Ashes to Dust (Las Vegas Mystery)

with the alligator loafers.”
    She laughed. “Sharkskin suits went out with plaid bell-bottoms. The only suit you own is the black one you bought from J. C. Penney for your mother’s funeral.”
    Snow took another sip of coffee. “I can’t wear that. If I spill my lunch on it and somebody dies, I’ll be in a bind.”
    “I don’t care what you wear, Jim, as long as it’s not a T-shirt, or your pajamas, or Bermuda shorts. What time do you think you’ll get here?”
    “An hour. Maybe a little more. Did you have a chance to look at Laura’s cell phone records?”
    “I did, and I found something interesting.”
    “Which is?”
    “A lot of calls to her dentist’s cell phone. More than thirty in the two weeks leading up to Laura’s death. I called the number on the statement and talked to him. He’s the one who supplied the dental X-rays to the crime lab.”
    “That makes sense, since he was her dentist.”
    “Thirty phone calls in two weeks,” Alice declared. “I wonder what else he was to her?”
    “I’m thinking of a bad joke,” Snow said.
    “Drill, baby, drill?”
    “You read my mind.”
    “Jim, it doesn’t take a psychic to figure that one out. Anyway, the dentist’s name is Andrew Tully, and he says he’ll be home all day. I told him we’d probably stop by in the afternoon. Does that fit your schedule?”
    “Perfect. I’ll see you in a bit.”
    Snow disconnected the call and dialed another number. He didn’t expect Leon Stapper, the CEO of Dep Tech, to answer. Though Snow was sure he would be in today. Probably sitting there right now at his desk in the heart of Silicon Valley , Snow thought. Sifting through paperwork and e-mail messages.
    The recorded voice of his executive assistant came on the line. Snow left a message and waited.
    Fifteen minutes later, Snow’s phone rang. It was Leon Stapper. He sounded a little anxious. “You left me a message about Corina?”
    “Who is Corina?” Snow asked.
    His voice grew louder. “My daughter! You left a message saying you needed to talk to me about my daughter.”
    “Oh. My mistake,” Snow said. “I should have been more specific. You have a daughter named Alice?”
    Silence. Snow waited a few seconds. “Mr. Stapper? You have a daughter named Alice James?”
    Finally he answered, his voice low. “How do you know about her? Who are you?”
    “I’m Jim Snow—”
    “Yes, I already know that,” he snapped. “How do you know Alice?”
    “She’s a close friend,” Snow said. “I work with her.”
    Stapper hesitated for a moment. “Is she alright?”
    “She’s fine—thriving in fact.”
    Stapper sighed. “I’m glad to hear that; it’s been a long time. Where are you? What is she doing now—for a living?”
    “Las Vegas,” Snow replied. “She was a homicide detective here, a good one. Spent quite a few years on the force. We recently started a private investigation firm together.”
    Stapper’s voice evened out—his daily business voice. “The two of you need money? Is that why you called?”
    “Money is a little tight right now, as to be expected, but we’re fine. That’s not why I called.”
    Stapper said nothing.
    “I called,” Snow continued, “because she talks about you all the time. I just wanted you to know that it would mean a great deal to her to be able to talk to you. It’s obvious that you’re on her mind a lot.”
    “Oh…well…that’s good to know. I’ll have to give her a call when I get a chance.”
    “She’s in the office right now,” Snow suggested. “She’s there alone; it would be the perfect time to call her. Would you like the number?”
    “I’m a little busy right now,” Stapper insisted. “Well, hell, I’m always busy. Why not. Go ahead—I’ve got a pen here.”
    “Now, there is one thing I’d like you to do for me, Mr. Stapper…”
    “Certainly.”
    “Don’t tell her I called you.”
    “How do I explain how I got her work number?”
    “Oh yeah, I didn’t think of that,” Snow said. “Well, tell her you got the number from a private detective. Then it won’t even be a lie. She can assume you hired one to find her.”

With butterflies fluttering about inside his stomach, Snow opened the front door to the suite of offices, hurried past the vacant reception area, turned right, and strode down the hallway into Alice’s office.
    Standing in front of her desk, he put his hands on his hips and let out a breath. “Sorry I’m late,” he said.
    She nodded,