Bone Box. Faye Kellerman
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do with the attitude of the colleges. They were very accepting. He dropped out for personal reasons—his sex reassignment. And that’s when he said that he was glad I decided to come to Morse McKinley. And that was the end of it because he was in a hurry.”
McAdams said, “And he didn’t give any hint as to why he had come back to Morse McKinley?”
“No. Nothing.”
“Do you know if he was close to any particular faculty member?” Decker said. “Was there someone he might have wanted to visit?”
“What about Jason Kramer?” McAdams asked.
“Jason has been there awhile but by the way he was talking about Lawrence, they didn’t seem close. Lawrence was more than just a gay man. He was brilliant.”
“But you don’t who he was close to.”
“No idea. But Morse McKinley is a small school. Besides, you don’t even know if it’s him.”
“You’re right.”
McAdams said, “Not to seem lurid, but a description of him as a woman might be helpful.”
Arianna sighed. “A tall girl with makeup and big boobs. He still had long hair, but it was brown. He wore tight jeans, a sweater, and boots.”
“Good memory,” Decker said.
“Lawrence made a big impression on me, obviously.”
“And you haven’t seen him since that time.”
“No.”
“And you didn’t keep in phone contact or anything like that?”
“No. You know how it is. I was more interested in my own life than his.”
“Of course.”
She stood up. “I have to go catch a class. It’s an important one.”
“Where can I contact you if I need to talk to you again?”
“Why would you need to talk to me again?”
Decker said, “You never know. What’s your cell?” After Arianna recited the numbers, he gave her his card. McAdams followed suit.
She turned the cards over in her hand then stashed them in her satchel. Then she picked it up and left without saying good-bye.
McAdams said, “What do you make of her?”
“Seems like a good kid. She volunteered the information.”
“Maybe to lead us off-track.”
Decker stood up and smiled. “You have a very suspicious mind.”
“That’s a good thing for a detective.” McAdams raised his eyebrows. “It’s even a better thing for a lawyer. In my meager dealings with both professions, I’ve found that clients lie a hell of a lot more than the suspects I’ve encountered.”
“It’s a close call.” Decker’s cell rang. He fished it from his pocket. “Not our area code.” He depressed the button. “Decker.”
The woman on the other end didn’t bother to introduce herself. “He’s dead.”
It took a moment to register who it could possibly be. “Mrs. Pettigrew?”
Silence. Then she said, “Yes, I’m returning your call.”
“Thank you very much for calling back. Where are you calling from?”
“New York City. Staten Island. I assume you’re calling about my son, Lawrence. You found his body?”
“Since you’re being direct, I will be direct as well. I’m from Greenbury Police. We found a body in the woods near a popular hiking trail. We’re trying to identify it.”
“So you’re not sure it’s Lawrence.”
“No, we’re not. Did you report your son missing, Mrs. Pettigrew?”
“Five years ago.”
“Do you remember the exact date?”
“December ninth.”
“Okay.” So the timing certainly fit. “Where did you report him missing? What police department?”
“We live on Staten Island. But Lawrence wasn’t living with us at the time. But I didn’t know who else to call, so I called the local police.”
“Okay, I’ll certainly contact them if I need to.” Decker paused.
“Do you think it’s him? You must have some idea. Otherwise you wouldn’t call me.”
Decker sidestepped. “I hate to ask you this, but do you have dental records?”
“So he’s been in the ground for a long time, right?”
“You’re a very astute woman.”
“How much do you know about my son?”
“Mrs. Pettigrew, I think any further conversation would be best in person. I’m about three hours away from you. I could be down at around …” Decker checked his watch. “Around six or seven in the evening depending on traffic.”
“That would work. My husband should be home by then.” She gave Decker her address. “I suppose you’ll want me to pick up his dental records?”
“That would be very helpful to my case.”
“It’s a murder case, then?”
“Yes.”
“That was Lawrence, Detective. Wherever he went, trouble followed.”
Over the phone line, Rina said, “But I want to come with you.”
“I’m not staying overnight. I’m talking to the poor woman, then turning around and heading back up to Greenbury with the X-rays.”
“Just drop me off and I’ll get to Brooklyn. Why waste an opportunity to see the kids?”
“Lily will probably be asleep by the time you get there.”
“Maybe they’ll keep her up long enough for me to read her a bedtime story. And don’t you want to hear what I found out about Yvette Jones and Delilah Occum?”
“They’re not my remains, Rina.”
“This guy disappeared between the times the two women disappeared. You’re not the least bit curious?”
“I’m always curious about a missing person, but I can’t see how Delilah Occum or Yvette Jones would have anything to do with my guy.”
“Who was in the process of becoming a woman when he disappeared, no?”
Decker paused. “Are you suggesting a serial killer?”
“I’m just saying until you know who you’re dealing with, doesn’t it pay to consider all possibilities?”
“Fair enough. I’m leaving the station house in ten minutes. Be ready and I’ll pick you.”
“I’m ready right now. But while I’m waiting for you, I’ll pack us dinner. That way you won’t have to stop for food.”
Ten minutes later, Rina slid shotgun into the car with a big brown bag. She turned around. “You okay back there, Tyler? I took your kisay hakoved.”
“Which means?”
“Your place of honor.”
“I’m fine in the back. This way you can deal with his crankiness.”