Read Online Body of Lies by Iris Johansen - Free Book Online

until the poison took effect.”
    Her eyes widened in shock. “That’s crazy. For one thing, I didn’t show symptoms for over three hours.”
    “I agree it would have taken a good deal of patience and tremendous focus. It would have taken even more nerve to sit and watch her die. Particularly if he wasn’t sure that someone wouldn’t barge in any minute after they figured out Marie might also be at risk for food poisoning.”
    She shuddered. “The idea’s completely macabre.”
    “I have that kind of mind.”
    “Why would anyone do that?”
    “Well, after I found the body and before I called the police, I went to her desk and checked out her financial records. There was no deposit in her checking or savings account, but she rented a safety-deposit box two days ago. Very convenient. What if she stashed a pile of loot in the box?”
    “You think she poisoned me on purpose?”
    “I believe there’s reason to ask why you contracted food poisoning from a meal produced by an experienced cook.”
    Eve shook her head. “I can’t believe that.”
    “Because you liked her.”
    “And why would she have been killed?”
    “So that she couldn’t talk?” Galen shrugged. “Any number of reasons.”
    “But you’re only guessing.”
    He smiled. “What if?”
    “Did you suggest this to the police?”
    “Be for real. I’d be the first one on the suspect list. I had enough trouble explaining why I was the one who found her. They even called the hospital to make sure you’d been checked in with food poisoning.” He thought for a moment. “I have a few friends in New Orleans with forensic backgrounds who might be able to go in and scavenge around and see what else they can come up with.”
    “Official friends?”
    “Be for real,” Galen repeated as he tilted his head and studied her expression. “You’re taking my theory seriously?”
    Eve slowly nodded. She had to take it seriously. She didn’t want to believe any of it, but she had been exposed to brutality and deception for most of her life and certainly all her career. She shuddered. “To sit there and watch her . . . Jesus, it sounds so . . . cold-blooded.”
    “No more cold-blooded than trying to kill you.”
    “And why would anyone want to kill me?”
    “Maybe we should ask Mr. Melton.”
    “You think it’s the reconstruction?”
    “It’s a logical connection. And I’m not sure I buy this story Melton’s spinning. I don’t like all this secrecy. They know you like working away from the media glare; that knowledge gives them another excuse to bring you here instead of sending you that skull. Don’t you think it might be wise for you to pack your bags and head home?”
    Eve rejected that suggestion immediately. No way was she going home. “There’s no proof that this is anything but food poisoning. Maybe there’s no money in that safety-deposit box. Or maybe Marie was saving money for years and just got around to depositing it.”
    He lifted a skeptical brow.
    “I
liked
her, Galen.”
    “Few people are completely rotten. Some just have a streak or two. But those streaks can be enough to hurt you. And what about that missing skeleton? Doesn’t that bother you?”
    “Of course it bothers me. It means there’s somebody who doesn’t want Melton to identify this man. But most of the skulls I work on are victims, and it’s not the first time I’ve had this problem. If I stopped work every time I thought there was someone out there who didn’t want me to do it, I’d never finish any reconstructions.”
    Galen studied her face. “And you’re curious about this reconstruction, aren’t you? You really want to do it.”
    She nodded. “I really do. Harold Bently sounds like a man I’d admire. I hate the idea of him ending up discarded in a swamp like a piece of garbage. I want to know. . . .” She shrugged. “And it’s intriguing.”
    “Maybe a little too intriguing.” Galen stood. “Okay, we’ll go with it. I know if you want to do