“You want me to come to the pub with you this evening so I can meet your wonderful new friend Vectra, assuage your insecurities, and receive free drinks all evening for services rendered.” Susan turned in her chair and grinned. “I’ll be drinking the finest whisky Wetherspoons has to offer, thanks.”

“Actually, Vectra thinks pubs are a rip-off.”

“Wetherspoons? That famously cheap chain of drinking establishments?”

But Esther ignored the objection. “I’m meeting her in the S.U. The Stand-up Comedy Club is running an open mic night.”

“No.” Susan turned back around in her seat and waved the idea away. “Take Daisy.”

“Can’t. She’s got yoga tonight.”

“Again? Seems like she’s got yoga every bloody night. What about Ed Gemmell, then?”

“He’s playing pool with McGraw.” Susan could feel the look in Esther’s eyes as she added, “They might come along later.”

“That’s nice. Leave them a seat at the front, and whoever’s onstage can destroy their self-esteem with comments about their appearances.” The thought of this made it almost tempting . . .

“Pleeeeeeease.” Esther draped herself across the desk and pouted hopefully. “I really think the two of you will get along.”

Daisy always enjoyed the bone lab. There was something deeply satisfying about studying bone fragments. It was like piecing together a skeletal jigsaw to tell a story about the past.

“What’ve you got there?” Reggie peered over Daisy’s shoulder.

“Fibula. Left. According to the carbon-dating record, it’s placed between 345 and 420 AD. Dug up in St. Albans.”

“Roman. Snap.”

“Mine’s female. I think she looks like a Metella. What do you think?”

“I think she looks like a bone fragment.” Reggie sounded far from enthusiastic, and Daisy noticed he was wearing the same T-shirt he’d been wearing yesterday. And the day before. It said (Carbon) date me? And there were soil stains on the hem and something that looked like toothpaste smudged above the C of Carbon.

Professor Jones walked past to cast an eye over their work.

“At some point, you’re going to have to learn your arse bone from your elbow, Reginald. That’s a jawbone, and you’re looking at it upside down. You’ve got to think around your specimens in more than a single plane. When one discovers something buried in the earth, it is rarely the right way up.”

Daisy held her breath while Professor Jones scrutinized her work, but the older woman let out a grudging sort of grunt, nodded, and moved on.

Trying not to bask in the glory of what was tantamount to praise, Daisy gave Reggie a sympathetic smile.

“Don’t take it to heart.”

“Every time, Daisy, every time.” Reggie rotated his bone somewhat despondently and leaned in, gaze flitting around as he lowered his voice. “I think I’m doing the wrong course. I’m starting to get ‘The Fear.’ Like, what am I even doing with my life?”