Page 146 of The Bone Code

“Did he do anything suspicious?” Unable to remain quiet.

“Before alighting, the gentleman poured a dark liquid onto the asphalt from the car’s open door.”

“The remains of his coffee.”

Claudel paused, to annoy or chastise me.

“Charbonneau observed a broken fog light above the Lexus’s right bumper and fresh paint on its left front panel.”

I felt my heart spiking.

“He also noted a windshield sticker indicating membership in the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club.”

“Holy freakin’ hell! Murray has a boat. Are you going to arrest him?”

“Based on what, Dr. Brennan? Poor auto maintenance and a fondness for sailing?”

“Melanie and Ella may have been dumped from a boat!”

“Or a bridge, a ramp, a dock, or a cliff.”

Claudel was right. I was overreacting. And making a gargantuan leap. I calmed my voice and dragged my thoughts back onto track.

“Didn’t SIJ collect paint chips at the bus stop on Laurier? Record skid marks? Getsomethingto match to a suspect car?”

“As you may recall, the street was wet from the rain.”

“What now?”

“My partner will keep eyes on Murray. I’ll visit the Royal St. Lawrence in Dorval.”

“Back in 2006, Ryan canvassed every marina and yacht club within fifty miles of the spot the container washed ashore in Saint-Anicet.”

“I’m sure he did.”

Vislosky was “A.M. Radio’s” next announcement.

She opened with, “You still got that book?”

“I—what?”

“The kid’s journal.”

“Harmony Boatwright’s diary?”

“Journal, diary. Whatever.”

Crap. I did.

“Yes.”

“I need it back in the file.”

“When?”

“Yesterday.”

Shit.