Page 48 of Skin and Bones

“During my time in Naval Intelligence, we learned that the most effective surveillance often happens in plain sight. The KGB once maintained a monitoring post in a Finland coffee shop that could pick up conversations in Moscow.”

Before I could respond, the door chimed again as Dottie swept in, immaculately dressed in pants that were patterned like my Spode tea set and a white button-down tied in a knot at her waist. Her jet-black bob sat on her head like a helmet.

“I’ve reviewed those autopsy notes from the Calvert case,” she announced, setting down her purse. “Cause of death was listed as drowning, but the bruising patterns on the wrists indicate restraint prior to submersion. There’s clear evidence of perimortem trauma that was deliberately downplayed in the report.”

“Morning, Dottie,” I said. “Tea?”

She glanced up, momentarily distracted from her medical analysis. “Oh, yes. Thank you, Mabel.” Her clinical gaze assessed me quickly. “You look flushed. You have a fever?”

My hand flew to my face. “Busy morning.”

“Hmm,” she replied, clearly unconvinced by my explanation but too polite to press further.

The bell jingled again as Hank and Deidre entered together, followed closely by Bea, who was wearing an eye-catching turquoise pantsuit with peacock-inspired accessories.

“My word, Mabel,” Bea exclaimed, zeroing in on me immediately. “You’re positively glowing this morning. I haven’t seen that particular look since Margaret Wilson got caught with the tennis pro in the country club sauna. You’re looking all hot and bothered.”

“I just finished telling Dottie that it’s been a busy morning,” I said, arranging teacups. “Clarissa called in sick, so it was just me to deal with the morning rush. Genevieve is going to come relieve me in about an hour. I’ve got to hire a couple of more people. We’re busy enough that I can justify it, and Clarissa isn’t always reliable. Not to mention the tourist traffic has already gotten bad and summer hasn’t even started.”

While the thought was in my head I looked in the drawer under the register and found the Help Wanted sign, and I went to put it in the window.

“Clarissa is always sick,” Dottie said, waving her hand in a dismissive gesture. “She’s Junie Miller’s granddaughter you know, so that explains a lot. This generation doesn’t know how to work. Get a sniffle and then they’re out for the count. Probably home playing video games. I remember working a double shift once when I was assistant medical examiner. I had high fever and chills. But I did my job because those people had loved ones who were relying on me.”

“Good thing the dead don’t care if you’re contagious,” Bea said dryly. “Before Dottie gets too high on her soapbox, I got a call from Mrs. Pembroke at the crack of dawn.” Bea set her Louis Vuitton on the table with deliberate slowness. “She said the sheriff’s car was parked outside your house until after midnight.”

“We were working on the case,” I said, realizing how incredibly lame that sounded.

“Of course you were,” Deidre said encouragingly. “Otherwise Sheriff Beckett wouldn’t have called us all in for an emergency meeting. I’m sure you discovered something very important.”

“Like whether or not he’s had a tonsillectomy,” Bea said, waggling her drawn-on brows. “Lord, if I were forty years younger, I’d be climbing that man like a magnolia tree.”

“Come now, Bea,” Deidre chided, though her eyes sparkled with laughter. “Mabel’s personal life is her own business.”

“In this town?” Bea scoffed. “Sugar, there is no such thing. Especially when it involves Emma Jean Pembroke. That woman could spot a lipstick smudge on a collar from two counties over. Her nose for scandal is sharper than a hound dog on a jailbreak. She was one of my sources for years.”

I was saved from further interrogation by the arrival of Dash himself, looking ridiculously handsome in his pressed uniform. Our eyes met briefly, and the memory of last night’s kiss sent warmth creeping up my neck.

“Good morning, everyone,” he said, his voice steady and professional. “Mabel.”

“Morning,” I managed, focusing on the teapot.

“Well, well, well,” Bea murmured, her gaze bouncing between us. “Isn’t this interesting.”

“Thanks for coming on such short notice,” he said, bulldozing ahead so not to give Bea a foothold in the conversation. “I’ve got a county budget meeting at eleven thirty, but I wanted to review what Mabel and I discovered last night with our evidence board.”

I gave Bea and Dottie an “I told you so” look.

“Based on our mapping of Elizabeth’s connections and the corruption timeline, I’ve identified key individuals each of you should focus on. The sooner we divide and conquer, the faster we’ll get answers.”

I poured tea for everyone, grateful for the familiar task as Dash opened a folder of documents that contained photocopies of our evidence board.

“Walt, I’d like for you to follow up with these former Harrington Construction employees,” Dash said, sliding a list across the table. “Your background gives you the best chance of getting them to open up about the harbor project Elizabeth was doing research on.”

Walt nodded, reviewing the list quickly. “I don’t know some of these names. Transient workers most likely.”

“Possibly,” Dash said. “I had my admin go ahead and pull current addresses and phone numbers for you. All but one name on the list still lives in the Charleston area.”

Walt nodded. “I’ll crack these guys like an egg. If there’s information to be had, I’ll get it. Did you know I used to teach interrogation classes when I was in the military?”

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