Page 79 of The Bone Code
“I received a sample for each of your Charleston vics.”
“Yes.”
“A femur from the older kid, a femur and some tissue from the younger.”
I didn’t interrupt.
“Despite the lengthy immersion in salt water, each was in pretty good condition. And you won’t believe this.”
“Try me.”
“Seems impossible, but traces of dried blood were preserved deep within the medullary cavity of the younger victim’s bone.”
“Enough to do an SNP genotype?”
“Damn tooting.”
“Enough to do a forensic genealogy analysis?”
“Enough to try.”
“Do it.”
Long silence. When Lizzie spoke again, she was clearly uncomfortable.
“Much as I’d like to, Tempe. I can’t slip another one through off the books.”
“I understand. How much?”
She quoted a price. A high one.
I didn’t hesitate.
“If the coroner won’t authorize funding, I’ll pay for the testing.”
“Good enough for me.”
Over the next few days, temperatures in Quebec went polar. Everyone commented on the unseasonable cold. In both languages. The French were particularly creative.Un froid de canard. Duck cold.Un vent à décorner les boeufs. A wind to dehorn the oxen.
Ryan and I stayed home and ordered a lot of takeout.
The world slowly rotated on its axis.
He healed.
I waited.
19
Tuesday, November 9
Dr. Aubrey Sullivan Huger.
It had been so long I’d stopped counting the days. And now there it was. A name. A link.
“Repeat that.” Grabbing pen and paper from the counter.
Lizzie did. “Dr. Aubrey Sullivan Huger.”
