“Your brother says I can help you fix her up for the party.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Aidan said, then waved and kept going toward the house. Just then his cell rang.
“Flynn,” he responded automatically.
“You know, you really have to start saying which Flynn,” Kendall teased.
“I’m on my way in to get you.”
“It’s all right. I packed up some things that will be great for the benefit and I’m bringing them out,” she told him. “And I thought we’d cook there, if that’s okay.”
She sounded good, he thought. Strong.
“Can’t wait,” he said. “See you soon.”
“You bet.”
A little while later, Aidan was inventorying the refrigerator when his cell rang again.
“Flynn.”
“Aidan?”
“Yes?”
“It’s Robert. Robert Birch. At Quantico.”
“Robert! Hey.”
“So things are wild down there, huh?”
“I don’t know about wild, but we do have a serial killer on our hands.” He filled Robert in on some of what had happened.
“Odd, huh?” Robert said.
“What’s that?”
“Two thighbones—two dead women—and they appear on the same day. Almost as if someone wanted you in on it, huh?”
“Don’t put too much stock in that, since it looks like the bones are gone.”
“That’s odd, too, don’t you think? Who breaks into a morgue?” Robert asked him.
“At least the police are finally paying attention,” Aidan told him. “So, did you get my package? I don’t suppose you have anything for me?”
“I do.”
“You’re kidding. Hell, I thought I’d have to wait.”
“I’m not kidding. You asked, I served. The boss still mourns the fact that you left the Bureau. He told me to give you priority.”
“So what did you get?”
“I wasn’t able to get anything viable from the dress, but I got DNA off the brush, and I was able to do something with your blood.”
“And?”
“Not the same person. In fact, not a person at all.”
“What is it, then?”
“Blood from a rodent. A rat, to be precise.”
20
Arat? He had discovered rat blood?
“If you find me anything else, I’ll be happy to get right on it,” Robert offered.
“Thanks.” Aidan couldn’t help being disappointed, though he was glad that he’d held back the brush he had discovered in Jenny Trent’s backpack until he was able to send it up to Quantico. At least it hadn’t been at the morgue, waiting to be stolen.
He heard a car in the driveway—Kendall—and, the phone still held to his ear, walked out to the porch and waved to her. She gestured, and he saw that she had a number of large boxes in the car.
“Robert, thanks, and just so you know, you may be hearing from me, because I’m not turning over anything to the locals anymore.”
“No?”
“Just to be on the safe side,” Aidan said. “Thanks, I’ll talk to you soon.”
He hung up and headed out to the car.
“I packed up some of my favorite pieces,” she said, after giving him a quick hug. “I want them here for the benefit.”
“Great. Can’t wait to see what you’ve brought.”
As he stood there with her, Jimmy came around the side of the house. “Sorry,” he said to Aidan. “You said to listen for cars. I was just doing that.”
“Thanks, Jimmy.”
“Evening, miss,” he said to Kendall. He looked back at Aidan hesitantly. “Want some help with the boxes? I’m stronger than I look.”
“Be my guest,” Kendall said.
“Where do you want them?” Jimmy asked.
“Let’s take them back to the kitchen,” Kendall said, then glanced from Aidan to Jimmy. “We’re going to cook some dinner. Would you like to join us?”
“Oh, I don’t want to intrude, miss.”
“You won’t be intruding. I’m asking you.”
Jimmy looked at Aidan for approval, and smiled broadly when Aidan nodded.
As they started carrying things—including several bags of groceries—into the house, Aidan thought that, even though Kendall was acting as if she were all right, he didn’t think she was. They hadn’t found the body, but she was sure one of her friends had been killed, and that wasn’t the kind of thing you got over in a night.
As Jimmy and Aidan kept bringing in boxes, Kendall started dinner, something she called quickie jambalaya.
At one point Aidan paused by the stove, worried. “You left the shop and went to the grocery store alone? Was that wise?”
She shook her head. “Actually, there’s a grocery store right down the street from the shop, and I didn’t go alone. Mason and Vinnie were with me. I promise you, I’m not taking any chances.”
Once the rest of the groceries were brought in, she started making a salad, and let Jimmy and Aidan open the boxes and check out the decorations.
The skinny ex-con was like a little kid. He pulled out the dancing skeletons, screeching black cats and singing skulls with great delight.