” Maybe one day I’d get a chance to travel. When I’d lived in NYC, the international airport just a few miles away, my theater friends and I had planned European travel trips. We were very poor, and every time we ate Italian, we’d plan our trip to Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Maybe one day I’d actually make it happen.

“Afghanistan. He had a hop to NYC, then to Amsterdam, and then Kabul.”

“Afghanistan.” I repeated it as if it were magic.

“I know,” Cece said. “The destination of Lydia and Bethany, according to some.”

I really wanted to tell her about Budgie’s tip that the women were CIA operatives, but I didn’t. Once this was all done and we’d found Lydia, I’d tell Cece and she could do with it what she would as a journalist.

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