The Bones Will Speak by Carrie Stuart Parks Read Free Book Online Page B

boys, and they caught him. I think.”
    â€œMaybe he’s loose again. Bundy got away and killed several more women. I can find out if the Spokane killer was ever caught or is incarcerated.” Dave jotted a note.
    â€œSo. Okay. Bundy. Yeah.” Gwen stared off into the distance.
    â€œHello? Earth to Gwen. What’s going on in that brain of yours?”
    â€œSorry.” She pulled out a scrap of paper and wrote something.
    â€œI assume that if your thought is meaningful, you’ll let me know. What else did you notice?”
    â€œHe’s between five foot ten and six foot, is around wood chips—”
    â€œI thought you said you didn’t see him.”
    â€œYou’re doing it again, Dave. Bad interviewing technique. Never interrupt the witness.”
    â€œDon’t correct me! You’re not on your lecture circuit—”
    â€œAnd you’re not your dad!”
    Dave’s gaze locked on Gwen. Heat rose from his chest, to his neck, then his cheeks. The silence stretched between them.
    â€œExcuse me?” Ron approached from the house, his face pale and his hand shook as he held up a paper sack. “Is this yours?” he asked Gwen.
    She looked inside. “Yes, that’s my jacket. I suppose it’s evidence now.” She turned to Dave. “My car keys are in the pocket.”
    Dave snatched the bag, yanked out the keys, tossed them to Gwen, then shoved the sack into the startled Ron’s hands. “Get Dre to seal it.”
    â€œSorry.” Gwen looked pale. “I don’t know what got into me.”
    â€œYou’re rusty,” Dave said.
    â€œI deserved that.” Gwen turned to Ron. “First case like this?”
    Ron blushed. “First case period. I never . . .” He cleared his throat.
    She gently touched his arm. “Is Mattie going to be all right?”
    â€œShe’s unconscious and, like, really messed up. The EMTs are getting ready to put her in the ambulance right now.”
    A white van with a Missoula television logo painted on the side pulled up next to Gwen’s car. A cameraman hopped out of the passenger seat and began filming while a determined-looking reporter headed their direction.
    Dave groaned. “Great. Ron, have someone follow the ambulance. I want to know the minute she’s awake and talking.” He moved toward the reporter, still speaking. “Get some help loading Winston into your cruiser and have someone drive him to the vet.” Dave stopped and turned to Gwen. “Winston will be in good hands.”
    â€œI’ll take him.” Gwen started toward the house.
    Dave grabbed her arm. “I need you here. We have a crime scene.”
    Gwen yanked her arm away. “My dog’s hurt. I need to take care of him. And don’t forget, I’m no longer on salary.”
    â€œI’ll rearrange the budget and squeeze the money out somehow.” Dave folded shut his notebook and started walking toward the reporter. Two burly deputies carried Winston from the house, his limp body like a giant polar-bear rug. They placed him in the rear seat of a patrol car and shut the door. Winston stared out the window, panting.
    Dave reached the reporter, then turned and watched Gwen. She slipped in the car beside the dog, hugged him, then stepped out and closed the door.
    Four EMTs carrying a stretcher negotiated through the narrow doorway of the house, then slid the gurney into the ambulance and drove away, lights flashing. A deputy followed in his cruiser, then the patrol car with Winston.
    Dave turned to the reporter. “How did you hear about this so fast?”
    The reporter stuck a microphone into his face. “I can’t reveal our sources. We were already in the area doing a story on the wolf attacks. Do you have a comment?”
    â€œYeah. Stay behind the police line and don’t get in our way.”
    The reporter jerked her head toward Dave’s left.