Field of Graves(59)

“Because nine times out of ten, you did.”

“Fine. Yes, we had a very late dinner. And drinks. Then a few more drinks. Happy now?”

“No, I want to hear the details. I have to live vicariously through your sex life, remember? Really, Sam, are you ever going to marry that guy?”

Sam got a sly look on her face. “Yeah, I think I might.” She held out her hand.

“Whoa, lookie there. Now that’s a rock! Are you serious? You guys really got engaged?” Taylor was hopping up and down, pulling Sam in a hug up and down with her.

“Yep. Last night. He finally asked. Properly, I mean.”

Taylor couldn’t stop grinning. Maybe the planets were finally aligning. “Oh God, I am so excited. Ooooh, and we get to have a bachelorette party! When are you going to do it?”

Sam was laughing. “God, T, I have no idea. One step at a time, you know. I gotta get used to the idea of being engaged first. It was so sweet, though. He actually got down on one knee. You’d think after all these years of saying we should get married, he’d toss a ring at me and say, ‘Come on, we have an appointment at city hall in thirty minutes.’ But he had a whole speech prepared and everything. Most of which I can’t remember. Roses, wine... I’m telling you, he really surprised me. And I just said yes before I had a chance to think. Something in my heart just told me it was time to quit thinking and start doing.”

“Oh, Sam.” Taylor had tears in her eyes. “It’s about time. I don’t think I can remember a time that Simon wasn’t head over heels for you, and you for him.” She started jumping up and down again. “Ahh, man. I gotta give that boy some shit. Let’s call him.”

“Let’s not. We have to get to work. Bodies are a-calling.”

Their joking ended abruptly and Taylor gave a huge sigh. “You had to remind me, didn’t you? Killjoy.” She handed Sam the manila folder with the dental X-rays nestled inside. Sam took them and started across the room.

“By the way, I almost forgot. I ran blood work on Jordan’s baby. I figured it would be easier to see if the blood type from the fetus was compatible with the semen before we went to the trouble and expense of having Simon run DNA. Quicker, too.”

“And?”

“Whoever raped Shelby wasn’t the father of Jordan’s baby. Statistical impossibility.”

Taylor tucked this morsel into the ever-growing database in her head on the murders. “Maybe he killed her because it wasn’t his baby,” she said softly.

“It’s a thought.”

They entered the autopsy suite. One of Sam’s assistants had already placed the burned-out husk on a stainless table, and was ready to start with the X-rays. Sam nodded to him, and he got to work.

Taylor went to the phone on the wall and dialed Price’s office. She was surprised when Baldwin picked up the line. “Captain Price’s office.”

“Baldwin. It’s Taylor. Why are you answering the phone?”

“Well, I’m sitting in his office doing nothing. Price got called out to a meeting for something or other, and no one else is here. I just figured...”

“No, that’s good. I was calling to talk to you anyway.”

“Oh.” He sounded faintly surprised. Taylor thought she heard a note of pleasure in the single word. She blushed. Sam, who was watching, raised an eyebrow. Taylor turned away from her, embarrassed to no end. She quickly became all business.

“Sam ran the blood type of Jordan’s fetus against the semen from Shelby. It wasn’t a match.”

Baldwin was silent a moment. “Maybe he killed her because it wasn’t his child.”

“Funny, I said the same thing. Listen, I’ve got to go. Sam’s signaling, she has the radiographs ready. I wanted you to know.”

“Thanks, Taylor. I’ll think on it. Let me know what you find out, okay? Wait a second, Lincoln just walked in, and he wants to talk to you.” He handed the phone over.

“Taylor?”

“I thought you were going home?”

“I know, I am. Real quick, though, I talked with the people at Magdalene House. They said Tammy Boxer was HIV positive. Will you let Sam know?”

“Ah. Will do. Thanks for everything, Lincoln. You’ve been a lifesaver. Bye.”

She hung up and turned back to Sam, expecting a chastising or brutal tease. Instead, Sam was standing in front of the radiograph view box, shaking her head.

“Heads up, Boxer is HIV positive. What’s wrong?”

Sam pointed at the radiograph. “I’ve got good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”

“The good news.”

“The good news is this isn’t Jill Gates.”

Taylor stood frozen, immobilized by the finding. “You’re sure?”

“No doubt about it. These dentals aren’t even close.”

“What’s the bad news?”

Sam turned to her friend, her mouth a grim line slashing her face. “The bad news is this is not Jill Gates.” She turned back to the view box. “Who are you, sweetheart?”

She and Taylor stared longingly at the radiographs as if the teeth would come to life and spell out the name of their owner. Taylor turned away and sat heavily on a hard-backed chair, leaning her arms on a built-in desk. As she put her head down, her cell rang.