Perry - Stoned to Death

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the authors imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or individuals - living or dead - is entirely coincidental.

2015 Meg Perry. All rights reserved .

The Jamie Brodie Mysteries

Cited to Death

Hoarded to Death

Burdened to Death

Researched to Death

Encountered to Death

Psyched to Death

Stacked to Death

High Desert (bonus short story included with Stacked to Death)

Stoned to Death

Low Country (bonus short story included with Stoned to Death)

Acknowledgements

A huge chunk of the credit for this book goes to Mary Baker, archaeologist, tour guide, and friend extraordinaire. Mary and I were driving past a peat-harvesting operation on Orkney when she said, You should write a book about a bog body. So I did. If you have an interest in archaeology and history in the UK and Ireland, Mary is your woman. She runs small, personalized tours at very reasonable prices. You can find her at http://www.archaeotours.co.uk/

Thank you as well to the McEwens, proprietors of the Sebay Mill self-catering apartments on Orkney. Mary and I spent five wonderful days there. I asked Mrs. McEwen if she would mind the apartments being featured in a mystery novel; she said shed love it. If you visit Orkney, I highly recommend staying there. http://www.sebaymill.co.uk/

Thank you to my intrepid traveling companions, Chris Gebhardt and Kristen Davis, who indulged me in a side trip from Hadrians Wall to Dumfries and Galloway last summer, and to the nice man at Dundrennan Abbey for not calling the police when we walked in without paying. (We didnt see the sign.) If you ever find yourself in that part of Scotland, be advised that Castle Douglas is a town, not a castle.

Thank you to the writing group - Becca, Bryan, Chris, Dustin, Maggie, Michael, Michael, and Michelle - for their critique and excellent (as always) suggestions.

As always, thank you to Stephanie at October Design Co. for the cover.

What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. Pericles

Diary of Dr. Conall Morgan

Edinburgh, 17 April 1913

Plans are complete for our dig on Shetland this summer. I expect it to be a waste of time, as I do not believe there is anything else to find at the site; however, I have been overruled by Dr. Wallace. As he will be leading the expedition himself, I have little recourse.

I would much prefer to remain in the Highlands. Six weeks in the midst of bloody Vikings, lacking amenities or proper meals, is not to my liking. However, lacking approval from the university, there will be no funding for a separate dig.

Bloody Wallace.

March

Los Angeles

So, youve been dreaming a lot about sex.

Dr. Tania Bibbins sipped tea as she perused the final pages of my dream journal. Id been seeing her since November for post-traumatic stress disorder, after witnessing a shooting. I was greatly improved sleeping soundly and free of nightmares for a month. Today was our final scheduled session.

I said, Yeah. Except for that one about teaching a dog to surf.

She smiled. Why do you think youre dreaming about sex?

My best guess? Because Im not getting it as often as Id like while Im awake.

As I remember, we talked about this once in couples therapy.

We did. At the time Pete was teaching an overload class, and we thought the situation would improve when he wasnt so busy anymore.

But it hasnt?

No. Were having sex about twice a week. Petes turning me down at least twice a week.

This must be frustrating for you.

I allowed myself a sigh. Its frustrating and depressing. Ive done everything I can dream up to stimulate his libido, and nothing works.

What have you tried?

Cards, flowers, candles and soft music, backrubs, meeting him at the door naked, even sexting him from the restroom at work when I know hes already home. At home Ive been hanging out in my underwear. I tried to convince him to watch porn with me a couple of times, but he said it reminded him of his abuse and didnt like it.

When Pete was fourteen he was sexually abused by his parish priest daily for six months. When he and I originally started dating, he told me that he never bottomed, but he hadnt told me why. Wed lived together for about six months when Id brought up the possibility of topping him. Hed said no - hed tried it once and didnt like it. Hed asked me if it was a deal-breaker for me, and Id told him no.

At the time Id still thought Id eventually be able to change his mind.

The next night hed told me about his abuse.

Now, Dr. Bibbins tapped her pen against her chin in thought. Are you still showering together?

Yes, and thats generally when we have sex. But weve been showering less at home, more often at the gym, to save water.

Last winter Pete was able to have penetrative sex with you in the spooning position. He says hes still doing that.

He is. About once a month.

How do you feel about that?

I spread my hands in a helpless gesture. Pete and I have been together for almost two years. I havent had penetrative anal sex in all that time, and I doubt I ever will again. This sounds horribly selfish, but Im not interested in being a receptacle for the rest of my life. I believe it creates a huge imbalance in our relationship and feeds Petes heteronormative tendencies. At this point, I dont care if we ever have anal sex again. Id be satisfied with a couple more blowjobs a week.

Have you discussed this with Pete?

No.

Why not?

I shrugged. Im afraid of making him feel guilty. I understand you cant divulge what Pete has told you in his sessions, but Im positive that hes still in therapy because he feels guilty about his limitations.

She didnt deny it. Hes in therapy because were still working on meeting the final goal of the four that you set together.

Overcoming our sexual incompatibility. Right. And I know he longs to achieve that goal. Im only saying, after all this time Im not betting on it.

Dr. Bibbins frowned. Its not like you to give up on a goal.

I laughed hollowly. First time for everything.

She closed my journal and handed it back to me. Dont admit defeat yet. Petes been working hard in his sessions, and I believe were close to a breakthrough. She gave me an encouraging smile. Hang in there. And continue to vary your seduction techniques. Youre doing a super job.

July 26

Somewhere over the Midwestern US

I think we should give up Coke.

Um - what?

Pete smiled patiently and repeated slowly. I think we should give up Coke.

I blinked. Id been reading Francis Pryors Britain BC , and the rapid transition from the Neolithic period to the interior of a British Airways A380 was a jolt. Okay, why?

Its nutritionally terrible. High fructose corn syrup, all those calories. And its expensive.

Thats always been true. Why now?

Timing. Itll be harder to find while were in the UK, right?

Only marginally. And there its made with sugar, not corn syrup.

Its an excellent opportunity to wean ourselves. Well have tea to drink every morning, right?

Right. I liked Coke a lot, but Pete was the true addict. Well give it a shot. If you start jonesing for it, we can always find some.

Deal. Pete settled back into his seat and picked up his e-reader. Id given it to him for his 39 th birthday, three weeks ago, in preparation for this vacation.

We were spending four weeks in the UK. Pete, an associate professor of psychology at Santa Monica College, had the summer off. Id worked at UCLAs Young Research Library for eight years and had only used a few vacation days here and there. Id accumulated so much vacation that I was going to start losing it if I didnt start using it.