Head Shot

17

The bedside phone sounded at five minutes past seven; Sarah snatched it up on the second ring. Normal y, at that hour, it would have wakened her, but Seonaid had done that already. Having claimed her mother's attention, in the manner of infants she was asleep once more, on the pil ow on Bob's side of the bed.

She knew who was calling before she heard his voice. 'Hi,' she answered softly. 'Where are you?'

'I'm in Buffalo. I'm sorry I didn't call you from the scene like you asked, but I just couldn't, with those guys around.'

'I understand. How are you?'

'I'm fine.'

'You don't sound fine; you sound tired.'

'If I do, it's because I am. I fell asleep at seven o'clock yesterday evening and I woke up an hour ago.'

'Poor love. You at the house?'

'No, not yet. I checked into a hotel for the night; the Hyatt Regency in Fountain Plaza; I just told the guys to take me anywhere. I was so damn knackered I didn't think to look for keys at the cabin, and anyway, I don't know the alarm combination. To make it hassle-free, I called the security company that looks after the place. They've got everything I'l need to get in. My FBI nursemaids are taking me to meet them there at midday tomorrow. Hopeful y I'll have had some more kip by then.'

'Have you seen Sheriff Dekker yet?' she asked, speaking urgently, yet quietly at the same time, for fear of waking her daughter.

'Gie's a break, love. I spent most of yesterday with Little and Large, the State coppers.'

'How was the cabin?'

'Upside down, ransacked; just as I was told I'd find it.'

'And where else did they take you?'

He could hear her hesitancy. 'They took me to the morgue; I've done the formal identification and given the coroner signed authority to proceed with the autopsies. He's doing everything by the book.'

'How… how were they?'

He had been waiting for that question. He could still see their faces; he always would. Leo's eyes had been bulging almost out of their sockets, and Susannah's head had been al but severed by the wire garrotte.

'Peaceful. They'd barely have known a thing,' he told her.

'When can we have the funerals?'

'The coroner said he'l open an inquest, then adjourn it indefinitely.

After that, he's prepared to release the bodies. Shouldn't be more than a couple of days. I'l contact an undertaker, and get things under way. Be prepared for a big turn-out, love, and not just of family and friends. This is big news in the media here. It's all over television and the papers. I was filmed going into the coroner's office in Loudonville; I didn't want to speak to anyone so Schultz and Smal, the local guys, took me out the back way after I was done.'

'I thought you said they were cal ed…' She stopped. 'Sorry. My humour switch is stil off.'

'No, I'm sorry. But you should see Smal. I thought Lennie Plenderleith was big, but this bloke; Jesus.' He whistled.

'Anyhow,' he continued. 'That's where we are. My Bureau escorts are collecting me at eleven. We'll get the house opened, and then I'll go and see Dekker, although I'm not quite sure why, in the circumstances.'

'What do you mean?'

'I mean that the investigation has sod al to do with him. The crime happened a hell of a long way from here, and it's state jurisdiction, quite clearly; my seeing him is real y no more than a courtesy cal.'

'Well just remember, be courteous. We set great store on that in the USA.'

'Yes, dear, I'l be nice, I promise. I might even call him Sheriff.'

She heard him stifle a yawn. 'How are the kids?' he asked.

She looked at Seonaid, and saw that she was awake, and peering back at her, curious. 'One of them's right here,' she answered. 'Say hello to her.'