Bloody Bones Read Online Free PDF Page A

gasp.
    â€œWe’ve landed,” Larry said. “You can open your eyes now.”
    I did. “You are enjoying the hell out of this, aren’t you?”
    He grinned. “I don’t get to see you out of your element often.”
    The helicopter was surrounded by a fog of reddish dirt. The blades began to slow with a thick whump, whump sound. As the blades stopped, the dirt settled down and we could see where we were.
    We were in a small, flat area between a cluster of mountains. It looked like it had once been a narrow valley, butbulldozers had widened it, flattened it, made it a landing pad. The earth was so red it looked like a river of rust. The mountain in front of the helicopter was one red mound. Heavy equipment and cars were clustered to the far side of the valley. Men were clustered around the equipment, shielding their eyes from the dust.
    When the blades came to a sliding stop, Bayard unbuckled his seat belt. I did, too. We lifted off the headsets and Bayard opened his door. I opened mine and found that the ground was farther away than you’d think. I had to expose a long line of thigh to touch the ground.
    The construction workers were appreciative. Whistles, catcalls, and one offer to check under my skirt. No, those weren’t the exact words used.
    A tall man in a white hard hat strode towards us. He was wearing a pair of tan coveralls, but his dirt-covered shoes were Gucci and his tan was health-club perfect. A man and a woman followed at his back.
    The man looked like the real foreman. He was dressed in jeans and a work shirt with the sleeves rolled over muscular forearms. Not from racquetball or a little tennis, but from plain hard work.
    The woman wore the traditional skirt suit complete with little blousy tie at her throat. The suit was expensive, but was an unfortunate shade of puce that did nothing for the woman’s auburn hair but did match the blush that she’d smeared on her cheeks. I checked her neckline, and yes, she did have a pale line just above her collar where the base had not been blended in. She looked like she’d been made up at clown school.
    She didn’t look that young. You’d think someone somewhere would have clued her into how bad she looked. Of course, I wasn’t going to tell her either. Who was I to criticize?
    Stirling had the palest grey eyes I’d ever seen. The irises were only a few shades darker than the whites of his eyes. He stood there with his entourage behind him. He looked me up and down. He didn’t seem to like what he saw. Hisstrange eyes flicked to Larry in his cheap, wrinkled suit. Mr. Stirling frowned.
    Bayard came around, smoothing his jacket into place. “Mr. Stirling, this is Anita Blake. Ms. Blake, this is Raymond Stirling.”
    He just stood there, looking at me like he was disappointed. The woman had a clipboard notebook, pen poised. Had to be his secretary. She looked worried, as if it was very important that Mr. Raymond Stirling like us.
    I was beginning not to care if he liked us or not. What I wanted to say was, “You got a problem?” What I said was, “Is there a problem, Mr. Stirling?” Bert would have been pleased.
    â€œYou’re not what I expected, Ms. Blake.”
    â€œHow so?”
    â€œPretty, for one thing.” It wasn’t a compliment.
    â€œAnd?”
    He motioned at my outfit. “You’re not dressed appropriately for the job.”
    â€œYour secretary’s wearing heels.”
    â€œMs. Harrison’s attire is not your concern.”
    â€œAnd my attire is none of yours.”
    â€œFair enough, but you’re going to have a hell of time getting up that mountain in those shoes.”
    â€œI’ve got a coverall and Nikes in my suitcase.”
    â€œI don’t think I like your attitude, Ms. Blake.”
    â€œI know I don’t like yours,” I said.
    The foreman behind him was having trouble not smiling. His eyes were getting shiny