Free Magic Line by Elizabeth Gunn Page A

way down the line, if they were all lucky. Right now, a killer was on the loose in Tucson. They couldn’t wait for DNA.
    â€˜The fact that the VIN wasn’t changed,’ Sarah said, ‘and the registration was still in the van . . . if Benson’s not in on the caper, what does that tell you?’
    â€˜Vehicle was probably snatched off the street earlier today, just for this job. They intended to ditch it right away, so they didn’t bother being thorough.’
    â€˜Yeah. Quick and dirty. Let me know about Benson, will you? I gotta go see how Ollie’s doing with the guns and ammo.’
    Oscar laughed. ‘He’s had two guys helping him cut sections out of drywall and siding for over an hour. This house is going to look like a lace doily by the time he’s done.’
    â€˜I’m never going to be done.’ Peering up from the baseboard where he crouched, his Leatherman drooping from his limp hand, Ollie crossed his eyes and let his tongue hang out. ‘My destiny is to continue cutting careful sections out of this stinking house until my right hand breaks off at the wrist.’
    â€˜Oh, and I suppose when it does,’ Sarah said, ‘you’ll start whining about needing a doctor.’ Ice-water was percolating through her tissues, doing wonders for her sense of humor. ‘How many slugs have you collected so far?’
    â€˜They’re stacked on the kitchen table; take a look.’
    â€˜Shee,’ she said, looking at the table. ‘You did all this while I was gone?’
    â€˜Me and my team. Delaney got me two helpers out of city maintenance when he had to put Jason on the scene. See those two guys out there in jumpsuits? They’re digging the last slugs out of the trees.’
    The guns were all there on the table too, ranged on a soft cloth at one end, waiting for Ollie to disarm them before bagging and tagging.
    â€˜Hey, you found the Glock.’ It lay on the table, beside its magazine, baseplate and spring, the pieces side by side on the towel.
    â€˜By accident, after I quit looking. I went out in the yard to get my helpers started, turned on my flashlight, and it shined right on the Glock. It was up in the crotch of that palo verde tree. I guarantee I could not get it to hang there on purpose if I tried all day.’
    At the other end of the table, heaps were taking shape – squares of drywall in one pile, outdoor siding in another, clumps of tree bark in a third. Each section had a slug in its center and was bagged in clear plastic. Each bag carried a tag describing the exact location where it was found. Ollie Greenaway’s team did neat, careful work.
    â€˜You found anything yet that doesn’t look like it could have come from the guns you’ve got here?’
    â€˜No. But that’s very preliminary. Why?’
    â€˜Well, somebody had to fire the last shot. From the position of the bodies and the weapons it looks like it must have been Mr Brush Cut. But then who killed him?’
    â€˜Ah, Sarah, leave that for the lab. We do all this collecting; the least they can do is carry the water from there.’
    Jason stuck his head in the open front door and said, ‘Sarah, somebody’s waiting for you down by the tape line.’
    â€˜Oh?’ She walked over and he pointed. Will Dietz was standing there with his arms full. She ran down, smiling. ‘Brought you some snacks,’ he said, passing the sacks. ‘Careful, this one’s coffee.’
    â€˜You are a prince among men,’ she said, ‘and I will thank you appropriately at a later time.’
    â€˜When you get your strength back.’ He gave her the half-wink that passed for terms of endearment during working hours. ‘How’s your long day going?’
    â€˜It’s a big mess. We’ll be here a while yet.’ As he turned to go she asked him, ‘You heard anything on the containment?’
    â€˜Just that there is