Silver's Bones by Midge Bubany Read Free Book Online Page A

morning at seven thirty, I drove out to Adriana’s to apologize for being abrupt (Shannon’s idea), and to find out about the intruders. I caught her and Troy drinking coffee at her picnic table. She was wearing the royal blue suit dress I liked.
    She held up her mug. “Want one?”
    â€œSure,” I said.
    When she went into the house to get it, Troy said, “She had some kids here last night.”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œThen about eleven o’clock, five more people walked in right toward the site. I wrote ’em up.”
    â€œYou were here?”
    â€œYeah. I came out to help guard the site. Spanky was parked out by the road and turned away several people. This morning I caught people in kayaks pulling up along the shore. We don’t have enough deputies out here. I told Adriana she should call Patrice and demand a greater security presence. I gave her the number.”
    â€œAnd what did Patrice say?”
    â€œShe apologized and said she’d put a guard at the site. And here I be.”
    â€œPeople love this shit. Don’t they?”
    â€œYep. Since you showed up, I think I’ll go home and catch a few hours. Anything big happens, call me.”
    â€œYou got it. Hey, before you go, did you record the intruders’ names?”
    â€œWhat do you think?” He handed me his small notebook. I read through the two lists of names.
    â€œPhillip Warner’s kid?”
    â€œYeah, Adriana’s boss’s kid.” He laughed. “Hey, I like the black shorts with your uniform shirt. Good thinking. I’m doing that, too.”
    â€œDid you have dinner here last night?” I asked.
    He smirked. “No, why do you ask?”
    â€œNo reason.” Because she said “ we .”
    He took off for home, and then I saw who the other half of the “we” was—Adriana’s mother, Magna, also known as Mean Magna or Mugs.
    Magna’s brows looked an inch higher than when I had seen her last. She must have had yet another lift.
    Adriana came out to hand me a mug of coffee.
    â€œThanks,” I said.
    â€œI’ll be right back,” Adriana said.
    I said good morning to Magna before I took a sip. Her lips were pinched in self-importance, like always.
    â€œGood morning,” she responded. “How are you, Cal?”
    â€œI’m dandy, and you, Mrs. Valero?”
    â€œMy, aren’t we formal? When do you think you’ll be done with this business?”
    â€œWhen the forensic team is done.”
    â€œCongratulations on your marriage,” she said, grinning way too widely. I knew she’d be pleased Adriana and I didn’t reconcile last spring.
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œI understand your bride is also a deputy and has two children.”
    â€œCorrect.”
    â€œA readymade family. How nice.”
    â€œIf you’ll excuse me,” I said, as I tried to make my escape.
    But she wasn’t done with me. “Adriana is beside herself.”
    â€œI can imagine. Maybe you should take her to your place in Minneapolis until this is settled.”
    â€œWell, for once we agree, but she doesn’t want to leave for some reason. Talk to her about it.”
    â€œI don’t believe I have any influence on her anymore. Besides, what she does is not my business.”
    She gave me asarcastic look, one I recognized from her large repertoire of nasty facial expressions. “You broke Adriana’s heart, you know.” Then she put on her basset houndface.
    What? “Oh, come on,” I said, then noticed Adriana had returned. Good thing, too. I may have said somethingreally stupid to her mother. Mugs could push my buttons like no one else . . . except maybe Troy.
    â€œOh, come on what?” she said.
    â€œNothing,” I said.
    Suddenly Sheriff Clinton was there, saving me. Adriana was not one to let things drop.
    The first thing out of my boss’s mouth was, “ To make sure the area