Mesozoic Murder by Christine Gentry Read Free Book Online

gone. I’ve looked everywhere for it.”
    â€œIt’s a special stone. It’ll turn up,” Pearl insisted.
    â€œI hope so. It came from Grandma’s medicine bundle.”
    â€œI think you should spend a few nights at the ranch.”
    Ansel paced the living room, considering the offer. “I can’t leave. Today I’m expecting a call from a client that I can’t miss, and tomorrow I have an appointment in Glasgow. I’ll see you at the buffet. We can talk then.”
    â€œI guess you know best. I met Nick Capos at last year’s Beastly Buffet, remember?” Pearl spoke in a pleasant sing-song voice which her husband often joked was as smooth as a silkworm’s rump. “Nick told me about his grandparents coming to the United States from Greece right before the Nazis invaded. He mentioned that his grandfather and his father, Isidoro, were glass blowers.”
    Ansel had totally forgotten about Nick’s immigrant grandparents and how they had come to America in the 1940s, but Pearl had a mind like a bear trap. The woman could read or hear something and reiterate explicit details at any given moment. Pearl’s comment also reminded her about Nick’s small glass-art collection which he inherited upon his parents’ death a few years before. Nick had learned some of the family glass blowing skills before going to college.
    â€œNick showed me his glass collection once,” Ansel said. “His grandfather made vases and his father created large hand-blown spheres and paperweights. They were beautiful.” Peeved, she wondered if Karen Capos would get all of that priceless art glass as well as Nick’s fossils.
    â€œNick seemed like a very nice person. And so devilishly handsome. What a tragedy.”
    Tears stung the corners of Ansel’s brown eyes. “It’s all so unreal.”
    â€œI wish your father could talk to you, but he’s out rounding up bulls in the east pasture. I just had to call. I’m so happy you’re coming to the party.”
    Ansel brightened. “Absolutely.”
    â€œAre you still going to bring a dish?”
    â€œOf course. I’ve made arrangements to have it delivered it to the ranch that morning. It’s called crow gut.”
    â€œSounds interesting. How many crows does the recipe take?”
    Ansel laughed. “Crow gut isn’t made from crows. It’s an old Blackfoot delicacy made with the large intestine of an elk or moose turned inside out and filled with meat and vegetables. Then the whole thing is roasted, cut up, and served.”
    â€œMarvelous. None of the other guests will have that recipe.”
    â€œHow are your party preparations coming?”
    Pearl sighed. “Slow. Which reminds me, I’ve got to trot. A man from the party store is coming to tell me how many tents I need.”
    â€œTell Dad I love him.”
    â€œI will. If you need anything don’t hesitate to call.”
    â€œI won’t. Bye, Pearl.”
    As soon as the remote hit the stand, the phone chirped again. Ansel looked with longing at her sandwich and chips, but the phone trilled insistently.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œDoctor Andreasson, Ansel.”
    â€œYes. Hello. Did you get my drawings?”
    â€œThat’s why I’m calling. I’ve looked them over, and they’re wonderful.”
    His evident excitement was infectious and Ansel’s spirits lifted. “I’m glad you’re pleased. You’re sure that you don’t want any corrections?” She hated asking, but the last thing she needed was Andreasson finding something wrong after the deadline to go to press had passed.
    â€œI’m sure. The four black and white anatomical drawings are quite accurate and well rendered, but the full color cover art is exceptional. You’ve caught the spirit of a thirty-foot-long Stegosaurus magnificently. You’ve certainly breathed new life into the old ‘roof