Whisper of Bones: A Cassie Quinn Mystery by L.T. Ryan & K.M. Rought

Author:L.T. Ryan & K.M. Rought [Ryan, L.T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Liquid Mind Media
Published: 2021-02-01T16:00:00+00:00

24

David and Cassie found their way to the front door of Mrs. Tamara Partridge’s townhouse. It was a modest home in a pleasant neighborhood right outside Savannah. Close enough to downtown that it wasn’t an awful trip, but far enough away to enjoy suburban life. The smell of seared steak and apple pie snuck through a cracked window and enveloped the porch. David’s stomach audibly growled.

“I hate to call on people around suppertime.” He patted his belly.

Cassie patted David’s arm. “I love that you’re more concerned about when we’re dropping by than why we’re dropping by.”

“I just don’t want to be rude.”

She glanced at his midsection. “Just ask for a bite. You know you want to.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Cassie giggled. “I know.”

When David knocked, a woman in her early sixties answered the door. She had long gray hair pulled back in a half ponytail, and she wore dark slacks and a cream-colored blouse. She looked like she’d just returned home from work.

“Hello, Mrs. Partridge?” David said.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“My name is Detective David Klein.” He gestured to Cassie. “My associate, Cassie Quinn.”

“Detective?” She looked past them as though searching for a crime scene. “Is something wrong?”

“That depends on how you look at it, ma’am. May we come inside?”

“Sure, but I’m right in the middle of making dinner, if you don’t mind?”

“No, no, of course not. I’m sorry we didn’t stop by sooner.” He shot Cassie a look that screamed told you so. “We’ll try to be out of your hair quickly.”

The woman led them into the kitchen, where Mr. Partridge chopped vegetables with a large butcher knife. His hair was salt-and-pepper, and he had a thick chevron mustache to match. With glasses and a pencil stuck behind his ear, he looked like a professor in an apron.

“Dear, these are detectives, came to ask us some questions.”

“Oh?” Mr. Partridge stopped mid-chop and looked David and Cassie over. “Has something happened?”

“I’m afraid so. Your brother-in-law, Robert Shapiro, has died.”

“Oh.” Mrs. Partridge leaned against the counter. Her face was neutral, but her eyes were sharp. “If it were as simple as that, I don’t think the Savannah PD would send out a couple of detectives, would they?”

“One detective,” Cassie corrected. “One, uh, associate.”

“No, ma’am. Not as easy as that.” David shifted his weight to his other foot. “No easy way to say this.”

Mr. Partridge resumed chopping. As Cassie took a few steps closer, the pungent smell of onions caused her eyes to weep. She looked to David to see if he noticed, but he said nothing.

“Best to just get it out,” Mrs. Partridge said. She went over to a pot on the stove and started stirring. “I’m a rip-the-Band-Aid-off kind of person.”

“Well, okay then. We have evidence to believe your late brother-in-law was a serial killer.”

It felt as though someone hit the pause button on the entire room. Cassie could only hear the bubbling of the liquid on the stove, the searing of steak in the cast iron pan, and smell a sour scent emanating from somewhere in the kitchen.

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