Page 101 of The Bone Code
“There’s no indication of that.”
“How’d she pass?”
“I’m not at liberty to discuss details of the investigation.”
“You said victim. That mean someone killed her?”
Vislosky said nothing.
“Could be it’s not Harmony.” France’s utterance was barely audible over the burbling fish tank.
“It’s possible.” Vislosky cleared her throat. “We need a saliva sample for DNA testing.”
France nodded, looking somewhat dazed.
I got a kit from my bag and, ignoring Axel’s growling, swabbed France’s cheek, then sealed and initialed the vial.
“Do you know if Harmony owned a cell phone or laptop?” Vislosky asked when I’d finished.
“?’Course she had a phone. This is Nashville, not the backside of Hooterville.”
“Do you know what happened to it?”
“Gotta think she took it with her. What kid would be without a phone these days? Besides, I haven’t seen it nowheres.”
“Do you pay the bill for that?”
“No.”
“Do you know what carrier she used?”
France shook his head, then stood. “It’s Axel’s time to eat. I don’t feed him, he gets fractious.”
Vislosky scooped up her mobile, then laid a card on the table. We both rose.
“If you think of anything, please call,” she said.
“Harmony left a few belongings. Not much. I boxed and hauled some of the stuff when I moved out here.” The devastating possibility of his granddaughter’s death was at last sinking in. “Guess I kept thinking one day she’d turn up, maybe want her things.”
“Any items you have would be useful to our investigation.”
France disappeared, Axel close on his heels, returned a few minutes later with a large cardboard box in his arms.
“I wrote a song about Harmony, not long after she come to live with me. ‘Motherless Little Wren.’ Thought it might make her feel less cross.”
“I’m sure she appreciated it,” I said.
France shook his head slowly. “Riled her something fierce.”
France’s grief was evident now. It coated his words and deepened the creases lining his face. I felt like a ghoul in this act that was forever changing his life. Yet I participated, knowing it was necessary to gain justice for two murdered girls.
“Harmony was always yearning for her mama.” Wistful. “I figured maybe she found her somewheres.”
“We’ll keep you updated,” Vislosky said.
France nodded, arms clasping the stored pieces of a life.
At the door, Vislosky turned.
