Flesh Circus

Chapter Twelve

Avery arrived just as I was giving my forensics liaison the rundown. Piper is my very favorite tech. She didn’t even blink when I told her what samples I needed. Lorelei’s house was clear, her basement altar quiet, and the only problem was three live chickens brooding in wire cages downstairs. It’s the kind of problem Piper’s used to solving, and not much disturbs her serenity. She’s got four kids and a husband who does house duty while she’s out at crime scenes, and her sleek brown ponytail is almost never disarranged.

“Chickens?” She barely even raised an eyebrow. Behind me, they were photographing Lorelei’s body.

“I don’t care what you do with them, sell them or something.”

She gave me a look that could only qualify as long-suffering. I’m sure she practiced it on her kids. “Okay. You want a file on the body, of course. Can Stan release it after the autopsy? Anyone likely to want it?”

“I have no clue. Don’t release it until I give the okay.”

“Is it likely to…” Both eyebrows did raise this time, slightly.

“If it was likely to sit up and start causing trouble I wouldn’t let you keep it.” I’d already taken care of piercing the palms and feet with long iron nails. “Have Stan do a full workup, but warn him not to take the nails out.”

She didn’t even blink. “Your wish is our command. Anything we need to be worried about?”

“Of course not. Take pictures of the altar downstairs, catalog the scene—the usual.”

“Got it. Anything I should beep you if we find?”

Someone called her name, she raised a hand to let them know she’d be with them in a second. I mulled the question, shuffling priorities and evidence inside my head. “Nope. Just let me know when the file’s done. See if you can find out if anyone visited her—check the phone and have the black-and-whites ask her neighbors.”

She nodded. “Got it.”

Technically I suppose I should have had a couple of homicide deets there to take care of the legwork, but I’d told Monty not to bother. This was so clearly one of my cases, and there was no reason for anyone to be brought in on call. It wasn’t like I didn’t know what had happened. “Great. Thanks, Piper.”

She shrugged. “Yeah, well. You’re sure this one won’t.…”

“It won’t come back to life, Piper. I promise. Just tell Stan not to take the nails out.”

“Okay.” A shadow crossed through her dark eyes, but she shrugged again and went to work. Which officially finished up my job here.

Avery leaned against the hood of his Jeep, and I got a pleasant surprise. Eva was there too, perched on the hood like a Chrysler-approved pixie. The breeze stirred her dark hair, and I could tell just from the tension in her shoulders that she was still upset over losing Watson. Either that or something else, since Ave looked troubled too.

“How’s our first victim?” I didn’t bother with a preamble. Our second victim was still missing, or I would know about it.

“Funny you should ask.” Ave’s mouth twisted. “Had to sedate him and tie him down again. He was throwing himself all over the cell. I’m surprised he doesn’t have a concussion. He was chanting again, too. It was hinky as hell.”

Eva shivered. “It took three darts before he even slowed down. I don’t know what we’re going to do when he wakes up again.”

Interesting. “Anyone there with him?”

“Benito and his bum leg. Wallace is out on a job. It sounded like a regular one,” Eva added hurriedly, seeing my expression. “We’ve traded notes. Nobody’s seen anything like this.”

I nodded. “Care to come check out our first victim’s other address? I want to eyeball it, and if there’s anything there I’m going to have you two secure the scene while I go traipsing around following clues.”

“Sounds like a good time.” Avery grinned. “We were going to go to a movie but this is ever so much better.”

Oh, I’ll bet. “Bite your tongue. And give me your car keys.”

That wiped the grin off his face, and Eva sighed.

“You’re driving?” Avery dug in his jacket pocket, but slowly.

“We need to get there this century. Come on, Avery. I’ve never been in an accident in my life.”

“It’s not for lack of trying, I bet.” But Eva looked angelically innocent when I glanced at her. “Seriously, Jill. You’re not quite a menace, but you’re close.”

“Why does everyone feel the need to comment on my driving?” I held out my hand, Avery dropped his key ring in, and I motioned at them like a mother hen. “Come on, chickadees. Let’s get going—Mama’s in a hurry.”