Page 30 of The Bone Code

“I’ll reach out to the FBI, float queries to schools, check with the NCMEC.” Vislosky referred to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

For the next ten minutes, she laid out her game plan. It all sounded sadly familiar.

When Vislosky finished, I said, “These murders may have broader ramifications than you realize.”

“Meaning?”

I told her about the Montreal case.

Her reaction was what I expected.

8

Friday, October 8

Ryan called around five thirty. I was working at my laptop on the back deck. Anne was below me in the yard, arguing with a worker. Loudly.

“Bonjour, ma chère.”

“Hey.”

“What’s all the yelling?”

“One of Anne’s landscapers found a snake in a clump of sea oats. He wants to kill it. She’s advocating for catch and release.”

“What kind of snake?” Sounding like his sympathies lay with the guy with the rake.

“A harmless little ole blacksnake.” Doing my best Anne imitation, at a much lower volume.

“What are you up to?” Ryan asked.

“Creating reports for my coroner friend Herrin and that lawyer Thorn. While everything is fresh in my mind.”

“And a fresh mind it is.”

“Were you able to pull the file?”

“Tell me I’m a genius.”

“You’re a genius.”

“Tell me I’m your hero.”

“What did you find?”

“Babe.” Faux wounded.

“You’re my hero. What did you find?”

“Toute la patent.”

“The whole file?”

“La totale.”

“Ryan.” A note of impatience.

“Detectives’ notes and reports, anthropologist’s report, photos, some news clippings, the—”