Page 5 of The Unseen
“Her full name was Valentina, and Swift was my grandfather’s surname. I don’t know what her maiden name was. My grandfather was her second husband. He’s my mother’s father. Uncle Michael was my grandmother’s son from her first marriage, but he took his stepfather’s name when his mother remarried. He preferred it because it didn’t sound ethnic.”
“Are there any photographs of your grandparents?” Rhys asked as they returned to the parlor. “The viewers love to see what the real people looked like, and compare them to the actors in the episode.”
“My mum has some old photos. I can give you her phone number. She’ll be happy to talk to you.”
“That would be great,” Rhys said. “Please don’t touch anything until we return. It seems Dr. Scott is in the middle of an autopsy and won’t be finished for several hours. We’ll return tomorrow to box up the skeleton and collect samples, if that’s all right with you.”
“Yes, of course,” Melissa rushed to reassure them. “Whatever you need. Honestly, I just want it gone. I’ve had trouble sleeping since we discovered the remains. They creep me out.”
“One more night, and you’ll be rid of your tenant, Mrs. Glover.”
They said their goodbyes and left the Glovers’ house. Darren walked off to his van with strict instructions to return at ten o’clock tomorrow morning.
“Can I give you a lift home?” Rhys asked Quinn once they were in the street. His Range Rover was parked in front of the house, its black exterior slick with rain. The air had cooled and a brisk wind had picked up.
“Yes, please.”
Quinn closed her umbrella and climbed into the car, glad not to have to take the tube or hunt for a taxi. Her feet were damp and she was cold. She should have worn a warmer jumper.
“Are you hungry? I have time for lunch,” Rhys said as he pulled out of the parking space.
“Sorry, I have to get back. I only left enough breastmilk for one feeding.”
Ordinarily that type of confession would send Rhys running for the hills, but today he smiled and nodded in approval. “I hope Haley will decide to breastfeed. It’s so much better for the baby. And it’s kind of sexy too. I love seeing a woman nurse her infant.”
“Too much information, Rhys.”
“Right. Sorry.”
“Do you know if you’re having a girl or a boy?” Quinn asked. Normally, she’d refrain from asking too many personal questions, but Rhys liked nothing more than to talk about the coming baby.
“They couldn’t tell from the last scan. The baby had its legs crossed, but I’ll be happy with either.”
“No preference?” Quinn asked. Didn’t men always want sons, even these days when it wasn’t a question of inheriting titles and estates and carrying on the family name?
“Well, if I had to choose, I’d like a girl. I’ve always wanted to have a daughter.”
“Perhaps you will.”
“As long as the baby is healthy, I don’t care. I know people say that all the time, but it’s true. So many things can go wrong.”
“Yes,” Quinn agreed, thinking of Quentin and the heart murmur that had led to their separation at birth. Had Quentin been born healthy, perhaps Social Services would have kept the girls together and they’d have been adopted by the same couple. How different life might have been had Quinn grown up with her twin.
“So, what did you make of Melissa?” Rhys asked as he stopped at a red light.
“Seems nice. A bit flighty, I suppose.”
“I can’t stand people who know nothing of their own history,” Rhys vented. “If my grandmother came from Russia and had a genuine Fabergé necklace, I’d want to know how she came by it. Clearly, she was no peasant. There’s history there. Interesting history. And I can’t wait for you to fill me in on it.”
“And I will, but don’t rush me. First, I’d like to find out more about the skeleton and that white powder. Once we know more about the victim, genetically speaking, we can start to try to piece together what led to the murder.”
Rhys nodded. “I won’t rush you, I promise. I know you have your own process; I’m just fascinated by it. By the way, the first two episodes got excellent ratings.”
“I’m glad. I know how happy good ratings make you.”
“They should make you happy too. With the second series already in production and the popularity of the hotline, this program can go on for years.”
“Have you had many calls?” Quinn asked, amazed that anyone had called in at all. “I can’t imagine that people routinely trip over centuries-old skeletons.”
