Part 26 (1/2)
I did. For a full five minutes. Then the woman came back on. She did not sound bored.
”May I ask how this skeleton came into your possession?”
”No.”
”Excuse me?”
”I'll explain the situation to the proper authority.”
”The IAA is the proper authority.”
”Who is the director, please?”
”Tovya Blotnik.”
”Perhaps I should speak with Mr. Blotnik.”
”He's gone for the day.”
”Is it possible to reach-”
”Dr. Blotnik dislikes interruptions at home.”
For some reason, I felt reluctant to divulge the full story. Jake's admonition not to call before contacting him? LaManche's reference to international relations? Irrational gut reaction? I didn't know, but there it was.
”I mean no disrespect. But I would prefer to speak with the director.”
”I am physical anthropologist for the IAA. If the bones are to come here, Dr. Blotnik will direct me to handle the transaction.”
”And you are?”
”Ruth Anne Bloom.”
”I'm sorry, Dr. Bloom, but I'll need verification from the director.”
”That's a highly unusual request.”
”I'm still making it. This is a highly unusual skeleton.”
Silence.
”May I have your contact information?” Glacial.
I gave Bloom my cell and lab phone numbers.
”I'll pa.s.s on the message.”
I thanked her and hung up.
Logging back on to the Internet, I Googled Tovya Blotnik. The name came up in conjunction with several articles addressing a controversy over an ancient stone coffin called the James ossuary. In each, Blotnik was cited as director-general of the IAA.
Okay. Blotnik was kosher. So why the hindbrain heads-up to be cautious with Bloom?
The fact that Lerner and Ferris thought the skeleton in my lab was Jesus Christ? The fact that Jake asked me not to do what I was doing?
I wasn't sure. But again, there it was.
I was shooting the last few pictures of Morissonneau's skeleton when Ryan reappeared, looking like the cat that swallowed Big Bird. I waved him into the lab.
”They've got him,” he said.
”I'll bite,” I said.
”Hershel Kaplan.”
”How'd they catch him?”
”Genius failed to pay for a bauble.”
”He stole something?”
”Slipped a necklace into his pocket. All a terrible mistake. He intended to pay.”
”Of course. What now?”
”I'd like to haul his a.s.s back to Canada.”
”Can you do that?”
”Not unless we charge him. Then we can formally request extradition through external affairs.”
”Have you got enough to charge him?”
”No.”
”He'd fight it anyway.”
”Yes.”
Ryan chin-gestured the skeleton. ”What's happening with Masada Max?”
”Carbon fourteen puts his birthday somewhere around the time of the Bethlehem star.”
”No s.h.i.+t.”
”I'm trying to send him back to Israel.”
I told Ryan about my conversation with the IAA.