He returned with a brown bag and a small box. “Your blood is on a slide in the box, and the dress is just as you gave it to me. Is that all?”
“Yeah, thanks. Hope you get everything straightened out soon.”
Aidan left the coroner’s office and headed straight out to the police station to see Hal Vincent, who wasn’t at his desk. Aidan decided to wait.
An hour later, Hal came in. When he saw Aidan, he held back a groan, then told him to follow him on back to his office. Hal took his chair and watched Aidan through weary eyes. “You want to know about the break-in at the morgue, I take it?”
Aidan nodded.
“All right. Someone dismantled the alarm—which anybody with a decent knowledge of wiring could do, because it’s a pretty basic model.”
“Did the security cameras catch anything?”
“Shadows. We’re trying to enhance the images now, but so far, it looks like two people walked up to the rear door at two different times.”
“Could it be a college prank? Abel said a couple of bodies were switched.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why?”
“In my opinion? It was made to look like a prank to camouflage what was really going on. My guess is it’s tied to the missing ballistic evidence and someone’s trying to keep one of those cases from going to trial. That’s all I know right now, Flynn. If I get anything else, I’ll let you know.”
“One more thing. Did you bring the FBI in on this?”
“We were the ones who went over the place, dusting for fingerprints, looking for evidence. But I informed the FBI, yes.”
“Thanks.” Aidan left the cop then and headed straight for Jonas’s office. Jonas wasn’t in, so again he waited.
When Jonas arrived, he, too, seemed to hold back a groan. “Aidan, I’m sorry you didn’t get your bones back. Bad timing.”
“I want to know what you think about the break-in.”
“Not too much. It’s a local matter.”
Aidan nodded. “I’d like to use your mailing facilities. I still have a blood sample and a dress I’d like analyzed.” He didn’t mention that he had tucked the hairbrush in the box, too.
“And what are you going to compare them to?” Jonas asked.
“I’d like to know if the dried blood goes with Jenny Trent, the woman who wore the dress.”
“You’re talking a long time, Aidan. I doubt if they can get anything.”
“That’s okay. I have a friend at Quantico who won’t mind trying.”
“I’ll take you down to the mail room myself,” Jonas told him.
After the package was duly sent off overnight to Aidan’s friend, Robert Birch, Jonas led the way back to his office. He seemed in no hurry to get rid of Aidan. “So you’re seeing the Montgomery girl, huh?” he asked.
Aidan nodded.
“She’s a pretty girl. Mysterious.”
“Mysterious?”
“Claims she can read the future, doesn’t she? I’d call that mysterious.”
“Do you believe in any of that?” Aidan asked him.
“Do you?”
“How’s Matty?” Aidan asked, changing the subject. “She’s worried about you. Worried about the two of you.”
Jonas flushed. “That’s none of your business, Aidan.”
“No, it’s not, but if you want out of your marriage, you ought to just tell her.”
“I said it’s none of your business.”
“Yeah, well, we used to be friends.”
Jonas looked up at him. “We still are, aren’t we?”
“Talk to your wife, Jonas,” Aidan said. He turned to leave, then swung back and asked, “Where’s Jenny Trent’s car?”
“I don’t know, it’s been a long time. Still in impound, maybe.”
“Find out, would you? I’d like to take another look at it, and I’m tired of waiting for Hal Vincent’s men to get to it.”
Monday morning was busy at the shop, but Vinnie came in to help, which made everything easier. Kendall had a friend at the paper, Jean Avery, and she called her, telling her about the diary she had found in the attic, and the new twist in the sad legend of Flynn Plantation. Jean promised to run a small piece the next day, and a larger human interest story on the weekend.
“Think you can get me the okay to go out there and take a few pictures?” Jean asked. “I’ve heard about the Halloween party, and this could get them some good PR for it, though I gather it’s almost sold out already.”
“A haunted plantation for Halloween. What could be better?” Kendall asked, and it was true. A lot of people who didn’t attend might send in checks anyway. You couldn’t give to a cause you knew nothing about.
“I’m sure I can arrange a photo op.”
Vinnie was passing by just then and elbowed her, giving her a meaningful look.
“The Stakes are going to be playing that night,” Kendall added. “Maybe we could get them together ahead of time to pose by the old barn or something.” She was sure Vinnie genuinely cared about the charity, but she was equally sure his biggest interest was in getting publicity for the Stakes.