Fortunes of the Dead (45 page)
Read Fortunes of the Dead Online
Authors: Lynn Hightower
He didn't say hello when he came through the door, but I was used to that. Joel isn't overly vocal, and he comes home looking grim until he transits from the world of work to the comforts of home.
“Hey, baby!”
He stood at the edge of the living room, blinking. Well, the lights were bright. I tend to turn all of them on.
He only glanced at me and frowned, and I realized he was looking for the owner of that beautiful car in the driveway. He didn't know he was looking right at her.
“Who's here?”
“Just me.”
“Just you?”
“Me and Maynard Kitty.”
“Then whose car is parked in our driveway?”
“Mine.”
“Lena, there's a BMW sports car in the driveway, are you totally oblivious?”
Actually, he didn't really say “are you totally oblivious,” but clearly he was thinking it.
“I know, I know, it's mine! Ours! You can drive it whenever you want, I'll share it. Isn't it beautiful?”
“You bought a car?”
“Right, with the jingling change right out of my pocket. Or did you think I got a loan? And who in their right mind would loan me money?”
“Is this something where the dealer lets you drive it home to try it out?”
“I don't think they let BMWs off the lot like that.”
“Well, this one is obviously ⦠used.”
“You mean that big son of a bitch dent beside the driver's door? I don't care, Joel. How else am I ever going to afford a car like that?”
He walked over and gave me a kiss, and just looked at me, waiting for an explanation. He looked tired. Not a good day. He is dark, hair and skin tones. Eyes deep brown. He has lost most of that air of world-weariness he used to carry around like the hump on a camel, but there is something sad in his eyes that will never go away.
“It's payment, from my new client.”
“New client? If they can palm you off with a BMW, they can afford to pay you cash.”
“Palm me off? Joel, you make me feel like that character in âJack and the Beanstalk,' coming home with magic beans.”
“You mean Jack?”
“I do if he's the one who gets the heat for screwing up.”
“Nobody ever gives you money, Lena. You always come home with magic beans.”
“What's wrong with that, so long as they're magic?”
“It's just not ⦔
“Sensible? The norm? What, Joel?”
“Practical.”
“Speaking of practical, I cooked. And don't even start to get that look on your face. It's my kitchen too.”
“Is it corn casserole?”
To his credit, his tone was pleasant. But I never cook corn casserole for Joel anymore, he just doesn't appreciate it like me and Maynard. It's an easy dish, creamed corn with potato chips crumbled over the top, baking time a scant twenty minutes.
“Grilled chicken, dirty rice, and peas.”
“Sounds good. I'm starving.”
“We're out of wine. But I do have cigars. Good onesâPortofinos!”
“As always, Lena, you surprise me.”
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CKNOWLEDGMENTS
To Tracy Hite, Program Manager, Washington, D.C., Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms ⦠for opening the doors and paving the way, for answering questions and making me welcome.
To Jim Cavanaugh, Special Agent In Charge, Nashville Region, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms ⦠who was gracious and generous enough to take time out of a busy schedule to answer all of my questions, to advise me on criminal investigation, and to educate me on the workings of the fascinating and hugely underappreciated agency of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
To all of the ATF agents who give the job their best, then step back to let others bask in the limelight.
To Gary Cordner, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Justice and Safety at Eastern Kentucky University, who spoke with me at length and answered all of my questions about his impressive law enforcement program. It was a pleasure to talk to someone from home.
To Gene Lewter, of Fayette County Legal Aide, an attorney with heart, as well as a talented writer, who was always available to advise me on the workings of the legal systemâin the courtroom and behind closed doors.
To Aaron Priest and Lucy Childs, Lisa Erbach Vance and every single person at the Aaron Priest Literary Agency, who take care of the business end and take the weight off my shoulders so I am free to write and enjoy it. Thank you for keeping me out of trouble (a big job, no?) May I never disappoint you.
To Joy Ritchey, for invaluable help on artwork.
To Adam Ritchey, the enormously talented graphic artist who created my beautiful cover art. You are every author's dream.
To Gina, Maggie, and Shelley, for girl talk, good food, and introducing me to George, a truly amazing dog.
To Randy, for friendship and backup.
To Judith Curr, publisher of Atria Books, for being so great and amazing to work with.
To Amanda Ayers, who is perceptive, creative, and hardworking, and knows the book as well as I do. And to Christina Boys, for all her detail work and input.
To Kay, my partner in research adventures, and to Jerry, for cooking.
To Victor, for listening, reading, cooking, and dancing.
To my sister, Rebecca, who knows what to say at every stage of the book, who listens till she falls asleep, and who never lets me down. May we squabble forever.
To Julien and Arnaud, who have taken me under their wing and taught me soccer, bowling, and football. I can still beat you at Ping-Pongâbut for how long, I don't know.
To Alan, Laurel, and Rachel, who make me proud ⦠and who know the process better than anyone and are always there for backup.
And, above all, to Robert, who has captured my heart, and shown me that the last love is the best one of all.
About the Author
Lynn Hightower grew up in the South and graduated from the University of Kentucky, where she studied creative writing with Wendell Berry and earned a journalism degree. She is the author of ten novels, including two mystery series, one featuring homicide detective Sonora Blair and the other featuring private investigator Lena Padget.
Flashpoint
, the first Sonora Blair mystery, was a New York Times Notable Book.
Satan's Lambs
, the first Lena Padget mystery, won the Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel. Hightower has also written the Elaki series of futuristic police procedurals, which begins with
Alien Blues
.
Hightower's novels, which have been translated into seven foreign languages, have appeared on the
Times
(London) bestseller list and have been nominated for the Kentucky Literary Award, the Kentucky Librarians First Choice Award, and the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She teaches at the UCLA Extension Writers' Program, where she was named Creative Writing Instructor of the Year in 2012. The author lives with her husband in Kentucky.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2003 by Lynn Hightower
Cover design by Andrea Worthington
ISBN: 978-1-5040-3752-5
This edition published in 2016 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
180 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038
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