Free In the Shadow of Evil by Robin Caroll Page A

have any idea. Her nosebleeds keep coming back. She can hardly breathe. She's wheezing, and none of the test results show anything."
    "I just can't imagine."
    Alana turned the car toward Lake Charles. "Me either. Her grandson says he's really scared. The doctors are baffled so they don't know what to do for her except give her oxygen."
    "We'll just keep praying." But Layla knew that might not be enough to save their dear friend.

    "THIS IS MR. LEJEUNE?" Maddox pointed at one of the framed photographs on the mantel. A man bowling.
    Mary LeJeune twisted in her seat on the tattered recliner. "Yes. That was taken just a few months ago." She sniffled and lifted her teacup, slurping as she took a sip.
    Maddox returned to his seat beside Houston on the couch. He'd done his usual inspection of the living room and found nothing of interest. No dust lined the ceiling fan blades. The LeJeunes collected thimbles from around the world and displayed them. Only photographs of the two of them—no smiling baby photos to indicate children or grandchildren.
    "And the last time you saw your husband was Friday?" Houston asked around the wad of gum in his cheek.
    "Yes." The teacup rattled against the saucer. "He left for work around seven, same as always."
    "Did you talk to your husband during the workday on Friday?"
    "Why, no. Why would I? We never really talk on the phone. Unless I need him to pick up something from the store on his way home. But that's rare. I keep my groceries stocked, you know."
    "What time did Mr. LeJeune normally get home from work?" Maddox interjected.
    "Four forty-seven on the dot. Like clockwork." She glanced at the clock over the mantel. "Right about now." Tears filled her time-faded eyes.
    "All the time? Even in traffic?" Maddox couldn't believe someone's life was so predictable.
    Mrs. LeJeune bobbed her head, the gray tendrils that had escaped from her bun scraped against her leathered face. "No matter what, he pulls into the carport at four forty-seven every day, the same time for the past ten years."
    She took another sip of her tea. "Friday night was just like normal. He came home right on time, we had supper, then he changed into his bowling shirt and headed to the alley at six thirty. Same routine he's had for years."
    "Ma'am, has your husband been acting strangely or said anything odd recently?" Houston asked.
    "Like what?"
    "Odd phone calls. Unusual visits." Houston shrugged. "Strange messages."
    "No, nothing like that."
    "Does he talk to you about work?" Maddox remembered to keep talk in the present tense.
    "Not at all. Dennis is real good about keeping his work on a professional level. He doesn't believe in telling tales outside of school. He would never share information like that. His work is confidential."
    They were getting nowhere fast. Maddox took a breath and changed directions. "Does your husband own any guns, Mrs. LeJeune?"
    "He has rifles and shotguns for hunting."
    "And handguns? Revolvers?"
    Mrs. LeJeune patted her bun. "Land sakes, no. Why would he have a gun like that?"
    "No reason, ma'am." Maddox stood. They wouldn't get anything more useful out of her. Just wasting their time.
    Houston stood as well. "As I said, ma'am, we can't positively identify the body we found just yet. We'll have the coroner send for your husband's dental records for consideration."
    Mrs. LeJeune wobbled to her feet. "I'm sure it's my Dennis. He wouldn't break his routine unless someone had stopped him." Her voice cracked.
    Maddox joined Houston at the door. "We'll let you know something just as soon as we can, Mrs. LeJeune. Thank you again for your time."
    They'd barely shut the car doors and Maddox started the engine before they both began talking at once.
    "You first," Houston said as Maddox turned back onto a main road.
    "Dennis is our John Doe." Maddox gripped the steering wheel tighter. "I feel it."
    "Same here."
    "We need to—"
    Houston's cell phone interrupted Maddox. Houston glanced at the caller ID. "It's