Bloody Bones Read Online Free PDF

with the effort. Ms. Harrison looked a little scared. Bayard had moved to one side, closer to Stirling. Making clear whose side he was on. Coward.
    Larry moved closer to me.
    â€œDo you want this job, Ms. Blake?”
    â€œNot enough to take grief about it, no.”
    Ms. Harrison looked like she’d swallowed a bug. A big, nasty, squirming bug. I think I’d missed my cue to fall down and worship at her boss’s feet.
    The foreman coughed behind his hand. Stirling glanced athim, then back to me. “Are you always this arrogant?” he asked.
    I sighed. “I prefer the word ‘confident’ to ‘arrogant,’ but I’ll tell you what. I’ll tone it down if you will.”
    â€œI am so sorry, Mr. Stirling,” Bayard said. “I apologize. I had no idea . . .”
    â€œShut up, Lionel,” Stirling said.
    Lionel shut up.
    Stirling was looking at me with his strange pale eyes. He nodded. “Agreed, Ms. Blake.” He smiled. “I’ll tone it down.”
    â€œGreat,” I said.
    â€œAll right, Ms. Blake, let’s go up to the top and see if you’re really as good as you think you are.”
    â€œI can look at the graveyard, but until full dark I can’t do anything else.”
    He frowned and glanced at Bayard. “Lionel.” That one word had a lot of heat in it. Anger looking for a target. He’d stop picking on me, but Lionel was fair game.
    â€œI did fax you a memo, sir, as soon as I realized that Ms. Blake would be unable to help us until after dark.”
    Good man. When in doubt, cover your ass with paper.
    Stirling glared at him. Bayard looked apologetic but he stood his ground, safe behind his memo.
    â€œI called Beau and had him bring everybody down here on the understanding we could get some work done today.” His gaze was very steady on Bayard. Lionel wilted just a little; evidently one memo was not protection enough.
    â€œMr. Stirling, even if I can raise the graveyard in one night, and that’s a big if, what if the dead are all Bouviers? What if it is their family plot? My understanding is that construction will stop until you rebuy the land.”
    â€œThey don’t want to sell,” Beau said.
    Stirling glared at him. The foreman just smiled softly.
    â€œAre you saying that the entire project is off if this is the Bouvier family plot?” I asked Bayard. “Why, Lionel, you didn’t tell me that.”
    â€œThere was no need for you to know,” Bayard said.
    â€œWhy wouldn’t they want to sell the land for a million dollars?” Larry asked. It was a good question.
    Stirling looked at him like he’d just appeared out of thin air. Evidently, the flunkies weren’t supposed to talk. “Magnus and Dorcas Bouvier have only a restaurant, called Bloody Bones. It is nothing. I have no idea why they wouldn’t want to be millionaires.”
    â€œBloody Bones? What kind of name is that for a restaurant?” Larry asked.
    I shrugged. “It doesn’t exactly say bon appetit.” I looked at Stirling. He looked angry but that was all. I would have bet a million dollars that he knew exactly why the Bouviers didn’t want to sell. But it didn’t show on his face. His cards were close to his chest and unreadable.
    I turned to Bayard. There was an unhealthy flush to his cheeks, and he avoided my gaze. I’d play poker with Bayard any day. But not in front of his boss.
    â€œFine. I’ll change into something more bulky and we’ll go take a look.” The pilot handed out my suitcase. The coverall and shoes were on top.
    Larry came up to me. “Gee, I wished I’d thought of the coverall. This suit’s not going to survive the trip.”
    I pulled out two pairs of coveralls. “Be prepared,” I said.
    He grinned. “Thanks.”
    I shrugged. “One good thing about being nearly the same size.” I slipped off the black