The Hysteria: Book 4, The Eddie McCloskey Paranormal Mystery Series (The Unearthed) Read Online Free PDF Page B

called on me.”
    “Why you telling me?”
    So it was going to be like that.
    “You’re the big fish. I wanted to let you know I was gonna play in your pond.”
    “Courteous.” He warmed a fraction.
    “And to see if you had anything on her. I could start from scratch but then I’d be wasting the client’s money.”
    Quick nodded once. I was maybe okay with him. “When’d you get in town?”
    “Today. Caught the red-eye from Philly.”
    He chewed on that. “We looked into Megan. Not much to go on. And she’s federal. Frequently out-of-town last minute for work. There was no sign of foul play.”
    I heard some yelling in the office behind me. Quick pretended not to hear it, just kept his eyes on me.
    I said, “But her car’s still there.”
    He shrugged. “The Federal government is well-funded. I think they can afford more than one vehicle.”
    The office door behind me opened. I turned and watched two suits hurry out, while a Police Chief-looking dude watched them from his desk. His face was red, probably from all the screaming.
    I faced Quick again. He watched me with something approaching amusement.
    “You know her ex-husband?”
    “I played ball against him in high school. Son of a bitch was good.”
    “He’s still around?”
    He nodded. Offered nothing more.
    I considered asking him about Anthony Bostwick, but the information exchange was feeling too much like a one-way street.
    I said, “Megan ever in trouble with the law?”
    “I caught her jaywalking one time. But the DA didn’t think the case was strong enough.”
    Why are all cops comedians?
    “How about her sisters?”
    Quick folded his arms. Way he was dressed and sitting on the corner of the desk, he looked like a school principal.
    “Middle one is pretty tame. The younger one is wild.”
    “How wild?”
    He shrugged. “You’ll have to ask her friends.”
    “Where can I find them?”
    Really, it was exhausting having to ask the obvious questions sometimes.
    “She’s in a sorority. She runs with that crew and also with some high school friends. Underage drinking, usual college stuff.”
    “You don’t seem too concerned about it.”
    “Some college kids want to goof around, it’s okay with me. Let the two-fives handle it.”
    “Two-fives?”
    “Campus security.”
    I laughed. He didn’t. “What do you work?”
    “Homicide.”
    “Not too busy around here, are you?”
    “I fill my day.”
    “Care to elaborate?”
    He didn’t.
    We stared at each other. I settled on some spin.
    “Something big’s going on around here, I can tell. I wouldn’t want to fuck anything up for you, asking around about Megan.”
    He said nothing.
    I hated having to establish my bona fides but sometimes you have to feed the monkey. “I’ve got a couple cop friends if that would ease your mind, Quick.”
    He asked for their info. It was after five here, which meant it was after eight, eastern standard. I hoped he got someone.
    Quick made me wait at the unmanned, empty desk for ten minutes while he made calls from his office.
    He came back out, marginally friendlier. “Lieutenant Whitmore sends his regards.” He nodded at me. “So you’re an okay guy.”
    “I’m okay. Can you let me in, just a little?”
    “We’ve had some murders the last few weeks. Including one this morning.”
    “Is that a lot for around here?”
    He nodded. “Local guys with no known enemies and no known criminal connections.”
    “Any ties to Megan Turner?”
    “Not that I know of.”
    I nodded. “Thanks. I’ll show myself out.”
    “Where are you going first?”
    He’d gotten off his desk and put his hands in his pockets. Genuine interest.
    He’d given me a little so I figured it was time for more quid pro quo. “You ever hear of a fella named Anthony Bostwick?”
    His eyes did something funny. “Yeah.”
    “Know where I can find him?”
    “In the morgue.”
    Something in his voice told me that Anthony Bostwick, software engineer, didn’t work part-time