Page 60 of Evil Bones
Millie watched us warily, growling low in her throat.
“Don’t bite the nice policemen,” Bright said, stroking the dog’s head. “We may need to cite them for harassment.”
“You’re a real cocky guy.” Slidell’s voice had that edge.
“I try. Look,detective, I get it. I’m registered. Give me the date of the current incident. I’ll tell you where I was, and you can be on your way.”
Cocky doesn’t play well with Slidell. Seeing color blossoming in both his cheeks, I spoke up.
“We’re looking into a series of pet disappearances.” I left it at that.
“What in the world does that have to do with me?”
I explained the decorated remains. Bear’s killing and beheading. The missing body parts. Kumar’s suspicion that the displays had a sexual component. All the while watching for a reaction.
“Ghastly.” Accompanied by a theatrical shudder. “But getting it on with dead animals isnotmy thing.”
Either Bright was a world-class actor, or the man was genuinely not involved in what I’d described.
“The pattern fit the bill for any of your pals?” Slidell asked.
“I don’t have ‘pals,’ detective.” Digging into a pocket, Bright withdrew a treat and offered it to his dog.
Slidell cut me a sidelong glance. I knew the message. While he continued the interview, I looked around.
Saw nothing amiss.
Except the dreadful décor.
We’d just buckled our seat belts when Slidell’s mobile buzzed. He pressed it to his ear, effectively muffling the caller’s voice.
“Yo.”
Skinny listened, face revealing nothing.
“How long ago?”
Pause.
“Which one?”
Longer pause.
“You’ve contacted next of kin?”
A few more exchanges, monosyllabic on Slidell’s part, then he disconnected.
Perhaps to annoy me, perhaps digesting what he’d just learned, Slidell said nothing until we’d gone several blocks.
“That was your boss,” Skinny finally piped up.
“Dr. Nguyen?”
“No. The head of MI5.”
I bit back a snarky reply.
“She’s got a possible ID on the remains dumped at the tree.”
