The Hungry Bones by Sara E. Johnson

Author:Sara E. Johnson [Johnson, Sara E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Alexa had hoped to walk from the police station to the hospital morgue, but the Lakes District Hospital wasn’t located in Queenstown.

“Yeah nah,” the Uber driver said. “Hospital is in Frankton.”

Queenstown, busy with tourists, road work, and REI-type shops, flashed by out the car window. Alexa patted the crime kit next to her and leaned back in the seat. The driver, a young man with multiple piercings, was annoyingly talkative. “Must be tourist, your accent and all.”

“No. I work with the police.”

“They’ve got the cadaver dogs out now in Arrowtown. Do you know why?”

“No.” And if she did, she wouldn’t say.

“When SAR switches from tracker dogs to cadaver dogs, you know the police know something.”

Alexa wondered if it was true.

“Saw the missing woman’s husband on TV begging for information. Looked desperate.”

Ex-husband.

“That Hammer dude? Bad to the bone.” He swerved to miss a pothole. “The parole board up there in Christchurch is responsible. They never…”

Her phone ringing silenced him. She fumbled it out and answered.

“Hi, Lexi. It’s me. Happy birthday.”

Her heart melted at the sound of her brother’s voice. He was the only one who called her Lexi. “Charlie?”

“Who else ?”

Did he mean who else would wish her a happy birthday? Probably no one. “My birthday isn’t until tomorrow.”

“What day is it?” he asked.

“Saturday. May 27th.”

“I can’t keep the time difference straight. Happy early birthday.”

Alexa’s mind flew to Asheville in late spring. Mountain laurel and rhododendron. Leaves the color of mint. “What time is it there?”

“It’s almost seven. Mel is getting supper ready. Sweet and sour tempeh and quinoa salad.”

Poor Charlie. “What are Benny and Noah doing?”

“It’s Ben, not Benny. That’s what he wants to be called. I told you that. He came home from soccer practice in tears. Said this bigger kid, Michael Bennett, tripped him twice on the field. He’s taking a shower.”

Benny being bullied? “What are you going to do about it?”

“We’ve talked to the coach. He’ll keep an eye out. What are you doing for your birthday?”

“Maybe you should talk to the kid’s parents.”

She heard her brother sigh from eight-five hundred miles away. “We can handle it.”

“Sign the boys up for kickboxing.”

“Advice from an absentee aunt. Really, Lexi?”

Ouch. The driver pulled up in front of the hospital. “Um, Charlie, can I call you later? I’m working.”

“Easier said than done, with the time difference,” he replied.

“But guess what?” Alexa said. “I’m in gold mining territory, and there’s still gold in the river. I’ll tell you about it when I call.”

“Happy birthday and all,” he said, and disconnected.

She missed Charlie. And Benny and Noah. She wanted to wring this Michael Bennett’s skinny little neck. Not that she would ever hurt a child. She set her phone on vibrate, in case DI Katakana needed her, and thanked the Uber driver.

In the hospital lobby Ana enveloped her in a hug. “I’m glad you’re safe. The back door of the cottage being open? I would have died.”

Alexa stepped out of the embrace. “I’m sure it was the wind.” Ninety percent sure.

Ana’s braid was messy, and she had circles under her eyes.

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