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Jax said, “We’re ready.”
Kenna finished the potatoes that had come with her eggs while she listened to Maizie.
“Elizabeth and Craig have finished going over the medical research paper. It wasn’t written by this Doctor Buzard guy, but if those lawyers included it, then maybe it covers what he did to you. Basically, this process replaces the marrow in your bones with bone, making them dense to the point they will become nearly solid where they’re actually supposed to bend and be flexible—to an extent. Instead, this will make them more brittle. So they can shatter really easily.”
Kenna didn’t want to reach for her water glass and betray the shakiness of her hands.
Jax had an eye on her, probably trying to gauge how she felt about this whole thing. “Is there a way to reverse it?”
Maizie said, “They told me Kenna should go get a bone density test. To see if that is what he did to her. The process of genetic modification will make your bones denser, but there are drawbacks. They think he sped up the body’s natural processes so that she has built stronger and denser bones with no marrow in the center. Problem is, she won’t produce red blood cells, which is bad. She’ll need a calcium-rich diet or some kind of drug or fluid that is packed with bone-building nutrients.”
“Maybe that’s what they did the other day. Gave me another treatment so I feel better.” Kenna had to clear her throat, and then she told Maizie about the scene they had just gone to. “Can you find out if there have been any similar cases the police have investigated? Scenes where the body was there but destroyed beyond any ability to identify them or discover how they really died.”
“What about people who just went missing? What if they were never found?”
Kenna said, “Keep it to people who inexplicably went missing. Because with those who are regularly missing, there would be too much risk that they might get found. Therefore, we can probably rule them out. We have to narrow it down somehow.”
The men they’d just met at that retirement home were the kind who would take care of an issue in a way they could be certain of no blowback. Just like with that fire. They’d wanted to get rid of the evidence of what Kenna had done, so they’d taken and disposed of that horrible woman. No way they’d leave their secrets to chance when someone might discover who they were.
If she went after the doctor for real, would they stop her?
“On it,” Maizie said. “I also have a lead for you on Nicola Santorini’s disappearance.”
Jax’s brows rose.
Kenna asked, “What is it?”
“First, Craig found evidence that the Santino crime family has made moves to leave Vegas and go down to Phoenix. Presumably because Nicola is gone, and they want to find out what happened to her. So keep your eyes peeled for them. He said things could get ‘sticky’ if you tangle with the mob.”
“Again.” It had happened before.
Jax’s lips twitched.
Maizie said, “Nicola has a roommate. It’s not official. The girl isn’t listed on the lease. But her best friend from high school got into drugs and alcohol. I found a newspaper article about a car crash when she was seventeen. She’d been driving drunk. Thankfully, no one else was hurt, but the friend—her name is Dana Barrett—went to rehab after that. She’s been in and out ever since and stays with Nicola when she’s doing well.”
“You think she might know what happened to the doc?”
Maizie said, “Her cell phone use has her at Nicola’s house all afternoon and evening the day she went missing, but no one has seen Dana since. The rehab facility she checks herself into won’t tell me if she’s there or not.”
“We’ll check it out. Thanks, Maizie.”
Jax said, “Everything else okay, kiddo?”
“Yeah.”
Kenna knew that tone. “Do your homework.”
“Ugh.” Maizie groaned the word. “Your stuff is way more interesting.”
“Then it’ll be a treat after you’ve finished your homework.”
“Fine.” Maizie hung up.
Jax handed Kenna back the other earbud, and she put both in the case.
“You’re good with her,” he said.
“It’s weird having a teen, but I’m not her mother. We’re an odd mix of friends and parent and child.”