Not One Clue by Lois Greiman Page B

Bomstad’s dead body. She’s like a damned commando.”
    “Can I tell her you said that?”
    “If you want to spend a night in lockup,” Rivera said.
    She laughed again. “There’s no one more loyal.”
    “Or with a better ass.”
    “Whoa,” Laney said, but in that moment, Rivera peered around the corner. His face was inches from mine, his expression absolutely unsurprised.
    “Did you hear that one, McMullen?”
    “What?” I stumbled back a step, then stretched, awkward as hell. “I just woke up. When did you get here?”
    He chuckled and disappeared. I didn’t have much choice but to follow him. He was already peering at the envelope on the counter when I arrived.
    “Nice penmanship,” he said. “I assume none of them have a return address.”
    “None that I can identify as his,” Laney said.
    “Are they all postmarked from L.A.?”
    I felt myself pale again.
    “The others were from Montana,” Elaine said.
    “Where you film?”
    “We’re actually in Idaho, but the border’s just a few miles away.”
    “How many letters?”
    “Five altogether, I think.”
    He nodded, then glanced at my hands. One was garbed in a pink rubber glove. One in blue. I was hardly surprised that I had fallen asleep with them on. As a teenager, I’d once slept still wearing my tuba. “That to eliminate fingerprints?” he asked.
    “Maybe,” I said, and he shook his head as he held the envelope up to the light.
    I crowded closer as he pulled out the letter. The handwriting inside was just as neat as on the envelope. Perfectly spaced and uniformly sized. I read it through.
Dearest Ms. Ruocco ,
I write again to caution you to use your gifts wisely. Your God-given beauty will eventually fade. Make certain when that day arrives you have not foolishly squandered your time and talents nor spent your days with those unworthy of you. I do not deny that your betrothal is disconcerting to me. But perhaps it is not his money but his wretchedness that draws you to him .
Perhaps you are being charitable in that regard. And in charity we find peace. I hope you will take my words into consideration, as I have no desire to take further steps to ensure your future happiness. I prefer that you find that path on your own .
    “Is this typical of the others?” Rivera asked.
    “Pretty much. The threat in this one seems more overt. Or maybe it’s just that it was delivered here.”
    “Today?”
    “Yes.”
    “Regular mail?”
    “It was in the box when I checked this afternoon.”
    “But the others were threatening also.”
    “In a nebulous sort of way.”
    “Any idea who it might be?”
    “None.”
    He glared silently at the letter. If I were a nasty missive, I would have turned tail and run … if I weren’t so damned plucky.
    “Do you know anyone who holds a grudge?” he asked.
    Laney shook her head.
    “How about you, McMullen?” he asked, glancing at me. “Anyone you can think of who might be angry with her?”
    I shook my head, too.
    “Do you owe anyone money?” he asked.
    “Mac,” she said.
    “Really?” he asked, looking curious.
    “Truckloads,” she said.
    “You write this?” he asked, glancing at me.
    “Just the part about Solberg,” I said, and he snorted as he turned toward Laney.
    “Any disappointed men in your past?”
    She blinked.
    I laughed out loud. “Are you serious?”
    He turned toward me. I raised a hand to indicate her perfection. “Look at her. She’s the most gorgeous woman on the planet. Every man in the world is disappointed. Except Solberg, and he obviously made some sort of pact with the inhabitants of the underworld.”
    Rivera stared at me all stormy-eyed and there was something in his expression that almost seemed to refute my opinion. It made me feel a little breathless, but he turned his laser-vision away in a moment.
    “The first letter arrived about five months ago?”
    “I believe so.”
    “Was there anyone new in your life at that time?”
    She shook her head. “People