She retrieved a folded sheet of paper from the far end of her bench.
One-page internet ad for a “mini-tool” woodworking jigsaw. Made in Korea. Six-and-a-half-inch blade in a U-shaped clamp, add four more inches of length for the handle.
Perfect for DIY projects.
Given the dimensions, the seller’s claim that you could put it in your pocket seemed a stretch but not the suggestion that it would “fit in a bag.”
Five-star reviews.
Nine bucks and some change.
Robin said, “Not high-tech but these cheapies can be surprisingly good and for those birdhouses you wouldn’t need to get fancy.”
“Would it be strong enough to…”
“Do what was done? Maybe not cut through bone. But tendons and ligaments? No problem.”
I thanked her and kissed her.
“Aw shucks,” she said and held my hand all the way to the door.
Blanche stayed in place, looking up atme.
“Oh, sorry,” I said. Pulling the treat from my pocket, I gave it to her.
Robin said, “Look at that face. The definition of pleasure.”
I said, “Easy when your priorities are sound.”
—
When I returned to the kitchen, Milo had made his way through half of the culinary Everest and added a container of orange juice that I’d bought yesterday—now nearly empty—and a similarly drained quart bottle of fizzy water.
I showed him thead.
“Nine bucks and it can sever limbs.”
“Robin says yes.”
“Okay…good, gives me something to look for.”
“Even if you don’t find it, you could see if Tiana bought one like it.”
“I could,” he said, “if I had access to her credit cards. Hector’s beenlooking like crazy but so far, nothing else on the Highlander. John claims to be checking out judges but he just got distracted by a big gang thing. I’m thinking of giving a few I know a try.”
He chomped, chewed, swallowed, drank juice, then water. Then juice.
“In answer to your unspoken question, surveillance has been unproductive. If she’s volunteering anywhere, she hasn’t gone there yet. She gets her food delivered and stays inside except for one trip yesterday to a gym on Sepulveda.”
“Hard-core ironworks?”
“Nope, more like your typical L.A. narcissist palace. Alicia was the one watching and she managed to talk her way inside as a prospective client. No weight lifting for ol’ Tiana, she was running like crazy on a treadmill. Alicia thinks she may have cut back on the steroids because she doesn’t look that extreme. Though she has aged considerably since her lagoon days. Last night, Moe came on and watched her take out some garbage, which he swiped and brought back. We’ve got no crime scene DNA to match but he figured the contents might be interesting and was kind enough to save it for me.”
He put the water bottle down, examined his palms as if they still needed washing.
“Food empties, beer bottles, used tissues and paper towels, a few of which held some minuscule wood splinters. I thought those might come in handy if the lab could find tool marks that could be matched to Martha’s body. But Basia looked at them and said they were too small and even if you did pull up marks there’s too much variance between human tissue and wood to say anything definitive. I’m on tonight and if it duds out, I’m going the gullible jurist route.”
Chapter
