Page 67 of Evil Bones
“My art is a unique blend of life and death.”
“Art?” Slidell’s eyes were now crimped with disgust. “And where is it you get ‘supplies’?”—hooking air quotes—“for this art? It sure as shit ain’t Michaels.”
“I scout rural areas. Roadsides. State and county parks.”
The spots threw the same aquamarine light across Norwitz’s face that they cast on the wall behind him. I couldn’t help but think that the illumination made him look ghoulish.
Slidell hit Norwitz with the usual rundown of cop questions. Where were you when the remains appeared on the Frog Pond tree? On the day Bear disappeared? At the time Eleanor Godric’s grave was disturbed?
Norwitz was unsure of his whereabouts but promised to consult his calendar. Which was at his place of business. Which was a two-person accounting firm.
Uncertain what Slidell’s motives might be—perhaps to shock andpry loose info—I watched as he pulled a printout from his pocket and held it in front of Norwitz’s face.
From my angle I could see that it was a photo taken during the Godric autopsy.
Norwitz glanced at the image. Quickly away.
“Terrible,” he said, swallowing hard.
“You know anything about that?” Slidell asked, eyes narrow.
Norwitz answered with a slow shake of the head.
“You sure on that?”
“One hundred percent. That’s not a sight I would ever forget.”
CHAPTER 15
“That sonofabitch is so dirty I can smell the stink coming off his skin,” Slidell said as we crossed the lawn outside.
“Guilty of what?”
“For starters, doodling dead animals.”
“Taxidermy does not equate to bestiality.”
I waited for Slidell to unlock the Trailblazer’s doors.
“That ain’t what I’m saying,” he continued, sliding behind the wheel.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying the guy ain’t right.”
“That’s harsh.”
“Killing helpless animals is harsh.”
It seemed pointless to pursue the conversation, so I let it go.
“Now what?” I asked, buckling my belt, then lowering my window to encourage the circulation of air already smelling of Skinny.
Slidell considered, left hand on the wheel, right index finger corkscrewing in his right ear.
“Now we talk to the NOK.”
Next of kin?“Haven’t we already done that?” I asked, thinking he meant Bear.
