Bye Bye Bones (A CASSIDY CLARK NOVEL Book 1) by Lala Corriere Read Free Book Online Page B

it.”
     
    WHEN THE GM CALLED Jessica early that morning, she knew why. The photos had made it to cyber land. With a quick pointing of his finger, she knew it was going to be a dreadful start to her new day. And it was her day off.
    “Legal says we’ll respond to every photo. Thank God you two dropped below the camera range before you did the ditty.”
    “Yeah. Yeah. I’m there for the world to see, and half-naked. I’m mortified. What does legal have to say about who might have done this?”
    “They found a library ISP. An email with no other incoming or outgoing messages. You emphatically told me it was the ex-wife of Jaxon Giles’s. Has that changed?”
    Jessica inhaled deeply, clutching the tablet she brought in to the meeting. She wouldn’t cast doubt on her co-anchor. “No, Sir. I believe that to be true.”
    “Good. Already, the surge of incoming emails is unanimously in your favor. Legal is going after privacy invasion plus the restraining order you told me about. You showed some skin, Jessica. Nothing two consenting adults wouldn’t do. We’ll find out who’s behind this.”
    “Thank you,” Jessica said.
    “For what?”
    “For standing by me. This whole thing sucks.”
    “I adore you, but I’m not stupid. Our ratings will go off the charts. Fair to say, the devious plan of whomever backfired. Your public support is overwhelming. Two consenting adults. Privacy invasion. A deserved mention of a restraining order.”
    Jessica Silva walked toward the door. Shaky. Afraid. A combination of feeling frozen in her footsteps as she desperately needed to rush out of the door.
     
    MICHAEL SCORES’ THROAT tightened. His fingers clenched into fists as he thought about his situation.
    In the men’s room at the station, he hauled out his athletic bag and pulled out hair gel and his brush. Checked his teeth. After dabbing on highlighter under his eyebrows and under his eyes, he then powdered his face. Get rid of the black circles.
    He loved the spotlight as a news anchor, especially enjoying the ensuing publicity. Going out in public and being noticed. No matter where he was or what he was doing, one or two persons would recognize him and want to shake his hand. The thrill was on.
    He had begun to loathe Jessica. In his bones he knew she would have dozens of fans, on any given public event, rushing to see her. They would all be clamoring for her simple acknowledgement of their existence.
    Why? He was responsible for her God damned happiness. He was the one that introduced her to his half-brother, Jaxon, even before she knew they were related.
    The cunt wasn’t satisfied. Now she was depriving him of his just and due fame. He was number two and that was not good enough.

Chapter Twelve
    DAVID MANNING LEFT an urgent message while I was out walking Finnegan and Phoebe. The spring heat proved warmer than usual. To make sure the pads of their toes didn’t burn on the hot pavement, I took them out early. Manning had no patience for my absence and unavailability.
    “Call me. It’s urgent!”
    I called him back. Urgently.
    “Lay it on me, David.”
    “Border patrol found two shallow graves near Lukeville. All we know so far is that the remains are female and probably buried within the last year. Our only hope is to go for dental records.”
    “This may mean nothing. That’s at the border and if they’re illegal immigrants, doubtful there will be dental records. They’ll end up in one of those overcrowded ice-morgues on wheels.”
    I rethought my kneejerk reaction, adding, “Shall I drive down there?”
    “That’s stupid and you know it. We may get full dental records and with luck, maybe some DNA. Too late for fingerprinting, I can tell you that.”
    I hung up the phone. Suddenly, I felt lightheaded and braced myself against the kitchen counter. Something didn’t feel right. It was off the mark. Sometimes I was jolted with a sixth sense that went to my bones, and I suppose my nerves, enough so I would feel