A pair of burly crypt attendants marched forward with a gurney. One of them looked unimpressed by what he saw. The other stared wide-eyed and openmouthed before a nudge by his partner blanked his expression.
As they carted away the remains of Martha Matthias, Milo eyed her house’s rear door. “Time to get in there. Sorry, Alex, this one’s too complicated, I’ll have a uniform take you home.”
I said, “I’ll see if Robin’s free to pick me up, save your troops for the canvass.”
Robin answered after one ring. “Of course, baby. He’s protecting you? Must be bad.”
“It’s different.”
“That terrible word,” she said. “Well, at least your karma’s good on a small scale. I was just leaving House of Hardwood so I can be there in ten.”
“Great, thanks.”
“Can’t remember the last time I drove you anywhere,” she said. “Guessdifferenthas spread its wings.”
—
I waited at the northern perimeter of the yellow tape, a block up from the murder house. Robin’s truck pulled up nine minutes later.Gorgeous woman behind the wheel of a starkly utilitarian vehicle, her auburn curls loose.
The truck’s bed was empty. Unproductive search for exotic wood?
Then I saw the bag on the passenger seat, next to Blanche. I lifted and deposited both in my lap, leaned over and kissed Robin. The bag rattled. Inside were small, dark rectangles.
She said, “Ebony and rosewood leftovers, perfect for bridge blanks. They call me when they have stuff no one else can use.”
“Good karma for both of us.”
She eyed the squad cars. “As opposed to whatever happened here.”
—
I kneaded Blanche’s neck as Robin drove.
A few minutes in, she said, “Is it something you feel like talking about?”
I gave her basics.
She said, “A cop he knew. That’s got to be tough for Big Guy. Not to mention the rest of it.” She shuddered. “It does sound like the work of a crazy person so maybe that daughter or whoever she is will be the one and he’ll wrap it up quickly.”
I said, “Hopefully.”
I thought:Even so, the relief will be short-lived. There’s still Sophie Barlow, a quick solve that’s turned into anything but.
A mile later, Robin said, “After seeing that, don’t imagine you want to talk dinner.”
I said, “I’m pretty hungry. What’re you in the mood for?”
She shot me a quick sidelong glance.
Been with this guy for years and he still surprisesme.
She said, “Sushi.”
Chapter
7
It took a couple of days for Milo to callme.
