Page 27 of Evil Bones
“Where’s Frog Pond?” he asked when I’d finished.
“Stanly County.”
“How the blazes did Bear get all the way out there?”
“We don’t know, sir.”
“This is so messed up.”
“It is,” I agreed.
“Where’s my dog now?”
“I don’t—”
“Where. Is. My. Dog.” Staring at me hard.
“At the morgue.”
“I want to collect the body for burial. Him. Collect him.”
Sweat dampened Joye’s hairline, and a wide crescent darkened each of his pits. I was suddenly aware of the man’s BO. Of the rage he was struggling to suppress.
“Of course,” I said.
“Do the authorities have any idea who shot him?”
“Not yet. But the situation is under investigation.”
“This was murder, you know. Pure and simple. But the victim’s just an animal, so the police won’t give a crap.”
“That’s not true. I know the detective assigned to Bear’s case.”
“CMPD?”
“Yes.” Sort of.
“Why would the cops care who killed my dog?”
I chose my words carefully.
“Bear’s death is not an isolated incident.”
“What do you mean?”
“Other animal corpses have been treated in a similar manner.”
“Dogs?”
“No. Bear is the first.”
Silent throughout the interview, Balodis spoke up for the first time. “Mr. Joye, do you have any idea who might have harmed your pet?”
“Are you asking do I have enemies?”
“Do you?”
“I’m a divorce attorney. Rarely do both parties walk away happy. Often neither does.”
