Lethal Lineage Read Online Free PDF Page B

switched on the circle of decorative pole lights surrounding the semi-circle of our patio. “Something isn’t right here.”
    “What do you mean?” I asked. Having served on various parish committees throughout his life, Keith was well-grounded in the Catholic Church’s canons.
    “I mean something just isn’t right.”
    “Well, I wouldn’t know. I don’t even know who to ask about some of the details. But until my copy of the Episcopal church’s canons gets here, I’ll do whatever your church says.”
    “OK. I’ll dig out our canons tomorrow, but I’ve never heard of anyone cutting out the carpet.”
    This was beyond me. I hadn’t even given the church, my faith, a thought for many years until last fall. After that life threatening experience, I’d resolved to get some of it back. I was paying for this effort with this ecclesiastical mess.
    Tosca gave a little growl and leaped from Josie’s lap. A rabbit darted into the hedges. Being considerably larger than the dog, the bunny was the only thing all day that gave us a reason to laugh.
    “Yeah, Tosca. Atta girl.”
    “Oh lord,” Josie laughed. “She’s picking up bad habits and will start terrorizing our neighbors.”
    Tosca came charging back like she personally was responsible for banishing critters from our yard and leaped onto Josie’s lap despite my attempts to lure her onto mine.
    “Fickle,” I teased. “Momma’s girl.”
    A car turned up our lane. To our credit, none of us cussed, but we were clearly not in the mood for visitors. Even friends. We were a bottle away from getting a handle on the evening.
    “Who is it,” I asked.
    “Can’t tell from here,” Keith said.
    “Time for me to go to bed. Really.” Josie got up and headed toward the screen door.
    “Oh sit back down. Someone probably forgot something or it might be somebody needing directions.”
    But it was Sam.

Chapter Seven
    He got right to the point. “The coroner can’t find Mary Farnsworth’s next of kin. He wants to notify them right away. He’s also going to need instructions as to the disposition of the body.”
    “What about an autopsy?” Keith asked.
    “Don’t need their permission for that. That’s standard procedure for an unattended death, but her people need to know.”
    “Her purse is still in my car,” I said. “I was going to take it to the office tomorrow morning. I’ll run get it.” I rose and headed for the Tahoe and came back with her keys, her purse, her cell phone, and the small plastic bag she’d left on the table. “Couldn’t Dr. Comstock find everything he needed online? There should have been emergency contact information.”
    “Not according to Comstock. He supposed I’d gotten in touch with the family, and I thought he was on top of it, so this is a royal screw-up. Just awful.” His face tightened.
    I tried to think. I hadn’t been around Mary all that much, but when I was she hadn’t mentioned family. I always remember when persons do. Part of my work at the historical society is to record family histories, so I have a second antenna out for these stories. Of course, there wasn’t any reason for her to talk about her family. When I was in her office, it was usually an emergency. Some kid needing foster care immediately.
    “She’s the only supervisory person out here. There’s no boss to call. Except on a state level and those offices won’t be open until tomorrow morning. In fact, I think she just kept a skeleton support staff after the budget cuts.”
    “Beer, Sam?” Keith asked. “Might as well while you get this sorted out.”
    “Can’t. Not till midnight. Then I get to turn this whole mess over to your wife. For twenty-four hours. Day was ruined anyway. KU got shut out of the playoffs.”
    “Sorry you had to drive all the way out here,” I said. “You could have called.”
    “Did. You didn’t hear.”
    “Sorry again. We can’t hear the house phone outside unless I plug in an extension and since you were on