Page 110 of Fire and Bones

“I talked to a colleague in Charlotte about you.”

“And who would that be?”

“A detective named Erskine Slidell.”

“Retired detective.” Largely true. Though Skinny still did the occasional case for the CMPD. Note to self: Update Skinny regarding Norbert Mirek.

“Detective Slidell has an interesting take on you.”

“Does he.” Glacial.

“Where are you staying?”

I gave him Doyle’s address.

“Be ready at four.”

“I’ll—”

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Dead air.

I realized I hadn’t mentioned the anonymous text.

Admit it, Brennan. You avoided the topic knowing Deery’s reaction.

The light through the window was filling out and growing cheerier. It seemed the sun had decided to take charge.

I watched the room brighten while considering the two cops with whom I was forced to interact. Slidell frequently. Deery currently.

I reached two conclusions.

While Skinny had the edge in terms of overall loutishness, Deery had marginally better manners and a superior command of language.

Neither would top my list of candidates for sharing hugs and warm cookies.

Nguyen returned my call at eleven.

“Are you still in DC?” she asked.

“I am. Has something come up that you need me in Charlotte?”

“No, no. I played your voice mail about Norbert Mirek. I must admit, I’m intrigued.”

“Bluestein’s report threw me for a while.”

“Finding such hair in the fecal matter was definitely odd.”

“Finding human hair at all. Every photo submitted showed that Mirek was bald as a cue ball. It finally dawned on me”—I didn’t mention that my epiphany came from visiting Willie Pope and the subsequent dream—“maybe the old man wore a toupee.”

“Many of which are made of Asian female hair.”

“Exactly. The nephew—”

“Halsey Banks.”

“Yes.” Impressed Nguyen remembered the name. “Banks confirmed that his uncle had purchased and begun wearing a hairpiece six months before his disappearance. He opined that the thing was donkey-ass ugly. His descriptor.”