Free Mostly Murder by Linda Ladd Page B

that’s he’s number one right now?”
    â€œShouldn’t be a problem. I met him a couple of times at charity events. He supports the Special Olympics and Make a Wish Foundation and Wounded Warriors—he’s really big in that one. He’s well known enough around here to draw in some big donors.”
    â€œYeah? So what’s your take on him?”
    â€œHe seems okay, I guess. Generous with his time and money. But that restraining order puts a whole new spin on things. Doesn’t look good for him. It’s a miracle the media didn’t get hold of it, considerin’ who he is. Somebody downtown must’ve hushed it up somehow.”
    â€œWell, I’m glad they did. The last thing we need right now is a bunch of reporters following us around. But I am curious to see what he has to say about the victim and where he’s been the last few days. I’d also like permission to search his house, if the need arises. How soon can you get us an interview?”
    â€œTomorrow afternoon fast enough? If he’s in town. I know he travels a lot. He was in Dallas today, at the game. I know that for a fact. Saw him interviewed.”
    â€œYeah, we did, too. Any time tomorrow’s great.”
    â€œI’ll get back to you.”
    â€œPlease, make it sound like we just need to talk to him, nothing that would scare him off. Last thing we need is for him to lawyer up and plead the Fifth.”
    â€œWell, sorry, but I’m with Zee on this one. Holliday’d be all kinds of stupid to do something like this. And he’s not stupid. He’s as savvy as they come.”
    Zee waited for Rene to take his leave, and then he grinned at Claire. “Maybe we could interview him at the Dome? Wow, that’d be way cool.”
    â€œI think I ought to take Nancy along, instead of you. Your eyes are beginning to look a little wild.”
    â€œHell, Nan would faint at the mere sight of him. She went to Tulane, too.”
    That could very well be true, but Zee would probably ask for the guy’s autograph. Truthfully, Claire just might want his signature, too. Difference was, Claire wanted it on the bottom of a confession.

Chapter Six
    Inside the sterile confines of the Lafourche Parish morgue, Claire found Nancy Gill sitting at her desk, waiting for Claire to show up so she could get the ball rolling. Through the big windows separating the office from the autopsy room, Claire could see the nude body of Madonna Christien lying on a steel table. The bright overhead light illuminated the victim’s battered face. Now that it had been cleansed of the black and white skeleton paint, the bruises were more visible, as were the awful stitch marks on her eyes and lips. Her hair was long and dark and spread out behind her head.
    â€œI got a little trace off the body, which pretty much amounted to zero. A few hairs, some fibers I can’t yet identify. The perpetrator washed her clean with bleach before he painted her up and put her in that voodoo costume. But I’m ready to go, if you are. Is Zee comin’ in for this?”
    Claire shook her head. “He’s interviewing people out along the bayou. I didn’t know anybody lived out there, except for Saucier. And I didn’t know that until he told me he heard me playing the other night. But, maybe we’ll get lucky and Zee will find somebody who saw something. If the guys find footprints, tire tracks, anything, maybe we can tie them to the killer. But nothing’s turned up yet, nothing at all. I’ve got a bad feeling that we’re not going to find much. This guy knows what he’s doing, and that probably means she’s not his first victim. Or his last.”
    â€œHe sure cleaned up the victim well enough,” Nancy said, shaking her head. “Okay then, you ready? I’m tired. I need to get some sleep if we’re goin’ out partying tomorrow night. We are still on for a night on the