And social services probably won’t do anything because there’s no proof of abuse.”
“You called social services?” Franny said. “On the Farmans?”
“I felt like I had to do something,” Anne said. “At least if there’s a complaint, and they see Dennis and talk to him, maybe eventually someone will do something to get him some help.”
“You called social services on a sheriff’s deputy?” Franny said. “Are you out of your mind? Have you never seen a Women in Prison movie?”
“I’m not afraid of Frank Farman.”
“Well, you probably should be. He’ll bankrupt you with speeding tickets at the very least. Does Garnett know you did this?”
“No.”
“You need hard liquor,” Franny declared. “
Anne nodded and tried to muster a smile, knowing her other option was to just lie down on the ground and cry.
“Margaritas at Cantina Maria?”
“I might have to catch up with you,” Anne said as Vince Leone pulled up to the curb and got out.
Franny sucked in breath. “Ohmygod, that’s HIM!”
Anne rolled her eyes. “Don’t wet yourself, Francis. How will I explain you?”
“Very dapper,” Franny declared, eyes on Leone. “Handsome. A little on the rugged side, but distinguished. Sharp dresser.”
“Old enough to be my father.”
“No, he isn’t. Your father is a fossil. Besides, you don’t even like guys your own age,” he reminded her. “May-December—no, really, May-mid-September. It’s romantic! You should totally sleep with him.”
“I met him yesterday!”
“Come on. Be a skank-o-potamus for once. Have some fun before Frank Farman gets you thrown in the slammer. That’s all’s I’m sayin’. You don’t have to keep him, honey, but for God’s sake, kick the tires and take a ride around the block!”
Anne gave him a stern look. “Shut up and do
She had to admit, as she walked toward him, the man was attractive. He needed to put on a few pounds. The gray suit was a little loose, but it draped expensively over his lanky frame, and the color complemented the steel gray in his hair and mustache.
He was also an FBI agent using her to spy on a family via a ten-year-old boy, she reminded herself.
“Agent—Detective—”
“Vince,” he said, stopping just a little too close to her, his dark eyes sparkling with amusement.
“I’m surprised to see you here,” Anne said. “We have no dismembered body parts today.”
“I’m glad for you. How was your day?”
“I’m planning to take up drinking—only because it’s cheaper and more socially acceptable than heroin.”
“And legal,” he added. “Provided you don’t try to operate heavy machinery. Do you need help with that? I can drive a Volkswagen as well as anybody.”
“Hello! Francis Goodsell. Anne’s sidekick and best friend in the whole wide world.”
Anne felt herself blush as Franny stepped between them to shake Leone’s hand.
Vince grinned. “Nice to meet you, Francis. Vince Leone. Anne’s would-be suitor.”
“How have I missed seeing you around town?” Franny asked. “I know absolutely everybody worth knowing in Oak Knoll.”
“I travel a lot,” Vince said.
“Domestically or abroad?”
“Franny . . . ,” Anne said through gritted teeth.
Vince seemed happy to play along. “Both.”
“An international man of mystery,” Franny said. “I like that. And are your intentions honorable?”
“Franny!”
“Absolutely.”
Franny frowned. “Well, we’ll have to do something about that. This girl needs to have some fun.”
Anne turned him by the shoulders and gave him a push toward the building. “Good-bye, Francis.”
Franny grinned over his shoulder, his eyes disappearing into twin crescents above his cheeks. “Nice meeting you, Vince!”
“Likewise.”
He looked entirely too amused when Anne turned back to him.
“Take a walk with me,” he said as he put his hand on the small of her back and started down the sidewalk away from the building. “I want you to show me where the kids found the body.”
“Can’t Detective Mendez do that?”
“He’s otherwise engaged and not nearly as pretty.”
“What’s going on?” Anne asked, falling in step with him, ignoring the compliment. He was a natural flirt. He couldn’t help himself. “Have they found the missing woman yet?”
The weight of his hand felt good against her back, but shouldn’t have. She wasn’t in the habit of letting people touch her, but she made no effort to stop him.
“No,” he said. “Not yet.”
“But someone’s been arrested, right?” she asked looking up at him. “I saw that on the news this morning.”
“Yes,” he answered, his face carefully blank.
“But?”
He cocked a brow at her. “I’m not at liberty to discuss an ongoing investigation.”
“Oh. But you can feel free to recruit me into it.”
He dodged the barb. “Did you speak to the boy?”
“Yes, and I feel like a creepy sneak, thanks for asking.”
“I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important, Anne.”
“He thinks his father was home that night because they watch
“What about Mom?”
“She has no sense of humor. But I would certainly buy her as a serial killer before her husband.”
He chuckled at that. “I heard she was a little upset this morning.”
“I’ve discovered this week that Janet Crane does not become
“Gee, and she was so pleasant to me today. Must be my charm and stunning good looks,” he teased.
A little smile tugged at the corner of Anne’s mouth as she looked up at him. “Must be. Here we are.”
The area around where the body had been buried was still corralled with yellow tape. Vince ducked under it and walked into the shallow grave. He stood there for a couple of minutes, saying nothing, looking very serious as he surveyed the area for 360 degrees around the spot.
“How well do you know this park?” he asked.
“I grew up six blocks from here.”
“Is there another way to get to this spot other than the way we just came?”
“There’s a service road about twenty yards over that rise,” she said, pointing in the general direction behind him. “The sheriff’s office is maybe a quarter of a mile beyond that.”
Even though there was probably two hours of daylight left, it was growing dark in the woods. And cold. Anne hugged herself and tried not to imagine what it would be like to have some evil monster carrying her in here to plant her body in the ground.
“I’m sorry,” Vince said, coming back to her. He shrugged out of his suit coat and draped it around her shoulders. It swallowed her up and smelled pleasantly of sandalwood soap and man. “You’re cold. Let me get you out of here. You’ve had a long week.”
“Yes. Starting right here.”
“It must have been quite a shock to you.”
“I suppose you’re used to it.”
