"No. Why? Do you mean The Lucky Pup?"
"Yes," Dean answered.
"The first time I heard mention of the name was when the litigation began. Paul was only interested in the beauty of the land. That was its value to him." She turned to Dean. "Is that where the bones were found?"
"Yes. Only I believe someone swapped them for a theatrical prop."
She laughed. "Now we're getting back to the absurd! I can see your problem, Mr. Dean. Getting someone to buy all this nonsense is going to take some campaigning!"
"So I'm finding out. But there was a real skeleton. I found a finger bone and had it authenticated as human. Look, I feel like a fool asking embarrassing questions, especially to someone as kind as you've been, but my wife and I promised a little girl we'd follow up on this. It's just a very frustrating situation."
She surprised him by taking his hand in hers. "I'm sorry I got hot when you questioned my parents, but that was too personal. My father Bill Radisson was a special person. He's dead now. He and Paul died in the same hospital, three days apart. They became great friends over the years. Both lost their wives to cancer and I think my father was a tad jealous but pleased our marriage made his friend and his daughter both so happy."
"It sounds as if you were very fortunate in your choice of a husband," Dean said honestly, but he noted she'd failed to answer his earlier question.
She changed the subject. "If your bones belong to someone who impregnated a young girl years ago, why do you care now? If someone wants to cover it up, let them. Why should you care?"
"I'm not sure I do, except I promised I'd track it down." He thought a moment. "No, that's not entirely so. To be honest, I don't like the idea of a murder going unanswered."
"Suit yourself. Frankly, I could care less who your bones belong to. But if it was some guy who took advantage of a high school kid, maybe he got what he deserved. End of case."
"You sound like my wife, but 'Any man's death diminishes me because I'm involved in mankind.'"
"I know John Donne," she said sharply. "But I like to paraphrase him. 'No man's death diminishes me because I won't let it!'"
Once again they lapsed into silence, but again Jennifer Radisson made no move to leave. Dean assumed she remained interested. "Tell me about the Dawkinses," he asked.
She looked at him. "They're pretty transparent, aren't they? Joseph thinks he's a big corporate executive but he's really only half a step above a clerk. Paul is an ex-athlete who's never grown up. Ginger had-maybe is still having-an affair with her husband's brother, and if she isn't sleeping with their attorney it isn't because neither isn't trying."