Page 97 of The Bone Code

A dog went berserk.

A moment, then a voice spoke over the frenzied yapping. “Goddammit, Axel. I’m gonna kick your scrawny butt from here to tomorrow.” Then, louder, “Hold on out there.”

The dog squealed, then began to whimper. After its cries receded, locks rattled, and the door opened.

Though even older and thinner, Digger France lived up to his online image. He wore jeans and a faded tee featuring an American flag. No shades, and the beard was now a scruffy goatee.

“Yes?” Scraggly brows raised in question.

“Digby France?”

“Ain’t heard that handle in years.”

“Digger?”

“That’s me. But you be looking for autographs, I don’t do that no more.” Not unfriendly but not offering a hand.

“I’m Detective Vislosky.” Flashing her badge.

France glanced at the shield, then his eyes lifted to me.

“Dr. Temperance Brennan,” I said, flashing nothing.

France crossed bony arms on his bony chest. “That jerklord Jensen send you?”

“No, sir.”

“I haven’t had a drop in over five years, so he can kiss my skinny patootie.”

“Very commendable, sir,” Vislosky said. “But that’s not the purpose of our visit.”

“Oh?”

“May we come inside?”

“Don’t normally have callers.”

“Do you have a granddaughter, Mr. France?”

I watched his face closely. Noticed a twitch in his right lower lid.

“Why you askin’ that?”

Vislosky kept her gaze steady on France.

A beat, then Digger sighed and stepped back. “Don’t mind Axel. He’s all holler and no foller-through.”

A short, dim hall made a right midway down its length and opened onto a small living room. The decor was startling.

The walls were apple-green. Chartreuse pillows accessorized a poppy-red couch flanked by orange leather recliners. The coffee and end tables were teal. A rainbow braided rug covered the floor.

The art consisted mostly of posters featuring the Digger France Band, each inside a garishly bright plastic frame. Interspersed with the posters were pictures of Jesus.

An aquarium the size of the Great Barrier Reef stretched the length of one wall. I recognized a spotted clown fish, a bicolor blenny, a lot of purple tangs.

A fuchsia guitar hung over a fireplace at the far end of the room. The hearth and bricks were painted a shocking carnation-pink.

The kaleidoscopic onslaught was almost overwhelming.