Q is for Quarry (Kinsey Millhone 17)

“This is ridiculous. You can’t do this alone. I’m coming down.”

“Don’t be silly. You’re not well yourself. Just stay where you are. I’ve got enough on my hands.”

“I’m fine. Didn’t Dolan tell you? The docs showed my X-rays to some big muckety-muck and she says the shadow’s insignificant. I forget now what they call it, but it’s bullshit. Biopsy came back negative too so I got a clean bill of health.”

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. Why would I lie about a thing like that? I’m in remission. At least for now.”

“Lucky you didn’t blow your brains out last week. Wouldn’t you be pissed?”

“I just wish I hadn’t gotten rid of my all personal possessions.”

“I could have told you as much.”

“Speaking of which, I’d like to have my family photos back.”

“Forget it. Find another bunch. Those are mine.”

“Come on now, Kinsey. I’ll get duplicates made.”

“Quit wheedling. I don’t want duplicates. I want those. Anyway, you shredded Cousin Mortimer and he was my favorite.”

“You never even met him.”

“I know, but he had a good face.”

“You’re tough.”

“A deal’s a deal.”

“How about joint custody. Shared visitation. One week on, one week off.”

“Maybe,” I said. “You shouldn’t have been in such a hurry.”

“At least I had the good sense not to shred my tax returns. I could be in jail for life, however much of it I got left.”

“What about your clothes?”

“Those went last week. I’ll have to scour the Goodwill thrift store and buy ’em back.”

“Oh ye of little faith. Dolan swore you’d be fine. You should have listened to him.”

“What does he know? The man’s a mess. Didn’t I tell you he was heading for another heart attack? Talk about a time bomb.”

“I know. I told him the same thing, but there was no stopping him. What about you, are you really feeling okay?”

“Terrific. Full of beans. I’m determined to come down. Don’t know how I’ll get there, but I’ll find a way.”

“The doctor’s letting you drive?”

“Of course. It’s no business of hers. Problem is, I sold my car and let my license lapse.”

“Oh, no.”

“Well, I didn’t want to take the test again. I was sure I’d be dead.”

“What about the lease on your house?”

“Shit, I’d forgotten about that. Healthy, but homeless. What a turn of events. By the way, did Dolan tell you what happened here?”

“We never had a chance to talk.”

“Triple homicide this morning—woman, her boyfriend, and her kid shot to death. The ex-husband’s fled into the back-country, where he’s hiding out. All the SO guys have been pulled into the search. This guy’s a wilderness expert, a paramilitary type. No telling how long it’s going to take to flush him out. Forensics is still at the crime scene, which means they won’t get to us again until they wrap that up. Could be days.”

“So why hang around down here? Once Dolan’s out, I can drive us home in his car and that’ll save you the trip.”

“No way. I’m bored to tears up here. I got cabin fever so bad, I’m about to go insane. Besides, if you two come home, we’ll just have to turn around and go back again.”

“Assuming there’s a link between the Mustang and Jane Doe,” I said.

“Trust me, it’s there and Dolan thinks so, too. You been in business as long as we have, you develop a feel for these things. We’re getting close.”

“Actually, I’d agree. I talked to a dentist this morning who remembered her—someone like her, at any rate. He thinks she was one of the last patients he treated before he had to retire. The guy’s ninety-three now and couldn’t give me the name, but everything else he says seems to fit. I checked with the principal at Quorum High and he referred me to the alternative high school for problem kids. I haven’t had a chance to deal with that—I’d just stopped by the motel to give Dolan the news when I found him in the throes of this heart attack.”

“You hang on ’til I get there. Then we’ll put our heads together and decide what’s next. How will I find you?”

“I’ll be around somewhere. If I’m not at the motel, you can try me here. You know Dolan’s car. Just keep an eye out for that. This town’s so small you can hardly miss.”