cousin and former law partner.
“This is Ms. Smith,” Reid said. “Flame Smith, from
Wilmington.”
“Major Bryant,” she said, offering a firm handshake.
Up close, she was still gorgeous, if not quite as young
as her flowing hair, slender figure and tight jeans implied
at first glance. There were laugh lines around her wide
mouth and small crinkles radiated from eyes as green
as the snug sweater she wore beneath a beige leather
jacket.
“What can I do for y’all?” he asked when they were
seated.
Reid leaned forward. “That man, the one with his
legs in one place and his body in another—has he been
identified yet?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because my client has been missing for over a week
now and he fits the general description that’s been re-
leased to the media.”
Dwight frowned. “I thought you said Ms. Smith here
is your client.”
“Actually, I’m his client’s girlfriend,” said the redhead
in a smoky voice that seemed to have Reid enthralled.
“We were supposed to meet here in Dobbs this week
for his divorce settlement, but he never showed up and
I can’t find anyone who’s seen him lately. It’s weird to
think it might be Buck you’ve found, but if it is—”
133
MARGARET MARON
“I see,” said Dwight. “Does he have any identifying
marks that you know of?”
“Identifying marks?”
“Like a tattoo or scars or something?” Reid said help-
fully.
Flame Smith shook her head.
“Wait a minute!” said Reid. “Isn’t he missing the tip
of one of his fingers?”
“That’s right!” She held up a beautifully manicured
finger. Her long nails were painted a soft coral. “His
right index finger. It got caught in a piece of farm equip-
ment when he was a teenager.”
They looked at Dwight expectantly. The big deputy
frowned as he leafed through the file on the body. “The
right hand we found is missing the tip of the index fin-
ger, but it’s also missing some other joints.”
Flame Smith winced, but she did not go dramatic on
them. Dwight had the impression that this was a woman
who could, when necessary keep her emotions in check,
but he was willing to bet she could also take advantage
of a redhead’s reputation for a blazing tongue and tem-
