Alone (Bone Secrets, #4)(59)

Mason looked at the blue pen in his hand and slowly set it aside. He needed to look over the reports from the medical examiner. How would Dr. Rutledge describe the pen jammed in Lorenzo’s ear? His stomach did a slow roll. The lab should have the original pen by now, and no doubt it was in a long line of backed-up evidence waiting to be processed.

Mason adjusted his reading glasses and dug to find his notes from the Cavallo house. It was rare that he didn’t trust his memory with scene recall, but he had to admit he’d been a bit distracted during this particular case. The pen jammed in the ear had rattled him. And the absolute loneliness of the home. He hated the thought that Lorenzo had died alone without contact from his family for years. He scanned his notes. Nothing jumped out at him. The follow-up with the family members was the priority. Where the f*ck were they? Why hadn’t they called back?

Ray hung up the phone. “No one has inquired about Cavallo.” His tone was grim.

Mason felt nauseous. That old man. Living alone for years and now the abandonment continued in death. Anger flared in his chest. “Jesus Christ. Give me the numbers you have for those kids of his. I’ll have a word with them.”

Ray handed him a slip of paper. “I’m stunned. What would drive away an entire family?”

“It’d have to be something big for all five kids to shun their father. Seems like there’s always one who will look out for the parent no matter what the feud is.”

“But remember when we talked to him? He spoke of his kids like he saw them every day. That was a proud father. Apparently the kids aren’t reciprocating the feelings.”

“If they’re still breathing, I intend to find out why.”

“Christ. I didn’t think of that.”

“What?”

“Maybe something’s happened at their homes, too.”

Mason froze as the number he’d called rang and rang in his ear. He’d been using an expression of speech with his comment about breathing, but Ray had an excellent point. “No one’s answering this one. I’ll try the rest, but get their addresses and get someone to check on their homes immediately. Are they local?”

“I think at least two of them are.” Ray looked pale.

“Figure out where the other phone numbers are located and we’ll get the local departments to check on them.” Mason swallowed hard, images of more pens floating in his head. “You said you talked to someone at one of the homes?”

“Yes, I assume it was a wife.” Ray was already dialing dispatch.

Mason wiped at his forehead. Hopefully the numbers Ray had were landlines. That’d make the addresses easier to search. Christ. He didn’t want more deaths associated with this case. He dialed the other number and listened to it ring.

Why no voice mail or answering machine?

“Hello?” A woman’s quiet voice answered after countless rings.

Mason rattled off his identity and asked to speak to Mr. Cavallo.

“I’m sorry, he is very sick and can’t speak on the phone right now. May I take a message?” The voice was all politeness.

“Are you who my partner, Ray Lusco, spoke to the other day? And asked to have him call us back?”

“Yes, I spoke to a police officer the other day. My husband is still sick.”

“Mrs. Cavallo, are you aware your husband’s father, Lorenzo Cavallo, was murdered? We are trying to notify the family.”

The phone was silent and Mason wondered if she’d hung up.

“Yes.” The woman paused. “We’d heard.”

Mason waited. That was all she had to say? “Who is going to claim his body? He’s still at the morgue.”

The woman paused again. “Do we have to?”

Mason straightened in his chair. “What?”

“Are we legally obligated to do something? Just because we’re related?”

He was speechless. “Ah… I don’t think so. Your husband won’t feel differently?”

She gave a humorless laugh. “I’m positive. He hasn’t spoken to his father in years.”

“Perhaps one of the other brothers will want to take charge.”

The laugh again. “That is doubtful, but you’re welcome to try.”

Mason tightened his grip on the phone. “Mrs. Cavallo, I don’t understand. When I spoke with your father-in-law a few days ago, he seemed very proud of his children. He mentioned them several times. What happened to this family?”

“I’m sorry, Detective Callahan. I can’t help you.”

The phone clicked in his ear.

He slowly set the receiver back in its holder. What had Lorenzo Cavallo done to his sons?

“You reach someone?” Ray asked.

“Yeah.” Mason relayed the odd conversation.

“What the hell?” Ray wrinkled his forehead. “I don’t understand.”

“That makes two of us.”

“I’m still sending a uniform over there,” Ray added. “I want someone to actually lay eyes on and talk to these fabulous sons of Lorenzo’s, so we know they’re still breathing.”

“Good idea,” muttered Mason. Had all the sons turned their backs on their father? What could cause that kind of divide in a family?

“What the hell?” Ray muttered, staring at his computer screen. “Did you look at this email from Victoria Peres?”