A Conspiracy of Bones (Temperance Brennan #19)(86)
“Don’t matter. We’ll have colonies on the moon before we get a report.”
“Any developments on Jahaan Cole?”
There was silence, followed by a sigh. “No.”
“You’ll keep me looped in about the warrant?”
“Eeyuh.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Promise one thing, doc.”
I said nothing.
“Stay busy doodling Ryan until you hear from me.”
* * *
A good doodle didn’t sound all that bad. Certainly kept Mama purring along. But Ryan had his own worries, was now cloistered in the bedroom with his laptop.
No hard-copy files. No stored images or documents. No physical evidence. Cut off from most witnesses.
Eeyuh.
I fed the cat and returned to my groovy new Mac. After logging back on, I downloaded the TOR browser and nosedived into the dark web.
No surprise. I was still blocked from DeepUnder.
I dredged for a while, netted nothing new on Yates Timmer. Nothing at all on Nick Body.
Who was this arrogant loudmouth who always hid in the shadows? I decided to resurface and spend time listening to Body’s podcasts and reading his blogs. Some of his rants were more toxic than I’d imagined.
Over the past decade, Body had been particularly vehement on two themes. Plots involving kids. Plots involving medical wrongdoing. Occasionally, his insane theories managed to combine both elements.
I began with titles suggesting misconduct through manipulation of public health.
There were numerous variations on the evils of vaccination. In the old tried-and-true, Body alleged that vaccination causes autism. In a somewhat more creative twist, he argued that Bill Gates was behind a plot to use immunization for population control. In another series of tirades, he insisted that the government was sneaking RFID chips into children via inoculation.
Many of Body’s harangues focused on disease. Over and over, he returned to the theme of government conspiracy. A sampling: He claimed that the Ebola epidemic in West Africa was a biological-weapons test performed by America. That SARS was a germ attack against the Chinese. That AIDS was created and distributed by those in power in the U.S. That the anthrax attacks following 9/11 were orchestrated by the government. That banning DDT was a scheme to depopulate the earth by spreading malaria. That Huntington’s disease is caused by a microbe and the government is conspiring to suppress a known cure. And, my personal favorite, that chemtrails are responsible for mad cow outbreaks.
Ryan popped in now and then to ask how I was. To offer a drink or a back rub. To say he was sallying forth to forage for a late dinner.
By the time I sat back, the windows were dark and my stomach was growling. I cruised through the annex, checking security and turning on lights. Was just finishing when Ryan returned bearing pizza.
Birdie joined us as I made the first cut. I gave him a tiny slice, Ryan and myself large ones. As we chewed pie and slurped cheese, I shared snippets of what I’d read and heard.
“Body’s theories are absurd, his arguments laughably devoid of accurate detail or plausible evidence.” My critique.
“Your personal faves?”
I provided a half-dozen ludicrous examples.
“The guy’s got millions of loyal followers.”
“Sadly, that may be true. And the credulous chumps aren’t laughing. What kept you so busy today?”
“Got a tip that Neville is on his way to Marseille.”
“You’re guessing the horse didn’t book his own passage.”
“Doubtful.”
“I appreciate you making such a long trip, Ryan. But you really don’t need to stay here with me.”
“I want to be sure you’re fully sound before hitting the road.”
“Has that ever been the case?”
Ryan waggled a hand. Maybe yes, maybe no.
“I’m cool,” I said, smiling.
“A Merry Prankster.”
“Riding the bus.” Acknowledging Ryan’s Ken Kesey reference.
“Seriously. How are you feeling?”
“Perfectly chipper.” It was true. Though I should have been exhausted, I felt oddly energized. A by-product of the concussion? Of meds I was given at the hospital? Of drug-laced tea?
“Skinny was crazy until you turned up.”
“He’s busting ass to determine what happened here. Did he tell you CSU found a print outside the kitchen window?”
“I haven’t spoken to Slidell today.”
I briefed Ryan on Holly Kimrey. Was concluding when his mobile buzzed.
“Do you mind if I take this?”
“Of course not. And please, go ahead and make flight reservations if necessary. I really am fine.”
Still too jazzed for sleep, or doodling, I returned to my Mac and endured a second round of Body, this time focusing on his other favorite theme. Plots involving children.
Some theories had been around for decades. Kids were being kidnapped and killed for their organs, a valuable commodity in a global black market. Kids were being kidnapped and sold as sex slaves, domestic workers, farm laborers. Kids were being kidnapped for sacrifice in satanic rituals. Kids were being kidnapped for use in mind-control experiments run by the CIA.
Many theories were new, some so outlandish it was incredible that even the most gullible could buy in. Kids were being kidnapped and transported to work camps built by NASA on Mars. Kids were being kidnapped and taken to concentration camps set up by FEMA in preparation for the imposition of martial law and the killing of millions of Americans. Kids were being kidnapped and flown to Jonestown, the abandoned camp in Guyana where Jim Jones and members of his Peoples Temple committed mass suicide.