Eyeshot (37 page)

Authors: Lynn Hightower

âNo, ma'am, I don't think she did.' He shook his head, eyes wide and wary. This was a concept he had not considered.

The trailer door opened and a little girl walked out to the front step. She wore a faded red sweatshirt and shorts, though it was chilly out. Her shoulders drooped and she rubbed her eyes, head tilted sharply to one side. Sonora thought she was crying.

âMr Chauncey, how old are your kids?'

âSeven, nine, and fifteen, counting Joelle.'

Are we still counting Joelle? Sonora wondered. âThey alone?'

He waved at the little girl, but she did not seem to see him. âYeah. I really need to go and see to them.'

âHang right here, just for a moment.' Sonora went around the front of the barn, called to Renquist.

He came toward her at a jog, which put him immediately out of breath. âPress is coming.'

Sonora looked down the empty drive, wondered how Renquist knew. A car passed by on the two-lane road, switched on its lights. It would be full dark soon.

âThey listen in on us. We return the favor.'

Sonora nodded. âI'll send somebody out to watch the drive. I don't want them wandering. You I need.'

Renquist followed as she walked back around the barn.

âEscort Mr Chauncey back to his trailer â evidently this guy's got two other kids. Stay with him till I can get over there, go through Joelle's room myself. Let me know if he goes through her stuff, removes anything. Keep watch. In a sympathetic manner.'

âI got you.'

He understood. Sonora could tell by his tone of voice. He handed her his flashlight, a big black Mag Lite, cop issue.

âIt'll be dark soon, ma'am. You may need this.'

She took it from him gratefully. Must be looking for promotion. Age discrimination would sink him.

âThanks, Renquist. I'll make sure it's returned.'

She turned then, feeling the strong pull of the crime scene, and headed for the backfield, and Sam. She heard the murmur of voices over her shoulder as Renquist introduced himself to Chauncey and suggested they head for the trailer. Chauncey went like a lamb. Sonora gave them one backward look. Renquist moved like a marine, maybe he'd been one. Chauncey had a peculiar walk, head down, one foot forward, the other scooting behind in a soft shuffle that whispered low self-esteem.

Sonora glanced back at the trailer. The little girl was gone. The porch light, dim already, flickered once and went out.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My thanks to Robert Youdelman, P.C., Attorney At Law, who graciously took time out of his demanding schedule to keep me out of trouble.

To Detective Maria Neal, Criminal Investigation Section, who was available for questions and to talk plot, and who counted up body parts and told me what I was missing.

I count myself lucky to work closely with three talented and brilliant peopleâmy agent, Matt Bialer; my HarperCollins editor, Carolyn Marino; and my Hodder & Stoughton editor, George Lucas. It is a rare privilege to tap the instincts of three people whose opinions and creativity I trust.

To artist Steve Sawyer, and entrepreneur Cindy Sawyer, who made themselves available on a moment's notice to discuss plot and artistic vision.

To the Tennessee state trooper who kindly did not arrest me while I was parked beside 1-75 scouting locations for body parts.

To the students and staff at the University of Cincinnati, who were kind enough to provide maps, directions, and insights.

To Doug Collins, who was good enough to act as my videographer.

To the usual gang of helpers and readers: my kids, Alan, Laurel, and Rachel, who screen to the best of their ability during deadline days, up to and including facing down law enforcement; to Bill Swinford, one of my favorite attorneys, for being a friend.

My thanks to Lindsey Hunter and all my buddies at Silverstone Farm who help me work and train and play with my horses. See you in the next book.

To Sharon Hilborn and Tamra Gormley of the Commonwealth Attorney's Office for questions answered.

About the Author

Lynn Hightower grew up in the South and graduated from the University of Kentucky, where she studied creative writing with Wendell Berry and earned a journalism degree. She is the author of ten novels, including two mystery series, one featuring homicide detective Sonora Blair and the other featuring private investigator Lena Padgett.
Flashpoint
, the first Sonora Blair mystery, was a New York Times Notable Book.
Satan's Lambs
, the first Lena Padget mystery, won the Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel. Hightower has also written the Elaki series of futuristic police procedurals, which begins with
Alien Blues
.

Hightower's novels, which have been translated into seven foreign languages, have appeared on the
Times
(London) bestseller list and have been nominated for the Kentucky Literary Award, the Kentucky Librarians First Choice Award, and the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She teaches at the UCLA Extension Writers' Program, where she was named Creative Writing Instructor of the Year in 2012. The author lives with her husband in Kentucky.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover design by Michel Vrana

ISBN: 978-1-5040-2233-0

This edition published in 2015 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

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New York, NY 10014

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