Paradox (FBI Thriller 22)

* * *

Ty said, “Unlike you, we didn’t know Leigh before she woke up from surgery. We know she was thought of as simple before she was struck down, but when she came out of anesthesia, she was able to tell her story quite clearly. You’ll be more than a little surprised at how well she’s recovering.”

Landry raised a patrician eyebrow but said nothing.

Susan Sparrow fiddled with the pearls around her neck, a single beautifully matched strand. “I’ve known Leigh for as long as I’ve lived in Haggersville, and she was always the same, sweet and very pretty, but you had to be patient.”

Eric said, “What I want to know is exactly what she might have said about the belt buckle to freak out the person who killed Mr. Henry enough to try to stop her?”

Ty said, “As I said, all she recounted was that Mr. Henry told her the belt buckle was unique, that when he polished it, it gave him wonderful memories of an earlier event in his life, one he cherished and loved to revisit. There’s probably a lot more to that story. He swore her to secrecy before she left. She wasn’t to tell anyone, even her mother.”

Landry said, “But why would Mr. Henry want the belt buckle to be kept secret? Did he steal it from some museum?”

“We don’t know,” Sala said. “Not yet.”

There was a moment of silence, then Eric said, “Do you know what I remember most about Mr. Henry? Everyone loved him. I’ve got to say I don’t like many folk here in Haggersville, but I liked him, too. I still miss the old dude, actually. And the brutal way he died, that flipped everyone out, including me. Someone had a real hard-on for him. It seemed impossible to me anyone hated him that much.”

“But someone did,” Landry said.

Ty said, “We’re hoping she’ll remember more under hypnosis.” She found herself watching each of them carefully as she spoke, but saw nothing more than simple interest.

Sala said, “Mrs. Sparrow, unlike your husband and brother-in-law, you’re not from Haggersville. When did you move here?”

Susan said, “It’s been what? About six years, Landry?”

He nodded, smiling at her. “I met you the first time right after you arrived. Remember, at Mario’s Pizza?”

Eric said, “Bro, I heard you were at Mario’s with Corey Jameson that night.”

“Shut up, Eric, that’s old news.” Landry turned to Ty and Sala. “It took me fifty-seven days to convince her to marry me. She was a hard sell, especially since every other single man in Haggersville was after her.”

Eric laughed. “You were lucky I was out of the country or I would have convinced her you were all wrong for her.”

“Boys, be quiet, both of you.” Susan’s voice was amused.

Ty said, “Let’s get back on track here. You’ve already considered the possibility people will wonder where all the bones at the bottom of Lake Massey came from.”

Landry said, “We’re expecting the usual gossip, but no one would seriously think those bones came from here. What makes the most sense to me is a serial killer has been operating in our area over many years, dumping his murdered victims into Lake Massey.”

Sala said, “The only glitch in the serial killer theory is finding Mr. Henry’s Star of David belt with the bones. Our FBI forensic anthropologist has started DNA testing them. Unfortunately it’s impossible to determine which bones were found closest to the belt buckle, and not far from the dock of Gatewood. We’ll ask Calhoun LaRoque for a sample of his DNA, since he and his father would share the same Y chromosome. Perhaps we’ll get lucky.”

Eric said, “Let me say it’s impossible his bones will be found. Calhoun LaRoque scattered his father’s ashes at sea.”

Landry was frowning. “I suppose it’s possible the medical examiner sent us the wrong body. Again, none of us unwrapped him to verify.”

Sala said, “We’ll question the medical examiner, find out what their procedures were five years ago. It’s a long shot, though.”

Susan looked at them helplessly, splayed her hands. “What else can we tell you? I assure you we did nothing wrong.” She stood, and suddenly Susan Sparrow looked like a general. “Now, I want to speak to Leigh Saks. I have known her for a very long time—well, I’ve known Gunny for a very long time. She has no reason to distrust me. Perhaps she’ll tell me something she was hesitant to tell you or something she didn’t consider important or simply forgot. It was five years ago. Perhaps I can help us clean up this mess as quickly as possible.”

All of them rose. Sala said, “Leigh is under guard now. If you wish to see her, Mrs. Sparrow, we’ll follow you. Will either of you gentlemen be coming?”

Landry shared a look with his brother. “I have some business I must see to.” He walked to his wife, smoothed her eyebrows with his thumbs. “We’re in no way to blame, sweetheart, don’t ever forget that.”

“I know. But I want this unpleasantness over and done with, Landry. I will not let this family be hurt.”

“There’s my girl.” Landry said to Ty and Sala, “In case you haven’t noticed, Susan’s a tiger.”

Eric said, “Since I already dealt with the Baddeckers about their deceased granddad, the service is set, and there’s nothing more to do, I’ll drive Susan to the hospital. Besides, I’d like to see Leigh myself. I’m thinking she sounds like a new, improved version, like someone I might ask out on a date. She’s your age, isn’t she, Susan? Maybe she’d appreciate a younger guy like me rather than a forty-plus old man like my bro here.”