Page 31 of Fire and Bones

“Irrelevant. I’m filthy and exhausted and ill-disposed to guessing games.”

“The Doyles of Richmond, Virginia, pour millions into various philanthropic foundations established at their direction. The Jordan V. Doyle Foundation for Literacy. The Abigail Harmony Doyle Foundation for Coastal Conservation. The Ivy and Timothy Doyle Foundation for the Abatement of Childhood Hunger. Th—”

As she rattled off names, my memory cells grudgingly admitted to knowledge of the topic. To having heard of the charities on NPR, another of the Doyles’ favored beneficiaries.

My higher centers crafted a startling realization.

Ivy Doyle came from money. The very big, very old, very powerful kind.

Factoids clicked in.

Back in the day, J. V. Doyle—a great, great, great someone and founder of the lineage—earned his fortune growing tobacco. Acres of the stuff. J.V.’s descendants managed the plantations well, but also diversified and invested in other ventures. Today the Doyle family was involved in multiple enterprises, including companies that owned and operated radio and television stations around the globe.

“You’re saying Ivy really does have room for me?”

“Duh. Yeah.”

“She won’t insist on talking all the time?”

“Ivy reads an audience well.”

“Got it.”

“Let me know how it goes.”

“Will do. Thanks.”

I returned to the kitchen. Doyle’s attention was again focused on her mobile.

“So. Did I check out?” Question posed with a grin, but also with a hint of something else beneath.

“Busted.” I felt my cheeks redden under the grime. “Katy gives you a two-thumbs-up.”

Doyle waggled the paper cylinder.

“Guess what I have?”

Christ. Was everyone playing the twenty-questions game?

“Kerouac’s on-the-road scroll?”

Doyle ignored my sarcasm. “The architectural plans for this building.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep.”

“I’m impressed.” I was.

“They’re photocopies, but the detail is pretty good.”

“Where did you find the originals?”

“The Recorder of Deeds is located on Fourth Street Southwest. Are you hungry?”

“Does a dog have three eyelids?”

Eyes crimping slightly, Doyle said, “We can study the layout while we eat. Is there anything you don’t like?”

---