Carbs & Cadavers by J. B. Stanley

woman. Finally, he had appealed to the twins for help and now he bore a paper grocery bag filled with beauty and celebrity magazines as well as Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven .
    “That’s to give her hope,” Francis had said, handing James the book.
    “Good luck, Professor Henry.” Scott shook his hand gravely, as if he were headed out to war. “We’ve known Whitney for years.” He wiggled the arms of his glasses back and forth in a fidgety manner. “Not well, you know. But she likes fantasy books and science fiction. We talk about that kind of stuff with her.”
    “She has always been nice to us,” Francis added, implying that not all of the women their age had been as kind.
    At twelve thirty, Lucy appeared at the top of the white slate steps leading up to the courthouse. She wanted a few minutes alone with Whitney before Keith Donovan returned from lunch. Keith was treating himself to a meal at the Italian restaurant, Il Pomodoro, in celebration of his excellent police work. If Keith returned and noticed that Lucy was not at her desk, ready to answer the phone or Donovan’s smallest whim, then he might discover that she was visiting Whitney. For now, Lucy wanted to keep her investigation separate and hidden from Keith.
    “This is one benefit over my old job,” James remarked as he and Lucy stepped into the courthouse lobby. “I can take an extra long lunch break if I need to without checking with a superior. I mean, I had a schedule at William and Mary, but sometimes my office hours or the endless department meetings made me feel so trapped. Here, I can take off knowing that the library is in good hands with the Fitzgerald twins.”
    “I wish I had some of that freedom,” Lucy replied wistfully. “But let’s worry about getting Whitney hers first.”
    James followed Lucy down a dimly lit stairwell leading to the basement. Here, there were storerooms, filing areas, and holding cells. A sleepy deputy sat at a wooden desk guarding the entrance to the cells.
    “Mornin’ Glenn,” Lucy offered a dazzling smile. “Brought you some Krispy Kremes from the Winn-Dixie. You been here all night?”
    “Yep.” The young deputy sat up straighter as he examined the box of donuts. “Chocolate frosted. Thank you kindly.”
    “Professor Henry, this is Deputy Glenn Truett. Glenn, Professor Henry has brought Whitney some library books. We’d like to take them to her and see how she is. That okay?”
    Glenn was already happily occupied with his breakfast. Wiping his hands on a paper napkin, he did his duty by taking a quick glance through the bag of books and magazines. He paused for a long moment to admire a photo of Angelina Jolie in a low-cut dress, and then brought Lucy and James back to Whitney’s cell. She was in the third cell in a row of six. The other cells were empty except for one. The last cell of the row contained a middle-aged man who was snoring like a locomotive as he lay splayed out on his narrow cot.
    “Old Wilbur’s sleepin’ off another one?” Lucy asked conspiratorially.
    “Yep. Gotta keep him away from his old lady when he gets like this. How’s ten minutes, Lucy? It’s not officially visitin’ hours yet.” Glenn unlocked Whitney’s cell. The young woman had her face buried in her hands and did not even look up as the barred door was slid open with a squeak.
    “Just fine,” Lucy replied gratefully.
    “I’ll give a holler when it’s time.” Glenn called over his shoulder, hustling back to his box of donuts.
    “That’s some willpower, Lucy,” James said with admiration as they waited for the deputy to return to his desk. “Having Krispy Kremes that close to you.”
    “Believe me, I was tempted.” Lucy answered under her breath as they went into the cell. Lucy leaned over the cot so that she could whisper to Whitney.
    “Whitney. Look at me, honey. We don’t have much time.”
    The young woman met Lucy’s eyes reluctantly. “I already told the sheriff that