“Yeah.”
Hunter said, “I’ll need to take a look at the soles of whoever walked around here.”
Vick motioned over the investigator and several others. The Crime Scene people had left but Vick said they were wearing Reeboks, if that helped. Hunter checked everyone’s shoes, including ours, then walked to the body.
We moved to the side and watched her. Hunter took her time, studying a three-sixty around the body and working in ever-larger concentric circles out of the draw. It took fifteen minutes before she reached the pavement. Hunter turned to look at the body and rubbed the back of her neck. She studied the terrain for a moment, then went to the edge of the draw and knelt. She nodded to herself, rose, and walked to us.
“Nobody took Mickey into the draw. They…no, make that he--threw her into it from the edge.”
I looked from the edge to the body. The killer threw her away like trash.
Vick said, “You sure?”
&
nbsp; Hunter nodded. “Two people went from the road to the edge of the draw and the long striding one was carrying the body.” Hunter pointed at a spot. “He threw Mickey from there, got his legs into it and scrooched the gravel with his foot as he pushed off, kind of like somebody throwing the shot put. It left a small pressure ridge in the ground where his left foot rotated in the follow through, so my guess is he’s right handed. They probably weren’t out of the car more than thirty seconds before they were rolling again.”
The investigator was writing as Hunter talked. He said, “I may have to call you as a witness on this.”
Hunter said, “No problem. I’ve done it before.”
Vick asked if there was anything else we wanted to add, and we shook our heads. He waved the men down with the body bag and they put Mickey’s tiny broken form inside and zipped it up.
Hunter said in a hoarse voice, “I think I’ll go back to the car.” I noticed Hondo had put on his sunglasses.
I bit the inside of my cheek to get control and said to Vick, “We think of anything, we’ll get in touch.”
Vick looked at me, “You remember that. We’ll be on this and do what needs to be done. Don’t interfere in the investigation, Ronny. That goes for you too, Hondo. I mean it.”
I said, “We’re working on finding Bob Landman.”
Vick said, “Yeah, but you and I both know this is all tied together, and we’re looking for Landman. Don’t get in the way.”
I turned and walked to the Mercedes with Hondo. Before we drove away, Hondo put up the top on the convertible. He said, “Too much blue sky and sunshine right now. It should be raining.”
Hunter tapped my shoulder and said, “Can I borrow your handkerchief?” She’d put on Ray Bans like Hondo and her nose was red. I gave her my handkerchief and wished I had brought my own sunglasses. With the top up, I couldn’t even say the wind was causing my eyes to water.
CHAPTER NINE
As we drove away, I said to Hondo, “You remember Mickey’s home address?”
He looked at me and nodded.
Hunter said, “Yeah, maybe there’s something we can find.”
“You can’t go.” I said.
“I sure can. You watch me.”
Hondo said, “No, Hunter. If Vick or his people walk in on us, it’ll be your career. We can’t let you risk it.”
“But-”
“No Buts,” I said. “We’ll drop you at the office and fill you in when we get back.”
“Or call you for bail money,” Hondo said.
I said, “Besides, Hondo and I can go through the place almost as fast as the three of us could. You know that. Three’s almost too many for a small house.”