Indivisible. Part 20

Tia nodded. "I thought walking it out might help."

"Now you know better. I'll give you a ride home."

Tia smiled. There were worse things to have in her life than kind, older women.

Piper looked up from polishing the rocker when Tia limped into the house and sank down on the settee with pain creasing her brow. "Would you light the candles on the mantel, Piper? Turn the MP3 on low."

She did. "Are you okay?"

"I can't believe a bruise can be this big an issue."

"A bone contusion is more than a bruise."

"Still."

"You're usually so fit. You're not used to something keeping you down."

"I guess." What had really thrown her was Carolyn and Rosemary knowing about Jonah. He'd only taken her home, but she could guess how it looked, him holding her arm, cupping her face. Their ardent dialogue.

She closed her eyes as strains of Coldplay softened the mood. "So tell me about your day."

Piper settled onto the settee. "Well, it turns out Sunday's pretty busy. Sarge was missing the church crowd."

"But you don't get a day off."

She shrugged. "If I'm not working, I ..."

"Feel like you're taking advantage of someone?"

Piper c.o.c.ked her head. "Lame, isn't it?"

"Not considering your background. It's compensation."

Piper pulled her knees to her chest. "After I closed, Miles came by. I decided to use up the ingredients I'd gotten to experiment with before Sarge freaked out and fired me. We baked up a whole bunch of different things."

Tia frowned. "You know he's not right."

"Maybe, but tell him to mince and he minces."

Tia laughed.

"Anyway we were sitting down, judging the creations when the chief saw us through the window."

"Uh-oh."

"Yeah. Miles ran out the back."

"Oh, boy."

"I get that Jonah wants to question him about your store, but he's wrong to think Miles has anything to do with dead animals."

"How can you know?"

"I just know. I told the chief I've been asking around and-"

"I'll bet that went over well."

"He got kind of scary."

"He's not a safe man, Piper."

"Except ... he is. Even when he gets hard and intense, I know he's protecting me."

Tia stared at the candles. "Just don't confuse protective with safe."

Fourteen.

If two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?-ECCLESIASTES 4:11 As he headed toward town the next morning in his Lysol-scented Bronco, Jonah phoned Liz. "I'm sorry to call so early, but I was hoping to catch you before you opened."

"What is it?"

"Another pair of animals I'd like you to examine."

"Like the last ones?"

"Close enough."

"I'm not sure what else I can tell you."

"I'm hoping you can verify something."

After a pause, she said, "Where are you?"

"Can you meet me at the funeral home?"

"The ..."

"Morgue is in the bas.e.m.e.nt."

"Okay."

"I'll explain when you get there."

"I'm on my way."

He waited for her outside the two-story Georgian-style house flanked by tall pines that spread a rusty bed of needles and cones on the spa.r.s.e lawn. With a flat, windowed, brick face, it was one of several historically protected buildings in the town. It had been a funeral parlor for over fifty years, but was also a residence.

Liz parked and moved toward him with her uneven gait. He wouldn't ask, but maybe sometime she'd tell him what had happened. She had pulled her hair into a ponytail, wore minimal-if any-makeup, royal blue warmups with a yellow stripe down the leg. Obviously not trying to impress him, which he hoped meant his slip the other night had not done damage.

He liked her, didn't want to complicate things. She greeted him with a measured smile. Polite. Professional. Friendly.

He said, "Thanks for coming."

"You piqued my curiosity."

"Sorry about the morgue. I needed to keep them cold until you could see them, and since I didn't want to use my fridge ..." He motioned her toward the door. "Morey agreed to keep them in here. He'll let us have a look."

"Nothing like the morgue in the morning."

Smiling, Jonah rang the bell that brought Morey to the door, his belly protuberant in red silk pajamas. He had told Morey they were coming, but obviously that hadn't inclined him toward dressing. Jonah sent her an apologetic glance.

She raised her eyebrows and followed Morey inside. They pa.s.sed the viewing rooms to a heavy metal door beyond the black velvet curtains, clambered down the stairs to the morgue. The air was naturally cool, the scent moderately repugnant. Morey pulled one of the metal drawers, shaking his head and muttering.

Jonah said, "Thanks."

"Cats?" Liz put the back of her hand to her nose. They had not been cleaned up, only chilled to slow decomposition. He realized how gory and disturbing it was.

She turned her head to her shoulder. "I help animals, Jonah."

"I know. I'm sorry."

She drew a breath, probably wishing she hadn't. Morey handed her a small, scented cloth.

Pulling herself together, she leaned in. "Two limbs are missing from each, corresponding fore and back legs. They were glued at the hip joint and the shoulder."

"Glued?"

"It's a bone epoxy. You can see where it cracked apart at the shoulder. Maybe from a blow."

"Or a fall?"

"It's possible."

"What about other body parts?"

She studied the cats. "There is not a full complement for two animals. Some are missing, some are joined."

"Why?"

"I have no idea."

"Look at the stomach."

"Only one for both cats. Also two lungs between them."

"So they've been surgically altered."

"I'm afraid so." She looked up. "Is that what you wanted to know?"

He nodded. "Did they die trying to separate?"

"I see no sign of struggle."

"So the surgery killed them?"

"Could be infection. This extreme putrefaction looks antemortem. I've had animals this sick and told their owners nothing could be done."

"So they were sick already. Before someone connected them."

"Maybe. I just don't know."

He pushed the drawer back in and thanked Morey. Outside, they both drew lungfuls of air. Jonah turned. "That was helpful, Liz. I appreciate your coming. Can I buy you breakfast?"

She raised her eyebrow. "Oh well, that was so appetizing."

"Sorry. Guess I compartmentalize."

"Any place in mind?"

"Sarge's bakery is on the way to the station." He checked his watch. "I don't have too much time."

She pulled out her keys. "I'll follow you."

They found easy parking in Old Town since most of the shops had not yet opened. In the clear, bright morning, the sky formed an azure backdrop to the craggy, pine-clad slopes. A paunchy gray jay chirped from the corner of a roof, and another flew to join it. Though the morning chill had not pa.s.sed, the cloudless sunlight promised warmth, and Liz took a moment to draw it all in. This kind of day anything was possible.

Jonah had chosen the bakery next to the Half Moon candle shop where she'd gotten Lucy's melts. Maybe it would be open by the time they finished eating. She'd like to see Tia, talk to her again.

He held the door for her. Did that make it a date, or were they merely colleagues sharing a meal? He respected her knowledge, consulting her when she didn't sense he often asked for help. He appreciated her sense of humor, responded to her repartee. He wanted to be done with the other relationship-he'd said so. He just needed the right woman. Who better than one who already understood so well?

The girl behind the counter noticed Jonah the minute he walked in. They were fourth in line, but suddenly everything the young blonde did was for his benefit. Or maybe, Liz admitted, she was projecting her own feelings.

A man heading out with his order nodded. "Chief."

"Morning, Don."

"Ma'am."

She smiled.

They reached the counter, and the girl looked up at Jonah with a mixed expression, waving a hand over her wares. "Strictly regulation. Not a contraband item in the case."

"I'm not here on reconnaissance, Piper."