Killer Heat by Brenda Novak Page B

was just better with people, better with Rita, than his father, so she got stuck with the job. “How does that relate to anything?”
    â€œI’m encouraging you to make peace with Lori, to stop holding a grudge.”
    â€œRight. Got it. Thanks for the advice,” he said dryly.
    When she hesitated, he expected her to switch topics, but she didn’t. Evidently, that call from Lori had her thinking about the fact that he was past thirty and still hadn’t remarried. “Lori’s such a good person, so supportive and friendly.”
    Yeah. Whenever she wanted something…
    â€œYou don’t think the two of you could ever get back together, do you?”
    â€œNo. Never. ”
    She acted surprised by the absoluteness. “Wow, I never would’ve guessed you were so bitter. You seemed like such an ideal couple, and then it was over, just like that. I’m still not sure why you two broke—”
    â€œIrreconcilable differences,” he cut in. “I’ve got to check my GPS, Mom.”
    â€œSo check it,” she said.
    â€œMy phone won’t let me talk at the same time. I’ll call you later, okay?”
    â€œFine,” she said with a huff. “But don’t forget to contact Lori.”
    â€œI heard you the first time. Thanks again, Mom.” He hung up. After that little stunt, Lori could wait until he got back to California for her damn letter. He didn’t have time to pull over, whip out his laptop and do it now, anyway. According to his GPS, he’d passed Peeples Valley and was coming up on Kirkland. That meant he was only seven miles from Skull Valley, and Francesca wasn’t far behind.
    What would they find when they got there? he wondered. But nothing could’ve prepared him.

8
    T he smell drifted all the way to the car, triggering such revulsion Francesca almost couldn’t force her legs to carry her the short distance to where she saw Finch and Hunsacker. They were with several police officers and a few other people, probably from the Yavapai County Medical Examiner’s Office, judging by the van, working outside the chocolate and gift shop. Once she did get close, she regretted it. She’d hoped to identify April from the picture she had with her; she’d wanted to know for sure that her latest missing person had been found. April’s sister, Jill Abbatiello and her husband, Vince, had been distraught ever since she didn’t report for work on Monday. Of course, murder was the worst possible outcome, but it was at least an answer, which relieved the wondering and the waiting. However, the state of the corpse made visual identification impossible.
    â€œYou okay?” Jonah asked.
    She hadn’t realized that she’d crowded so close to him. Professional pride demanded she back up, tell him she was fine. But she was trying so hard not to retch that she couldn’t move or speak. Fortunately, Finch whirled around and spotted them, interrupting before her inability to react became obvious.
    â€œWhat’s she doing here?” He addressed Jonah while hiking a thumb at her as though she wasn’t standing within earshot.
    Francesca understood that he was angry about yesterday, but holding a grudge over a little humiliation seemed pointless. How could he worry about something so petty in light of this? Not long ago, the blob of putrefying flesh sitting on the concrete had been a living, breathing human being….
    As Jonah’s eyes shifted to the victim, his nostrils flared, which told her he was struggling with what he saw, as well. Still, he kept his voice steady. “I thought she might be able to identify the deceased, but—”
    â€œActually, I’m glad you brought her,” Finch broke in, and nudged Francesca as he motioned to the victim. “Now this is what a corpse looks like.”
    Despite the dizziness that nearly overwhelmed her, she somehow remained standing and managed