Free Barbara Graham - Quilted 05 - Murder by Sunlight by Barbara Graham Page A

life.”
    Remembering the condition of the victim, his home, and Sheila, Tony was a bit surprised the man had any blood left in him at all. “And if he lives? Are there likely to be lasting issues?”
    “Very possibly not.” Wade came into the office and sat down. “Grace says they’ll know a lot more in the next few hours. I understand the gash in his neck was closed surgically but will take a while to heal completely.”
    “I’d like to talk to him, of course.” Tony relaxed a bit. “And see what Not Bob might be able to tell us so we can protect Bob.”
    “If there is a Bob.” Wade didn’t look convinced. “I think Bob’s a figment of the attacker’s imagination.”
    Tony found himself hoping there was a Bob and, if so, maybe he could point them toward Not Bob’s attacker.

C HAPTER E IGHT
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    Dammit and Daisy made a stunning canine couple. The enormous bloodhound cavorting with the oversized golden retriever threatened to demolish the inside of the Abernathy house. Wrestling and pouncing on each other, Theo thought they had no idea how huge they were and how much damage they could do to the house just running into things. In their world, they were just two little puppies having fun.
    Theo opened the kitchen door and sent them down the steps, barking and leaping into the yard. She forgot Alvin was working back there and the sight of the massive dogs charging toward him made him stand up and freeze, an expression of alarm on his face.
    Seconds later he was laughing. The canine clowns were putting on quite a display, and except for their passage through the new flowerbed, where they scattered the newly turned earth, there was nothing they could harm.
    Alvin waved to attract Theo’s attention. “I’m leaving for plant camp in just a few minutes. My ride is picking me up here so is there any special chore you want me to get done first?”
    “It looks so much better than it did with all those overgrown vines and shrubs removed.” Theo joined him, admiring the changes he’d already made.
    “They will take over if you don’t stay on top of them.” Alvin clipped a few more pieces off the honeysuckle vine and dropped them in a bag. “I’ve seen small trees choked to death by these things.”
    “What goes there?” Theo studied a large square wire cage next to their new vegetable garden bed. The raised bed contained soil now but no plants yet. It was well past the normal time to start a garden but they’d be ready for next summer. “Tomatoes?”
    “Nope. Compost.” Alvin launched into his explanation. “It will turn your food scraps and dry leaves into free plant food. As they decay, they’ll give off some heat.”
    “We’ve never composted before.” Theo studied the cage. “I can put everything in here?”
    “Well,” Alvin’s smile was full of mischief. “Your husband’s pretty big, but I guess if it gets hot enough you could dispose of a body. Personally I don’t put meat or bones in my compost. Some people do.”
    “Thank you.” Theo laughed as she handed Alvin his pay. “When will you be back from camp?”
    “Not for two weeks. I’ve arranged for a friend to mow your yard while I’m away.”
    “Thank you. Be sure to have some fun.” Theo called the dogs back into the house so Alvin could finish what he was doing without being knocked over or have the dogs leave massive paw prints in his work.
    Tony was awakened in the night by Dammit. Mike’s bloodhound was sitting near the window, baying like he’d treed a possum. “Shut up dog,” Tony mumbled. As he climbed out of bed, he glanced at the clock. Midnight. The oversized dog stood up, glancing toward Tony before looking back out the bedroom’s front window, the one overlooking the park. “Where’s Daisy?” The last thing Tony wanted to do in the dark was to trip over his own dog.
    Daisy must have heard her name because he heard a soft “woof” from the direction of the boys’ room. It was her normal spot to sleep if