Back to the garden, p.32
Back to the Garden,
p.32
“Well, that explains the state of Kirkup’s skull. Anyway, his lawyer is asking about a plea bargain.”
“What, second degree? God, don’t tell me they’re thinking manslaughter.”
“No, sounds like he’s willing to do the full time if the DA promises prison camp rather than high security.”
“I suppose waiving a trial would make things easier on the Estate.”
“How’s Ms. Bachus?”
“She’s good. Back at work. Mrs. Dalhousie has all kinds of ideas for the Midsummer Eves statue.”
They talked about Jen and Mrs. Dalhousie, about Al’s summer plans with his grandchildren, and about some recent happenings with mutual friends in the Department. She made him laugh recounting her conversation with Meadow-turned-Eve, who’d seen nothing odd about a life’s path from law office to rock music to organic commune to European art world and back to organic greens. “It’s all been about making the world a better place, hasn’t it?” she’d told Raquel, and admitted that she might be returning to the Bay Area for a while, before too long.
Al then caught her up on the work of the Highwayman group and its rivalry-slash-cooperation with the actual task force. She offered suggestions for officers the Department might train to take her place when it came to mind reading in the interrogation room. They touched lightly on Raquel’s own thoughts about her future—although neither of them brought up Dee and how much her shadowy world might be involved.
When their cups were empty for the last time, Raquel reached under her seat for a carrier bag, laying it on the table between them.
“And here’s for you,” she told him. “One last piece of unfinished business.”
He lifted the edge of the bag, and saw the distinctive cover of an old murder book.
After all these years, the SFPD could put Polly Lacewood to rest.
To the Independents: booksellers, thinkers, and spirits. You inspire me.
Afterword / Thanks
Thanks to everyone who helped dig an author out of a hard time with this one, especially Karen Lynch (Good Cop, Bad Daughter, find her at http://www.karenrlynch.com), whose patience and eye for detail prove how good she was as a street cop and Homicide investigator in the SFPD. And Inspector Daniel Cunningham, also of the SFPD, who fit my questions in among some serious breaking investigations of his own. Dr. Judy Melinek and her partner T. J. Mitchell (Working Stiff; First Cut; Aftershock) were similarly generous with their time and expertise in the field of forensic pathology, and are missed here in Northern California.
It need hardly be said, none of these people are to blame for any mistakes, even willful ones, on the part of the author. If a department or jurisdiction doesn’t do things the way they’re described here, well, I’m sorry.
And as always, my gratitude to the energy, talent, and goodwill of the various parts of Team LRK: my agent, Alec Shane, my friends and beta readers Alice, Merrily, Karen, Sabrina, Erin, John, Mary Alice, Anna, Zoë, and all of the Beekeeper’s Apprentices on Facebook. And of course, the ladies and gents of Penguin Random House, who believe in my stories: Hilary, Erin, Allison, Kim, Melissa, Emma, Caroline, Jessica, Rachel, and a thousand others, as well as my buddies at Recorded Books, especially Brian Sweany and Jenny Sterlin.
Bless, too, the booksellers and librarians, determined to put words into the hands of readers.
It truly takes a small city to raise a book onto the shelves.
BY LAURIE R. KING
MARY RUSSELL
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice
A Monstrous Regiment of Women
A Letter of Mary
The Moor
O Jerusalem
Justice Hall
The Game
Locked Rooms
The Language of Bees
The God of the Hive
Beekeeping for Beginners (A Novella)
Pirate King
Garment of Shadows
Dreaming Spies
The Marriage of Mary Russell (A Novella)
The Murder of Mary Russell
Mary Russell’s War and other stories of suspense
Island of the Mad
Riviera Gold
Castle Shade
STUYVESANT & GREY
Touchstone
The Bones of Paris
KATE MARTINELLI
A Grave Talent
To Play the Fool
With Child
Night Work
The Art of Detection
Beginnings (A Novella)
AND
A Darker Place
Folly
Keeping Watch
Califia’s Daughters (as Leigh Richards)
Lockdown
Back to the Garden
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laurie R. King is the award-winning, bestselling author of seventeen Mary Russell mysteries, five contemporary novels featuring Kate Martinelli, and many acclaimed stand-alone novels such as Folly, Touchstone, The Bones of Paris, and Lockdown. She lives on California’s Central Coast, where she is at work on her next Mary Russell mystery.
LaurieRKing.com
Facebook.com/LaurieRKing
Twitter: @LaurieRKing and @Mary_Russell
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Laurie R. King, Back to the Garden
