Casting Bones (38 page)

‘But?'

‘I feel I have to tell you this. A feeling I have, something I can't explain to you, all I can tell you is that she is well. Adjusted. You can yell at me, ask me to never see you again, but I am committed to telling you that. Nothing more. She is well. Adjusted.'

Archer took a deep breath. Slow, long breaths. He believed her. Wanted to believe her. Decided in a moment to believe anything she told him.

Tears sprang from his eyes, and he wiped at them with his hand.

‘I needed to know.'

‘Quentin, I am certain we will see each other in the future. If you need to contact me, you know where I am. At Ma's and at the studio.'

He tried to smile, but could only muster a confused look.

‘When you've absorbed this all, when you are more comfortable with the situation, I hope we will talk.'

She stood and walked away.

T
hey sat on the levee, the old man in a webbed lawn chair and the old woman in her wheelchair, staring out at the brown swirling water. She'd given him a faint smile when she first saw him, but now her eyes were glassy, seeing everything in front of her, seeing nothing.

‘Clotille, your daughter is beautiful. She's smart, got personality; she's going to amount to something.'

A log washed by, and there were two men fishing on the far side, hoping to catch whatever the river had to offer.

‘Are you comfortable? Do you need a shawl?'

She didn't respond.

‘Clotille, about Solange, is there any chance that she is my daughter? I'd like to know.'

No response.

‘Well, I treat her well, old woman. She is a joy.'

The lady nodded. Very subtly but she nodded.

It meant the world to Matebo. He felt it was a definite sign.

T
he phone rang in the middle of the night. Archer answered and there was silence on the other end. Archer hung up. It wasn't going to stop any time soon. He thought about Denise, her soft voice and healing manner, and drifted back to sleep, knowing that the killer had been identified. It was only a matter of time that he would be arrested, charged and convicted. That in itself would not bring back his wife, but it would satisfy some of his concerns.

She knelt on the floor, naked, the cloth spread in front of her. Two flickering candles threw shadows on the wall as she studied the bones. A chill went through her slender body, and she felt the presence of a spirit.

Tossing the smooth, worn objects, she closed her eyes. When she opened them Solange studied the display. The elements were against her. And against the detective. It seemed like he was in for a long spell of evil. She'd have to stay close and try to ward off the wicked signs.