A Conspiracy of Bones (Temperance Brennan #19)(101)

I joined Slidell and got my first glimpse of the guy whose back had been to us. Despite the added years, leatherized tan, and leaner physique, I recognized him as the third person in the MKUltra conference photo. The man with Felix Vodyanov and Yates Timmer. Nick Body.

“Holly tells me you’re quite the pair.” Gravelly words escaping from somewhere far back in Body’s throat.

I glanced sideways toward Kimrey. Up close, he looked older than I’d imagined. I noted broken veins in his cheeks, starbursts around his eyes and at the corners of his lips. A faint stubble shadow.

“We do what we can.” Sarcasm coating Slidell’s tone.

“I know you’re a cop.” Body raised his chin in my direction. “Who the hell’s she?”

“Your worst nightmare.” The taut shoulders and harsh tone told me Slidell had his full Chuck Norris on.

“Amusing.” Body’s whole affect was arrogance.

“Why’d you order your flunky to set fire to her townhouse?” Glancing at Kimrey.

“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I think you do.”

“Holly is my assistant, nothing more.”

“I checked. Your assistant’s got a long, crowded sheet.”

Body shrugged, an awkward hitch of one beefy shoulder.

“The dumb shit left prints.”

“What the fuck?” Apparently, Kimrey wasn’t as fixated on the doughnut as he looked.

“Cops plant evidence,” Body said. “They’re famous for it.”

“Hard to plant fingerprints.”

“Tell that to Johnnie Cochran.” Body draped a casual arm over his chairback, unconcerned.

The feigned indifference triggered a repugnance so powerful it overrode my resolve to stay silent. “Why have people I questioned about you left town or stopped talking?”

“You noticed.”

“I did.”

“I paid them off.”

“Why?”

“To shut down the meddling.”

“What did you hope to gain?”

“What do you hope to gain?”

“The truth.”

When Body smirked, his lips went tight to his front teeth, down at the far reaches. It was the kind of smirk a viper would make, if a viper could smirk.

“Did you murder your brother?” I asked.

Utter silence.

“These questions too tough for you, Nick? I could use shorter sentences.” Adrenaline had me wired to the far side of the galaxy.

“I loved my brother.”

“You love his Huntington’s?”

“You are thorough.” Icy.

“I am.” Icier.

“I begged Felix not to do it. He wouldn’t listen.”

Beside me, Slidell was radiating agitation from every pore.

“Still, it must have been a relief.” I pressed on, sensing a weak spot. “His disease could have been embarrassing. Cost you followers. Maybe investors in your missile-silo scam.”

More silence. No smirk.

“Hogs ate him, you know.” Cruel, but the adrenaline was in full command.

“Don’t talk about my brother like that, you bitch.” Body’s jaw tightened all the way down to his throat.

“Yuriev camouflaged the Huntington’s,” I hammered on. “Is Heavner on board to sugarcoat the death?”

“Who?”

“Margot Heavner. Your pal, Dr. Morgue.”

Unger seemed to return from his point in space. His gaze went to Body, some inner conflict playing out on his face. Body’s eyes narrowed in warning. Unger turned away.

“Dr. Heavner is an investor in one of my projects,” Body said. “Nothing more.”

“We know all about DeepHaven,” I said evenly, forcing my face blank to mask my repugnance. And shock.

Out of patience, Slidell retook control. He moved a step closer to Body. “You use that show of yours to spread lies and sell your worthless safe houses. You spew any horseshit that enters your head.”

“Yes.” Again the viper smirk. “I do.”

Slidell was through screwing around. “Where’s the kid, Body?”

“What kid?”

“Should I say kids?”

“You’re nuts.”

“Jahaan Cole. Timmy Horshauser. You want I should go on?”

“I’m aware of those children. I’ve discussed their disappearances publicly. Beyond that, I know nothing.”

“I think you do.”

“Have you one shred of evidence to support these ridiculous allegations?”

Slidell glared with such hatred I thought of a gargoyle.

“No, detective,” Body sang out. “And you never will.”

“That’s it. You’re stringing me, and it’s wasting my time. I’m booking every one of you dipshits.”

“For what?” Kimrey asked, equal parts indignation and outrage.

Slidell yanked a plush pink unicorn from his pocket and tossed it at Body. The sight sent Freon out through my veins.

“You get your rocks off on kiddie toys, Nicky boy?” Not bothering to tamp down the savage edge of revulsion. “You like stroking your willy on fuzzy stuffed animals?”