Read Online A Body to Spare (The Odelia Grey Mysteries) by Sue Ann Jaffarian - Free Book Online Page B

and move, but this wasn’t about him—it was about people who cared about him. He would just have to suck it up for an evening. I called Greg’s parents and Sally and Jill. All said they would be there. Jill said she’d bring something to add to the table; I didn’t argue. I’ll take her baked goods anytime they’re offered. It was too bad Steele and Mom weren’t available. After a short hesitation and a quick pee, I called Fehring.
    “Odelia,” she said, answering on the second ring. “Don’t tell me: you’ve found another body, this time buried in your back yard.”
    “Cute, Andrea, but no. This isn’t an official call, hence the use of your first name.” I paused, then jumped right into the purpose of my call. “Did you know that Dev is moving to Seattle in about two weeks?”
    There was a long pause. “No, I didn’t. When did you find that out?”
    “Just now. Greg and I are out to dinner with him. My brother’s here too. Dev just dropped the moving bomb on us.”
    “Wow,” was all she said. “Is he getting back together with Beverly?”
    “Yes.” I cut to the chase. “But here’s the thing.” Quickly, I told Fehring about the impromptu going-away party, and just as quickly she said she’d be there.
    “Did you fall in?” Clark asked when I returned to the table.
    Greg snorted. “You’ve been single too long, Clark. You never ask a woman that.” I gave my husband a peck on the cheek for being such a smart boy.
    Shortly after I returned to the table, our salads were served. “We can fill you in, Dev, while we eat,” I told him. Our salad dishes were cleared and our entrees served by the time I finished telling Dev the details of finding Zach Finch and his background.
    “I remember when that kid went missing,” Dev said with a shake of his head when I finished.
    “I do too,” added Clark. “Every law enforcement agency in the nation was on the lookout for him. It’s always been assumed the kidnappers killed him after getting their payday.”
    “The question is,” Dev said, a bite of spaghetti with Bolognese sauce dangling from his fork, “where has he been all this time?”
    “And why was he dumped naked?” I asked, tossing my question out there for consideration along with Dev’s.
    “The naked part could have something to do with him not being traced,” Clark explained to Greg and me while Dev nodded. “Clothing can sometimes be used to track someone’s last few locations through brands, fibers, and things like that, not to mention a catch-all for trace evidence from the murderer.”
    “Tell me, Odelia,” Dev said. “Did you see any noticeable marks on the body?”
    “You mean like bruises or stab wounds?” asked Greg.
    “Yeah, those,” Dev clarified, still looking at me, “or maybe a tattoo.”
    Greg dug out his cell phone. “Here’s the pic of the body that Grace sent me.” He handed his phone over to Dev, who examined it while he continued eating. Nothing like a dead body to spark an appetite. Made me wonder what went best with a corpse—red or white wine?
    I closed my eyes to think about the brief glimpse I saw of Zach Finch, then shook my head. “I didn’t notice anything specific, but I wasn’t exactly given a chance to examine the body. I was in a lot of shock, and he was folded like an origami crane. I do remember his skin being very pale. And his hair was dishwater blond.”
    “Wasn’t he grabbed in Illinois?” Dev aimed this next question at Clark as he handed the phone back to Greg.
    “Yeah,” Clark confirmed. “I looked up the case last night. He disappeared after a football game at his high school.” We ate on autopilot while Clark gave us the rundown he’d found on the kidnapping. “According to reports, Zach went to the game with friends who were old enough to drive. Just a bunch of high school guys, no girls. They said they dropped him off at home after the game, but Zach’s parents claim he never came home that night.”
    “But