“That’s exactly the problem. We’re to believe this skull’s only been exposed to the outside environment for two months but the amount of breakdown isn’t consistent with that. There was no tissue left on the bone. That was purposely stripped off. Deep linear marks from a knife are evident. But the skull itself is dried out. If I had to guess, it had been outside for two years, not two months. This skull is either too old to belong to Jeanne Coleman or someone is trying to make it look like it’s too old. Honestly, I think it was purposely dehydrated, by baking it.”

Julia narrowed her eyes. “Are you releasing that information?”

“Absolutely not. We’re keeping this private for now. Can you imagine the additional hell we’d have to endure if the public found out that the killer ripped out Jeanne Coleman’s teeth, dismembered her, then cooked her skull?”

“Good decision,” Julia said. Blythe went quiet and she took the opportunity to get back to the topic of the new employee. “So, can I get Candace going on the paperwork for Dr. Knight?”

“Julia, we need competent, well-trained professionals for this job, and you want to bring in someone so green she’s useless. I can’t have someone without any experience running around causing more trouble than they’re worth. We can’t afford to babysit someone right now.”

“I can train her. Howie can—”

“Howie can’t. You can’t. Neither you nor Howie have time for this. How is this person supposed to be able to do this job? I have no one to hold her hand.”

“On-the-job training is very common for a death investigator.”

“Yes, when there is the time and resources to do it. Right now, I am understaffed and underbudgeted.”

“But—”

“I understand what you’re going through, I really do.” He rubbed his temples. Taking a deep breath, he continued, “And I sympathize with you, but I can’t have your bleeding heart run my office.”

Julia swallowed hard. “That’s not why I want to hire her.”

“No? Then what is it? Do you honestly expect me to believe the similarity of her situation to yours didn’t influence your decision?” Julia detected an accusatory, sarcastic tone in his voice.

“Not at all.” She said the words slowly. Her eyes didn’t leave his.

“The fact that both of you no longer practice had nothing to do with it? She, because of what did you say? An accident? And you because of your… situation.”

As soon as he said “situation,” Julia just glared at him. How dare he throw her situation in her face? It was so like Phil to do this kind of crap.

“Look, I feel a camaraderie with my fellow professionals, and maybe you want to give this person some of the advantages you’ve had, but this is not the time or place for that,” Blythe said.