Part 14 (1/2)

After working out I picked up bagels and cream cheese, and a few goodies to go on top of the cream cheese. I also made an impulse buy at the flower cart. Birdie had largely abandoned me since Kit's arrival, so I'd lure back his affection with a catnip plant.

Neither the bagels nor the catnip were very effective. My nephew appeared around one-fifteen, the cat trailing languidly behind.

”Utter no sentence that includes the phrase 'early bird,' or 'dawn,'” said Kit.

”Bagel?”

”Acceptable.”

”Cream cheese, smoked salmon, lemon, onions, capers?”

”Delete capers. Run program.”

Birdie eyed the catnip but said nothing.

As Kit ate, I laid out the options.

”It's a gorgeous day out there. I suggest outdoor activities.”

”Agreed.”

”We can take in the Jardin Botanique, prowl around up on the mountain, or I can scare up some bicycles and we can hit the old port, or pedal the path along the Lachine Ca.n.a.l.”

”Do they allow skates?”

”Skates?”

”Rollerblades. Can we rent some in-lines and do this bike path?”

”I think so.” Oh boy.

”I'll bet you're a popper on Rollerblades. Harry's pretty good.”

”Um. Huh. Why do you call your mom Harry?”

I'd always been curious. Since he first started speaking, Kit had referred to his mother by name.

”I don't know. She's not exactly Little House on the Prairie Little House on the Prairie.”

”But you've done it since you were two years old.”

”She wasn't domestic back then. Don't change the subject. Are you up for in-line skating?”

”Sure.”

”You're a can o' corn, Aunt Tempe. Let me grab a shower and we're on our way.”

It was close to a perfect day. I started out rocky but quickly picked up the rhythm, and was soon gliding along as if born on skates. It brought back memories of roller-skating on city sidewalks as a little girl and the several times I had almost hit pedestrians or skated into the paths of cars. The suns.h.i.+ne brought out swarms of jocks, crowding the path with cyclists, skateboarders, and other in-line skaters. Though shaky on turns, I learned to maneuver well enough to avoid collisions. The only skill I didn't master was that of the sudden stop. Drag brakes for skates had not been invented when I was a kid.

By the end of the afternoon I was sailing along smooth as Black Magic I Black Magic I in the America's Cup. Or s.h.i.+t through a mallard, as Kit put it. I did insist, however, on wearing enough padding to defend an NHL goal. in the America's Cup. Or s.h.i.+t through a mallard, as Kit put it. I did insist, however, on wearing enough padding to defend an NHL goal.

It was after five when we turned in the skates and pads and headed to Chez Singapore for an Asian dinner. Then we rented The Pink Panther The Pink Panther and and A Shot in the Dark A Shot in the Dark and laughed as Inspector Clouseau demonstrated how one could be both part of the solution and part of the problem. The movies were Kit's choice. He said the French immersion would acclimatize him to Montreal. and laughed as Inspector Clouseau demonstrated how one could be both part of the solution and part of the problem. The movies were Kit's choice. He said the French immersion would acclimatize him to Montreal.

Not until I lay in my bed, tired and achy and full of popcorn, did I even remember the eye. I tossed and turned, trying not to picture the object in my refrigerator and the evil person who put it on my car.

Monday was still warm, but dark clouds had gathered over the city. They hung low, trapping a loose fog close to the ground, and forcing drivers to use headlights.

Arriving at work, I took the jar to the biology section and made a request. I didn't explain the source of the specimen, and they didn't ask. We gave the sample an unregistered number, and the technician said she'd call with results.

I had a suspicion about the eye's origin, which I hoped was wrong. The implications were just too frightening. I held on to the note, pending the a.n.a.lysis.

The morning meeting was relatively brief. The owner of a Volvo dealers.h.i.+p was found hanged in his garage, a suicide note pinned to his chest. A single-engine plane had gone down in St-Hubert. A woman had been pushed from the Vendome metro platform.

Nothing for me.

Back in my office, I logged on to my terminal. Using anthropologie, squelette, inconnue, femelle anthropologie, squelette, inconnue, femelle, and partiel partiel as my descriptors, I searched the database for cases consisting of unidentified partial female skeletons. The computer came up with twenty-six LML numbers spanning the past ten years. as my descriptors, I searched the database for cases consisting of unidentified partial female skeletons. The computer came up with twenty-six LML numbers spanning the past ten years.

Using that list, I asked for all cases lacking a skull. That worked for remains received since I'd been at the LML. Prior to that, complete bone inventories hadn't been done. Skeletal cases were simply designated partial or complete. I highlighted the cases recorded as partial.

Next, using the list of incomplete skeletons a.n.a.lyzed during my tenure, I requested those lacking femora.

No go. The data had been entered as skull present or absent, postcranial remains present or absent, but specific bones had not been recorded. I would have to request the actual files.

Wasting no time, I walked down the hall to the records department. A slim woman in black jeans and a peasant blouse occupied the front desk. She was almost monochromatic, with bleached hair, pale skin, and eyes the shade of old dishwater. Her only signs of color were cherry red streaks around her temples, and a sprinkling of freckles across her nose. I was unable to count the number of studs and rings displayed in each of her ears. I'd never seen her before.

”Bonjour. Je m'appelle Tempe Brennan.” I held out my hand, introducing myself. I held out my hand, introducing myself.

She nodded, but offered neither a hand nor name.

”Are you new?”

”I'm a temp.”

”I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met.”

”Name's Jocelyn Dion.” One shoulder shrugged.

O.K. I dropped my hand.

”Jocelyn, this is a list of files I need to review.”

I handed her the printout and indicated the highlighted numbers. When she reached for the paper I could see definition through the gauzy sleeve. Jocelyn spent time at the gym.

”I know there are quite a few, but could you find out where the files are stored and pull them for me as quickly as possible?”