“Don’t be an idiot. You almost died today.”
“But I didn’t. And I’m fine. I’m on my way to Hastings House now. Are you coming?”
“All right. I’ll beat you there.”
He did.
He was lounging on the porch with Melissa when the cab dropped her off.
They both rushed to the curb to help her from the cab. It took her twenty minutes and more energy than she had to spare to convince Melissa that she was all right. Then she led Brad down to the basement, where she showed him the wall and the bones, and the records she had copied from the library, then told him what she wanted him to do.
He stared at her. He almost looked as if he were frightened of her.
“Shit. This is getting uncanny.”
“Brad, I’ve studied the history of this house. It will work.”
He shook his head. “You want me to pretend that I just walked into Hastings House and started on the basement wall with a pickax because I knew that I’d find bones?”
She took a step back from him, frowning. Actually, yes, that was exactly what she wanted.
“Um…”
“You’re too good at this, and it’s getting scary,” he informed her.
“Brad, please?”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “What does Wonder Boy think about all this?”
“Wonder Boy?”
“Joe.”
“Don’t be an idiot,” she said.
“Sorry. I guess I’m jealous.”
“He’s been a very good friend.”
“So have I.”
“I know that, Brad.”
“Sorry. But what does he think? I mean, is he getting a little freaked out, too?”
“What are you getting at?”
“I can’t keep pretending to be in on all your discoveries—especially not when someone else knows the truth.”
She started to laugh. “I think you don’t mind doing it, you just don’t want to get caught.”
“Something like that,” he admitted, laughing suddenly. “Okay, I’m pathetic. I love to get the credit. But it’s not mine.”
“I don’t want any credit. I just want things…taken care of. Look, I know who this woman is. Her husband murdered her and told the world she’d left him. We need to bring the truth to light.”
He was silent for a moment, his head lowered. “All right. You read the records, got me to do the same. We shared some logic and a hunch. We’ll prove who she is when we make the announcement, and we’ll get her a nice burial with all the right…whatever. Like I’m sure it makes a difference, all these years later.”
“It makes a difference,” Leslie insisted.
He sighed. “All right. Tomorrow we’ll make the announcement and arrange to have the bones removed. I’ll find a reporter and a priest—Episcopalian? Do we know that?”
“We’ll assume. New York at the time…mostly Episcopalian.”
He shook his head. “The crypt you discovered is shored up now. Laymon is going to be going insane to move in that direction, too. And now you’re going to be more famous than ever—she has second sight, and she survived a cave-in and a subway accident. People will be talking.”
“Brad, come on.”
“That’s not me, Leslie. That’s just what people are going to say.”
She let out a soft sigh. “Just help me, okay?”
“I’ll do my best. Hey, if you get any better at this ESP thing, maybe you can pick us some winning lottery numbers.”
“I’ve discovered bones, Brad. Not riches.”
“Yeah, so work on that, will you?” He looked exasperated, then pulled her to him and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Leslie…shit. I like you, but you really have gotten…eerie.”
“Thanks a lot, Brad.”
“I don’t mean anything bad by that, honestly.”
“Right. I’m creepy, but that’s not bad.”
He grinned. “No, you’re creepy good,” he assured her. “All right, I’m going to get out of here. Get the ball rolling.”
“Thanks.” She hesitated. “Brad…at the site, when you found me, unconscious…”
“Yeah?” he asked.
“You and Laymon arrived at the exact same time?”
“Yeah, why?”
She shook her head. “No reason.”
Brad suddenly frowned deeply. “Are you going to ask where I was today?” he demanded.
She stared back at him, stunned.
“Nowhere near the subway,” he said curtly.
“Oh, Brad! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…actually, I was hoping you’d seen someone,” she murmured.
“No. There was no other way in, no other way out. No one suspicious, and guards all over the site, Leslie. You know that.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’d die before I’d hurt you, Leslie,” he said. “And I’m a coward,” he added ruefully.
She stepped forward, kissing his cheek. “Thank you.”
“Well, I’d better get going. I’m supposed to meet Laymon for dinner.”
“Where are you going?”
“Anthony’s, just down the street. He doesn’t like to leave the area. You know Laymon. He’s always convinced someone is after his discovery.”
“And he can catch them from a restaurant?” she asked, amused.