Page 79 of Wyoming Homecoming


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“A Figa,” Lassiter said coldly.

“A what?”

“It started out as a vulgar expression in Italy, but it migrated to South America, where it’s worn as a protection against evil.”

“That’s where I saw it,” Cody recalled suddenly. “I was watching a special on the Amazon, and one of the visitors was wearing one. The interviewer asked him what it was, and he explained it. No wonder it looked familiar!”

“So now we know who the third member of the Grant party is,” Lassiter replied. “Where do we go from here?”

“First things first. There’s Owens’s nephew, and the blonde, and the so-called witness to the robbery who purportedly saw Mr. Whatley commit a crime. I can’t pull somebody in on suspicion without evidence. All I have is suspicion.”

“As soon as we get the autopsy report back on Violet Henry’s sister, Candy, we may have something to go on. If the blonde’s from South America and has a way with poison, there will be a way to connect her to the murder. Depending on whether or not the poison is still in the body, and whether it can be traced to a particular place or person. We’ll have to find the paper trail of the blonde’s movements. If she’s been to Denver in recent times, that’s a start.”

“Look up airplane tickets,” Lassiter said. “What did she say her name was?”

“The name she gave was Bella Cain.”

“It’s a start,” Lassiter said with a smile. “Nice start.”

Cody got up. “Yes.”

Lassiter eyed him quietly. “You might give that coroner in Denver a call and make sure he keeps enough evidence to share with the FBI crime lab. Those guys can trace a single hair all the way to hell.”

Cody chuckled. “So they can. I’ll make a point of it.” He glanced at Horace, who was dozing. “Don’t let your guard down,” he advised softly.

“I never do that.”

Cody nodded and left him there, his mind on how easily he’d been taken in by the so-called trooper. He was amazed at his own naivete. She was just like Debby. But this time, he wasn’t falling into the trap. He knew better. And always, at the back of his mind, was Abby. He grimaced. Abby, who’d written him off because she thought he’d exchanged her for the little blonde. He was regretting his actions more than ever now.

ABBYHADBEENshaken at the sight of Cody, although she’d recovered quickly. She was proud of her indifferent act. It had been a very innocent outing with Lassiter, which Lucy had enjoyed, too. They’d gone to a movie while they were out—a nice cartoon one which Lucy had loved. Lassiter liked kids. That was surprising in such a loner. He was a complex person, and Abby genuinely liked him. But she was in love with Cody Banks, who was now apparently romancing a blonde state trooper.

She sat at her desk working and brooding. Mr. Owens’s nephew, Jack, had been in the office begging for money several days ago. But he’d walked in yesterday in a pair of designer jeans and designer shirt, and announced to his uncle that he had a great job now and he could fend for himself. He was obviously high on something, because he made his announcement loudly in front of the entire office staff, with appropriate bad words which made Abby blush even in memory.

Mr. Owens had been oddly preoccupied since then, and she’d seen him in the local café having coffee with one of the assistant district attorneys. She couldn’t hear what was said, but afterward, Mr. Owens looked as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Marie sat down beside Abby when the commotion was over. The nephew had gone slamming out of the building and a worried Mr. Owens had gone back into his office.

“There’s some gossip,” Marie whispered, “that Mr. Owens’s nephew is in league with someone local who’s planning to get Mr. Whatley out of the way.”

Abby’s jaw dropped. “Marie, how in the world do you know...?”

“My husband has some rather shady contacts, not that he’s ever been shady, but he is a practicing attorney, you know. Anyway,” she continued, “the rumor is that some man in Florida is paying the nephew and two other people, including a woman, to do away with Mr. Whatley so that his sister will be the only person left to inherit that estate.”

“You should tell somebody!” she exclaimed.

“Who? If I tell the sheriff, he’ll want to know where I got the information,” Marie said miserably. “And my husband has already said that he’ll deny hearing any of it if he’s questioned. He likes his job,” she added with a long sigh.

Abby pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. “I think I know somebody who might be able to help,” she said.

“Listen, I know you’re friends with Cody Banks...!” Marie began.

“No. It’s somebody else, somebody who can keep his mouth shut. He has connections, too. I won’t involve you or your husband. I promise,” she added.

Marie relaxed a little. “Thanks,” she said softly. “All marriages go through stages,” she added curiously. “I don’t want Matthew to grow up without a father. And I love my idiot husband, warts and all.”

Abby just smiled. “You’re very lucky,” she said wistfully. A marriage with children had been her dream once. Now she had to learn to be content with a young girl who was her niece, not her daughter, and a life that didn’t contain a man. Just as well, she thought. Cody obviously didn’t give her a thought anymore.

SHEWAITEDUNTILshe knew Cody was due in court to go to the detention center. She had to see Lassiter.

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