Page 54 of Evil Bones
“We really have to stop this.”
“Yes.” Adina agreed. “Before it gets fowl.”
I squelched every poultry pun that came to mind.
“Are you certain it’s the same guy?” Adina asked after a brief pause.
“One missing body part. Similar paint, feathers, and glitter. The lab has everything, but I’ll bet my grannie’s goat the analysis shows a match.”
“Your grannie has a goat?”
“Call the coroner.” Eyes rolling. “I may die laughing.”
That joke fell flat. After several beats, Adina asked,
“Could it be a copycat?”
“What’s the fun there?”
“Take over someone else’s fetish and up the stakes.”
“I suppose anything’s possible,” I said, chewing on that. “Listen. Can I ask you a question?”
“Lay it on me.”
“Slidell has totally embraced something you said to him. He’s convinced these displays are erotic in nature and is drilling down on sex offenders to the exclusion of everyone else.”
“The man has succumbed to monovision in the past.”
“Nicely phrased.”
“I have medical training.”
“Based on what I’ve told you, is there anything else you can say about the doer?” I asked, hoping for a shred of a lead.
“Brief me again on the pattern.”
I did, then waited out another, longer silence.
“As before, this is strictly off the record,” Adina said at last.
“Understood.”
“I’m guessing your guy is a homely little dude who gets very little sex. Perhaps none at all.”
“So, Slidell’s correct? Itisabout sex?”
“Only indirectly. I still think it’s really about control. The guy has no power over women, or men, whichever side he plays. No controlover people in general. But hedoesfeel in charge when dealing with animals.”
“Only now he’s displaying human remains.”
“At risk of repeating myself, that’s troubling.”
I heard heavy footsteps in the corridor.
“Gotta go. I believe Detective Dimwit is in the house.”
“Enjoy.”
