An Unmarked Grave Read Online Free PDF Page A

busboy, but he was always conscientious and always did a good job. In fact," he added, "the younger busboys worked harder just so an old man wouldn't show them
up" He laughed. "Crazy, huh?"
    Despite being disappointed in the dead end, I laughed
with him. "Yeah"
    He changed the subject. "Who did you say you were?"
    "J. B. Forester. Hammond Electronics"
    There was a moment of silence; then he asked, "Was that
other man one of your people?"
    I stiffened and then, in as calm a voice as I could muster,
replied. "This is the only contact Hammond Electronics has
made with you, Mr. Adams. Why?"
    He shrugged it off. "No particular reason. One of my wait
staff said some guy came through asking about Justin."
    I remembered the man in the tan business suit. If I asked
questions about the man, I might stir up Adams' curiosity,
which I didn't want to do. "Chester probably applied to another company also. Our company is a low-key vendor for the US government, Mr. Adams. For security measures, I
need to find out about the six-month gap"

    "Just ask Justin."
    "Oh, I plan on it, but I'd like to verify whatever he says
by an independent source"
    "I understand"
    Trying to sound as beseeching as possible, I said, "I wonder if it would be too much of an inconvenience for you if I
visited with some of your kitchen or wait staff. Perhaps Justin
mentioned his plans to them"
    I held my breath.
    "No. Be fine with me"
    "Great. What about tomorrow? Around one?"
    "See you then"
    Marty popped into my cubicle as I hung up. I brought
him up to date.
    He nodded. "You know where they are? I mean, that music group, the Grasshoppers?"
    "I didn't ask. I figured if I didn't learn anything from the
country club, then I could pursue Bones and the Grasshoppers" I drew a deep breath and shut down my computer. "I'll
run up to Fort Worth in the morning and visit with the people
he worked with. No one can work side by side with someone
for six months and not reveal something."
    Marty arched an eyebrow. "You want to bet?"

     

is a good thing I didn't bet with Marty. I would have lost.
The kitchen and wait staff at Brentwood was cordial and
outgoing. They liked Justin, but he was a loner, never revealing any personal information about himself.
    I was standing in the doorway opening into the ballroom
with Jerry Byrne, one of the wait staff. An older man, he carried himself with the demeanor of a professional. He shook
his head. "Sorry I couldn't tell you anything, Mr. Forester.
But, like I said, Justin was all business. The only reason I
knew he was from Texas was his drawl" He chuckled.
    "One more question. Mr. Adams mentioned that another
gentleman had inquired about Justin"
    He nodded. "Yeah. Justin's sure popular."
    I grinned sheepishly. "Well, I might have bothered you for
nothing, Jerry. The guy might have been one of our boys,
Larry Charles" I touched my fingers to my face. "Ugly"
    Jerry laughed. "I didn't want to say it, but, yeah. Boy, and I thought I had a kisser that would turn a woman to
stone."

    I laughed with him. "Larry's good-natured about it. Has
to be " I drew a deep breath. All that was left now was Bones
and the Grasshoppers. I nodded to the club employees arranging tables around the stage. "Looks like a big blowout,
huh?"
    Jerry rolled his eyes. "Teen night. One of those awful
music groups that thinks loud is the same as good."
    With a grimace, I replied, "I know what you mean." I
paused, then added. "My brother's son plays for one of those
groups, the Grasshoppers. You ever heard of them?"
    It was his turn to roll his eyes. "Oh, do I remember them.
Last spring. Prom night. My ears rang for two weeks"
    Casually I asked, "Wonder if they're around anywhere. I
wouldn't mind stopping in and saying hi to my nephew."
    Arching his eyebrows, he replied, "I wouldn't know, but
come with me. There's always teenagers in the heated pool.
They'll know"
    I frowned. "Teenagers? Aren't they in school?"
    A wry grin twisted his lips.