Free Never Buried: A Leigh Koslow Mystery by Edie Claire

about it, not to mention a lot of money and energy buying it, decorating it, and furnishing it. If some wacko thinks it's worth his time to steal corpses and paint fish to get me out, fine. I'll play. I'm going to find out who this person is and what it is he wants. Then I'm going to keep it."
    Speech finished, Cara shuffled to the back door and went inside. Leigh watched her retreating form. She knew from a lifetime of experience that Cara was not an easy person to intimidate. Bravado was all well and good, but somebody had to be reasonable.
    She collected the fish in a empty shoe box and set the mess down by the back door. Mao Tse made a break for it as soon as the door opened, but Leigh swept her up with a well-practiced gesture and carried her back inside. "Sorry girl. Chain of evidence and all that."
    The cat was not appeased. "Okay, okay. How about some of the gourmet stuff as a compromise? Ocean perch in aspic, perhaps? I'm sure I brought some from the apartment..." After a half hour of rattling around Cara's kitchen feeding the cat, the finches, and her caffeine habit, Leigh had developed a plan. As soon as a more respectable hour of the morning approached, she would take the fish down to the police station. Maura could lift fingerprints off the scales—or whatever. Then she would find out what the heck Mrs. Rhodis had been babbling to Cara about.
    An answer to an old mystery? Maybe. Leigh was skeptical. Crimes of passion were well and good in the movies, but reality was usually more predictable. Avarice was the root of all evil. They had evil. The money must not be far behind.
     
     

Chapter 8
     
    Leigh was dressed and ready to head for the police station when the phone rang. She eyed it suspiciously. It had only brought her bad news so far. She crossed to the kitchen counter and picked it up.
    "Hello?"
    "Hello!" rang a cheerful tenor voice, muted somewhat by static. "Leigh, is that you?"
    Leigh allowed herself a smile. It was Cara's husband, and it had been a while since she had heard his voice. "Yeah, it's me. How are you, Gil? And where are you now, Istanbul?"
    Her cousin-in-law laughed merrily. "Don't start with that. You know I'm still in Tokyo. But not for much longer. I'm counting the days!"
    Leigh felt the slight knotting in her stomach that she always felt when reminded of Gil's happiness with Cara. Not that she was jealous. How could she be, when she had had the first shot? Leigh had met Gil through work, and was astonished when he asked her out. Gil was the type of man one normally sees only with the aid of photography. His admirable physique, square jaw line, and impeccable taste in clothes were not to be sniffed at. Furthermore, he had the kind of twinkling eyes and carefree grin that most estrogen-dominant individuals would kill for. Unfortunately, he hadn't really understood Leigh's sense of humor. So what would have been the point? Instead of acting interested, she had referred him to Cara for a specialized design project. The rest was history.
    "So how's my little family doing?" he continued happily. Leigh could picture him lounging on a bamboo mat in an Armani suit, his hazel eyes beaming with pride. Her stomach twitched again, and guilt surged.
    "Cara's fine. And she says the baby is kicking up a storm."
    "That's great!" he enthused. "Is she up yet?"
    Leigh's guilt was suddenly replaced by recall of her cousin's predicament. Had Cara told Gil about the body? Leigh's brow furrowed in thought. Cara probably wouldn't have—she wouldn't want him to worry. But he certainly deserved to know. Besides, Leigh had promised to report anything that might get Cara upset. She cleared her throat. "Listen, Gil, do you have a minute?"
    Leigh shrieked as long fingernails scratched at her hands. Cara, materializing from nowhere, snatched the receiver with a fierce look of disapproval. She covered the mouthpiece with her palm. "Don't you dare tell him anything!" she whispered. "One word and he'll be on the next