Dying Scream by Mary Burton Page B

be here when Adrianna visits. He carries his signs and shouts for her to leave the dead in peace.”
    “Did he ever threaten her?”
    “Not that I’ve heard. Reminds me more of a buzzing fly. An annoyance.”
    Maybe. Or maybe Dr. Heckman was more of a threat than anyone thought. The mild mannered could kill as easily as anyone else.
    “What do you think about the land sale?”
    Dwayne and Marie looked at each other.
    “Got to be done,” Dwayne said.
    Gage sensed some disapproval from both. “You’re sorry she’s selling.”
    Marie nodded. “I understand why the place has to be sold, but it still hurts to see it go.”
    Dwayne flexed his weathered fingers. “Change can be unsettling.”
    Gage pulled business cards from his pocket and handed one to each. “If you think of anything else, you’ll let me know.”
    Nodding, Marie glanced down at her card. “I sure will.”
    Dwayne tucked the card in his breast pocket. “We want this case solved so Adrianna can get on with her life. She deserves to be happy.”
    “Thank you for your time.” Gage rose.
    Dwayne stood, moving slowly as if his bones ached. Gage noticed that arthritis had started to deform his hands.
    Thanking them again, Gage left his card and got into his car. He fired up the engine and pulled onto the street.
    The Wellses had painted Craig as a saint. As far as Gage was concerned, the guy had been a royal prick. And likely, the truth was somewhere in between.
    Instead of going home, Gage opted to return to the Thornton estate. He wanted to see with his own eyes how the work progressed.
    A half hour later he arrived at the yellow crime scene tape, which corralled a collection of paper bags lined up beside the empty grave.
    Tess moved toward the tape. Wisps of hair had escaped her ponytail and dark circles hung under her eyes. “So what brings you out here?”
    “Just having a look.” Gage doubted he’d sleep tonight.
    “As you can see, we’ve almost bagged all the bones.” The bones were in paper bags because plastic trapped moisture and caused mold growth, which contaminated evidence.
    “Don’t let me stop you.”
    Tess nodded and turned back to her work. Alex raised his gaze from a bag and acknowledged Gage’s presence with a nod but went right back to work.
    Gage watched Tess and Alex’s painstaking process, frustrated that there wasn’t more he could do to help them right now. His turn would come as soon as Dr. Butler identified the body.
    The two moved slowly, their deliberate movements a sign exhaustion had taken root.
    Tess reached for her camera and shot more pictures to document the empty gravesite. “I sifted through this soil and didn’t find any evidence. No bullet, jewelry, or anything that might help with identification.”
    “The bones will tell me more,” Dr. Butler said.
    “When do you think you can open the second mound?” Gage said.
    Dr. Butler considered the question. “I should return tomorrow by early afternoon.”
    Tess wiped sweat from the back of her forehead with a hand that trembled with fatigue. “That late?” Tess said.
    “I won’t be any good to anyone if I’m exhausted. Neither will you,” Dr. Butler said. “Do us both a favor and get some rest tonight.”
    Gage nodded. “I’ll post uniforms to watch the area.”
    “Good,” Alex said. “I don’t need any curiosity seekers digging into the mound and destroying evidence.”
    Gage slid his hand into his pocket and rattled his keys. “I have a theory about this body.”
    He arched a brow. “Really?”
    “A missing persons case I worked a couple of years ago. She knew the Thorntons.”
    Tess folded her arms. “Really?”
    “I’ve already spoken to her dentist. He’s sending you dental records in the morning.”
    “Then I’ll check to see if you’re right or wrong,” Dr. Butler said.
     
    It was nearly midnight when Adrianna set down the bin of journals and reached for the front door of her house. She dug her keys out of her purse and