Page 35 of You'll Be Sorry

“I remember walking this land four or five times back in the day,” Betty was saying. “Most of us from the town assisted with the search. I must’ve passed right over this spot numerous times. Never had a clue.”

“Turned out a few times myself.” Austin nodded. “Though my memory’s a bit hazy on the subject, given that was at the height of my troubles.”

His euphemism for his addiction-fueled younger days.

“According to Theo Collins,” Mandy supplied, “a couple of inches of sod covered the entire structure. Basically, the field had reclaimed its own.”

“Why didn’t the search dogs ever get interested?” Betty mused. “Isn’t that the point—the nose knows?”

Exactly, Mandy thought, especially given the new visiting stray had apparently come straight here and started digging.

But Austin was shaking his head. “State used bloodhounds. Advantage is they’re scent specific, which is what you want when trying to track a known target. But also means the hounds weren’t searching for just any human; they were on the trail for the Dixons. This isn’t that.”

“I thought a team came in with air-scenting SAR dogs later on.” Mandy frowned.

“Focused on the surrounding area. People’d already searched this meadow; in theory, had seen what there was to see. The SAR dogs worked the surrounding woodlands, looking for what we couldn’t see. Again, this isn’t that.”

“So what is this?” Betty asked.

Mandy turned around to face the growing number of official vehicles piling up in front of the Dixon/Collins house, including the WMUR news van. She couldn’t help one last fatalistic sigh. “This is a fucking mess.” Then she trudged back to the residence to meet her fate.

Theo emerged on the front porch. He offered the assembled masses a brilliant smile. Then he promptly advised the reporter and attending cameraperson that this was private property and no, they were not welcome.

Which earned him cajoling and pleading from the smartly dressed female reporter—you know everyone is interested in this house and its infamous legacy. Come on, just give us a quick tour. A word or two? Your own guess on what you’ve discovered?

That earned her a second grin. Nothing more.

“Damn, he’s good,” Betty whispered, coming up behind Mandy. “Why, if I was twenty years—”

“Forty?”

“Thirty years younger…”

Mandy was saved from further postulating by a string of other arrivals. A detective from Major Crimes, three volunteer firefighters,and yes, a mud-splattered red Subaru bearing a middle-aged woman who wasted no time unloading a digital camera and battered black backpack. According to the official ID dangling around Pam Schwartz’s neck, all hail the ADME.

She and Mandy made a point of ignoring the news team as they shook hands.

“Reached out to Dr. Mahone from UNH’s FAIR lab—Forensic Anthropology Identification and Recovery,” Schwartz rattled off. “She handles skeletal remains for us and hopes to join shortly. We can get started, however; the scene belongs to the ME’s office. Dr. Mahone will be able to answer more of our questions in real time, though, whereas I can only box up the remains and escort ’em to Concord.”

Mandy nodded, impressed by the woman’s no-nonsense approach. She made a quick round of introductions, then led Schwartz back to the meadow, Theo and Betty in tow.

“What exactly do you do?” Theo asked Schwartz.

“Visit the scene, gather information, write up a report.”

“Cool.” Theo sounded totally enthralled. “And in your go-bag? You carry, like, evidence bags, brushes for dusting off the bones, mesh screens for sifting the surrounding dirt?”

The ADME gave him a look. “I’m packing my lunch. Not to mention handwarmers, gloves, extra socks, a hat, and thermos of hot soup. In case you haven’t noticed, it’s damn cold out here.”

“Supposed to snow by end of week,” Betty chimed in.

“And you would be?”

“Betty Jenkins. Consider me an official representative of the town.”

Theo regarded the older woman curiously. “Wait, didn’t you drop off a casserole—”

“Will reheat perfectly for dinner tonight,” Betty assured him. “You’re certainly going to have a very busy day. And your lovely wife?”