Page 36 of You'll Be Sorry

Theo’s expression tightened for the first time. “As you say, it’s damn cold out here.”

They arrived at the site, joining the cluster of already gathered law enforcement. Apparently other crime was taking the day off.

Schwartz slipped around the wooden barriers, taking up position on the edge of the pit and peering straight down. Mandy joined her, careful to watch her footing.

“How do you want to proceed?” Mandy asked the ADME.

“First step, send someone down to snap photos in situ. Then…” A shrug. “Collect the bones, bring them up top. Hopefully, Debs will have arrived by then.”

“Wait.” Theo raised a hand. “Don’t you have to, like, examine them in place before carefully extracting them one by one, while sifting the surrounding soil through increasingly finer layers of mesh screens?”

“How much TV do you watch?”

Theo appeared so crestfallen Mandy almost felt sorry for him.

“I don’t have rope training.” Schwartz was addressing Mandy now. “Your team?”

Mandy shook her head. While some of her officers had experience rappelling due to their personal hobbies, it was hardly a job requirement. The fire department, on the other hand…

She glanced at Austin.

“Caleb,” he called out promptly.

One of the younger guys came trotting over.

“Got your gear? We need someone to go down, handle the remains.”

“Wait.” Theo again. “I don’t mind descending—”

“No!” Mandy didn’t even have to raise her voice as Austin and Schwartz were already echoing her response.

“You’re not law enforcement,” Mandy continued more moderately.

“Neither is he.”

“Hey!”

“He’s certified.” Austin turned on Theo sternly. “You’re the homeowner. Go home. Own some things.”

Now Theo appeared offended.

“All right, all right.” Mandy raised a hand before the situation totally deteriorated. “ADME’s scene, ADME’s call. Caleb, retrieve what you need. You’ll descend as Schwartz’s representative, do whatever she deems appropriate.”

Caleb was already jogging back to his truck, while Schwartz set down her pack. Mandy turned back to Theo and offered up a consolation prize.

“Why don’t you show the ADME the boards from the well covering?”

“Oh.” Theo’s eyes widened in understanding. He gestured for Schwartz to follow. Mandy counted down in her head. Five, four, three, two…

Then Schwartz’s voice, carrying across the frosty field: “Holy shit.”

Mandy stuck her freezing hands in her heavy jacket and prepared for a long day ahead.

13

The dog didn’t like crowds. Upon coming downstairs, Raquel and Theo had found him pressed against the front door, whining low in his throat while throwing anxious glances at the growing number of vehicles rolling down their drive.

Raquel had sent Theo outside to deal with the masses—particularly the news van—while she and the dog retreated to the kitchen for breakfast. Theo thrived on attention. She and their new canine companion…not so much.