Dying Scream by Mary Burton Read Free Book Online Page B

shrugged. “I like to double-check.” He glanced around the clearing and the woods that ringed it. “Anyone live on the property full-time?”
    “No. But Marie Wells checks on the property regularly. She lives a couple of miles from here and is a part-time caretaker of sorts; lets me know if there’s a problem. When we had the hurricane damage she was the one who came out here first and inspected the property before calling me.”
    “You get a lot of damage in the storm?”
    “Not much. We were lucky. Mostly erosion. Some damage to the house’s roof.”
    He pulled a small spiral notebook from his breast pocket and flipped it open. “Any odd people on the land?”
    “None I know of. Ask Marie.”
    “I will.”
    “She’s up at the main house. Her husband Dwayne should be here soon as well.”
    He clicked the end of a ballpoint pen. “You said his name was Dwayne. Dwayne Wells?”
    “That’s right. He and his family own a moving company. He’ll be by later today to start clearing the main house of the paintings. I’m having them taken to Mooney’s Auction House for sale.”
    Behind his dark glasses she sensed that his gaze roamed up and down her body. The look didn’t feel sexual, but analytical. He was trying to figure her out, as if she were a puzzle.
    “So how did you hook up with Dr. Heckman?”
    “He’s been associated with the family for years. He’s written several papers on the Thornton family. My late mother-in-law held him in high regard.”
    “What do you know about this guy?” That question came from Gage’s partner. The guy was dressed more casually and stood a couple of inches shorter than Hudson.
    “Not much. Only the few bits of information Frances mentioned. And your name is?”
    “Detective Nick Vega.” Vega pushed his Ray-Ban sunglasses up on his head. “Why not just hang on to the land? Why sell?”
    “It doesn’t make sense. I live in the city and have no need for a country house.”
    “You’re selling the entire tract?” Gage said.
    “Yes. That includes the main house and the surrounding twenty riverfront acres.”
    Vega nodded. “Mazur must be paying a fortune.”
    Adrianna wasn’t fooled by Vega’s casual dress and manner. Like Gage, she suspected his mind was razor sharp. “Mr. Mazur paid my asking price.”
    “Well, that is something in today’s real estate market,” Gage said. “Fact, it’s mighty lucky.”
    “Yes, it is.”
    “The sale’s going to make you a rich woman,” Gage said.
    “Not really. Go to the county tax office and look up this estate. Have a look at the check I just wrote for back taxes, which haven’t been paid in a decade.”
    “That’s got to be millions,” Vega said.
    “It is. No one is getting rich on this deal.”
    Gage gave no hint to his thoughts. “Who has access to the land?”
    “The front gate remains locked when no one is here, but as you can see, the fence around the property is in bad shape. I suppose anyone could drive onto the land at any time.”
    Miller approached, looking nervous, clearly unhappy about the entire situation. “I hear you want to talk to me, Detective.”
    Gage nodded. “You move graves for a living?”
    Miller shrugged. “Nearly twenty years now. Got offices in Richmond and Alexandria. I’m based in the Richmond office.”
    “Moved a lot of graves?” Gage said.
    “More than I can count. It’s big business to relocate the dead to make room for the living.”
    “What ever happened to a final resting place?” Vega said.
    Miller shook his head. “If you get a couple of hundred years in the ground you’re doing well these days. There’s always someone that wants to move you.” A hint of red warmed his face as he glanced at Adrianna. “No offense intended.”
    “None taken,” Adrianna said. “I’ve heard enough cracks and comments about this grave relocation to fill a book.”
    Gage glanced at her. “From who?”
    “The people who live in the area.”
    “You’re getting