Free Bed of Bones (A Sloane Monroe Novel, Book Five) by Cheryl Bradshaw Page A

typed notes on her car, in her trailer. Well, not notes, really. More of biblical threats, I guess.”
    “What do you mean—scriptures?”
    She nodded. “From the book of Proverbs.”
    “Do you remember the exact chapter and verse?” I asked.
    She nodded, again. “Proverbs 19:9: A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.”
    “Lies? Did either of you have any idea what he meant?”
    “I don’t know. She never talked to him. We just figured he was mentally unstable.”
    If Melody was being looked at as a suspect, every bit of her life was being dissected. They’d know about her stalker.
    “Do you know this kid’s name?”
    “Shane Drexler.”
    “Is it possible to get a list of the names of everyone who worked on the movie—cast, crew, anyone who came into contact with Melody over the last year?”
    “You want to talk to Ronnie Chapman. He’s Terry’s assistant.”
    “And Terry is…?”
    “The assistant director. You can’t talk to him, though.”
    “Why not?” I asked.
    “He’s in critical.”
    “What row was he in?”
    “The first one.”
    “And you?”
    “Second. Melody would have been in the second too.”
    Right next to Giovanni and Lucio.
    I handed Brynn my card.
    I was almost to the door when I was sure my name was called. I turned. “Did you say something?”
    She looked scared, like she was afraid she’d done something wrong.
    “There’s…umm…one more thing. But if I tell you, are you gonna tell the cops?”
    I shrugged. “Depends on whether it’s important or not. I can’t make any promises.”
    She mulled it over.
    “You know I can’t leave here now without you telling me what it is, right?” I said.
    “I never planned on keeping quiet, but I didn’t expect people to come in here, talking about Melody like they know her. They don’t. I was just trying to protect her. I don’t want any trouble.”
    “I understand,” I said.
    “I have her bag.”
    “Her purse?”
    “Yeah. Maybe something in it will help you find her.”
    I skimmed the room, expecting it to be in plain sight. It wasn’t.
    “Where is it?” I asked.
    “Not here.”
    “How did you get it?”
    “The day of the premiere, she was preoccupied. She kept leaving her bag everywhere. Finally, I convinced her to hand it over, and I chucked it inside my car. When I went to the hotel to change clothes, I left the car running. I was just going upstairs for a quick change and didn’t want to leave her bag on the seat. I took it to my room, but I was in such a hurry, I left it there on accident.”
    “Where is it now?”
    “Ronnie has it.”
    “Why?”
    “We share a room together.” She gave me a curious look. “Yes, we’re in a relationship if you’re wondering.”
    “Where can I find him?”
    She bit her lip. “It’s just…Ronnie—”
    “Brynn, I appreciate you being honest with me. I need you to trust me. I’ll give it to someone who will get it into the right hands and not the wrong ones. Okay?”
    I exited, my pace slowing as I noticed the bald men who had so vigilantly kept watch outside Giovanni’s room were gone. I peered inside. The room was empty.
    “Can I help you, Miss?”
    I spun around, facing the young, blond nurse behind me. “The man in this room. Did you move him?”
    She blushed. Giovanni had that effect on women.
    “He left,” she said matter-of-factly. “Mr. Luciana checked himself out yesterday. Had an older man with him claiming to be his family doctor.”
    “The man—did you see him? Do you know what he looked like?”
    “Well…I remember thinking he seemed a bit old to still be a doctor. But who am I to say?”
    “What age would you say the older man was?”
    “If I was guessing, maybe eighty or so.”
    “Anything else?”
    “He walked with a cane. Black, if I remember right. It had a silver handle.”
    “Did they say where they were going?”
    “Not to me. My superior said he’d be looked after at his own home.”
    She