Sing It to Her Bones Read Online Free PDF Page A

window, reached out to rub my arms up and down briskly. “Better?” She pressed my coffee mug, which had been mysteriously refilled, into my hands. I had time for only a few perfunctory sips before the fire truck went screaming by.
    I don’t know why I thought the police couldn’t begin their investigation without me. “Should we go over now?” I turned to look at Connie over the rim of the mug, the image of her face slightly distorted by the steam rising from the hot liquid.
    “Not yet, silly. They know where to find us when they need us.”
    A few minutes later an ambulance streaked by, sirens wailing, a blur of yellow and white against the green fields. A tan and black county patrol car followed at a more sedate pace, with a single officer inside. We could see him talking on the radio.
    Connie took the half-empty cup from my hands and set it on the workbench. She pointed to my torn sweatshirt and muddy shoes. “You might want to washup and decide whether you want to greet the police like that.…” She pointed to my scruffy head. “Or are you thinking about putting on some hair today?”
    I hugged her, and we stayed that way for one long, comforting minute while Connie rubbed my back. I pulled away first, managing a halfhearted smile. “Let’s go for the hair.” I was still shaking and drew the afghan around me a little closer. “Just give me a few minutes to get myself together.”
    “Sure, honey. If anyone shows up, I’ll keep them busy with my gourmet coffee and dazzling repartee, but you’d better hurry.” She turned and pointed out over the fields. Two cars passed, taking their time, followed within a minute by someone in a blue Volvo station wagon. “See those cars? The vultures are gathering already. Picked up the police call on their scanners, I’ll bet.”
    I watched as a red Miata caught up with the Volvo, a caboose on the slow-moving train. I had little patience for ambulance chasers. “You’d think they’d have something better to do with their time.” I ran a hand over my head where thin, pale wisps of hair lay, plastered with cold sweat to my skull. I felt like hell and probably looked like it.
    “Can’t say that I blame them. It’s probably the most exciting thing that’s happened in Pearson’s Corner since old Mr. Meadows blew his wife away with a shotgun blast in 1952. Folks say she deserved it, too!” Connie turned me by the shoulders and shoved me gently in the direction of the bathroom. “Off you go!!”
    I smiled, for real this time. “Yes, Mother.”
*   *   *
    It took ten minutes to run a warm washcloth over my head, face, and neck and to dress in clean tan slacks and a burgundy turtleneck. With my wig in place, I looked almost presentable. I was haphazardly brushing a bit of blusher on my cheeks when Connie appeared in the bedroom door. She studied me critically. “Much better.” Connie had changed out of her jeans and into a pair of crisp white shorts and a red striped T-shirt that, I had to admit, seemed more appropriate for a tennis game than a crime scene, but I was hardly an expert in these matters. With her copper curls brushed, she looked much younger than her forty years.
    “Anyone show up yet?” I asked.
    “Not yet. But judging from the cars that have passed by, I’d say over half the town is over to the Nichols place by now.”
    “Well, I’m ready to join them.”
    A look of concern crossed Connie’s face. “Are you sure you haven’t had enough excitement for one day, Hannah?”
    I looked at the wall clock which Connie had decorated with gilded seedpods. “I can’t believe it’s only eleven o’clock. I feel like I’ve lived a hundred years since this morning.”
    “Maybe you’d prefer to wait here? I’m not sure I’m prepared to see any of that … well, whatever it is.”
    “Come on, Connie. Let’s walk over. I’m sure the police won’t be letting anyone anywhere near that cistern.They’ve probably even called in