Glass Houses Read Online Free PDF Page B

switch to film for interiors and the bodies.”
    â€œSounds great,” said Thom.
    â€œI’m everything else,” said Spenser Hobart. “There’s a nice wood floor inside. Like hair?”
    â€œLove it. I want to know who’s been here.”
    â€œI’ll bust out the Swiffer.”
    â€œGreat. Listen up gang, you know what to do. I want to be out of here by sunset.”
    Prints and Serology exchanged smirks as if to say, like that’s gonna happen .
    Thom read their expressions and said, “It’s called efficiency.”
    He inspected the exterior of the Lawrence residence and made a notation on the fresh note pad: no sign of forced entry .
    His cell vibrated with a message from George.
    HEDZ UP POS TWIN 10YO XX
    Thom’s skin itched with irrational fear. How many twin-sets of 10-year-old girls could there be in Los Angeles? Hundreds? L.A. was a big-ass place. His girls were fine. His girls weren’t in this house. They had no reason to be. But he couldn’t help himself. He flicked his wrist. The family would be on their way to Mass at St. Joseph’s. He stepped away and dialed his wife’s cell.
    â€œHello,” said Anne Keane with a clip in her voice.
    â€œHi, Honey. Everything okay this morning?”
    â€œYes.” Cold.
    â€œThe kids … Pearse, Padraig, Liam …” he gulped. “Rose and Nora?”
    â€œWe’re all fine.” Anne was already impatient, thought Thom. One night without her husband certainly didn’t make her heart grow fonder.
    â€œCan I talk to Rose?”
    â€œWe’re running late,” sighed Anne. “I don’t have time for this.”
    â€œTime for what? I just want to talk to one of my girls. Damnit, Anne, you’re driving anyway. What’s the big deal?”
    Thom heard the distinct muffle of a phone being passed from one hand to another and then the sweetest voice. “Da?”
    That was it. All he needed. A small reassurance that his girls were okay. “Hi, sweetie-pie. How’s my red rose this morning?”
    â€œ Daaaa ,” she said. “I’m a yellow rose today.”
    â€œGrandma Nora said you had to save that yellow dress for your brother’s birthday party.”
    â€œOhhhh, I forgot.” She giggled.
    Forgot my ass , thought Thom.
    â€œWhere are you, Da? You didn’t make pancakes this morning.”
    â€œI’m working, sweetie. Let me talk to Mummy.”
    More muffled passing. “Thom.” said Anne. Then off to the side she yelled, “Watch cross traffic.”
    Then he heard less distinctly, “Ma, I got it.”
    Then he understood. Their eldest son, Pearse, was driving. Thom had taken Pearse to the DMV on his sixteenth birthday and he passed with a perfect score. That was a year ago and, still, Anne stomped the imaginary brake on the passenger side floorboard.
    â€œAre you planning on taking the kids to the Manor?” said Thom. Magnolia Manor was Thom’s childhood home. Every Sunday after Mass the Manor became the gathering place for brunch and family.
    â€œOf course,” said Anne. “The girls planned a one-year celebration for Bird.”
    â€œGirls” referred to Thom’s mother, Nora, and Birdie’s mother, Maggie. They’d been best friends since seventh grade. Married brothers.
    â€œRon’s coming up early,” continued Anne. “It’s a surprise for Bird. Why do you ask?”
    â€œI pulled a case. A city attorney named Lawrence and his family.”
    â€œThat’s too bad. I’ll express your regrets. Anything else?”
    â€œI love you.”
    â€œOkay. Bye then.”
    Click.
    That was truly unsatisfactory . At least he knew where he stood.
    As always.
    Thom slipped cloth booties over his shoes and put on a pair of latex gloves. On the way into the house he said to Cross, “Call the coroner’s investigator. By the time he gets here, we’ll