“It’s not an unreasonable request,” Larkin said. He stood at his desk, phone to his ear, while a woman at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, with a voice like a steam whistle, provided him with a dissertation on why it was absolutely unreasonable to be asking for a skull casting of his John Doe. “I can see your only intention is to roadblock me in this matter. Who’s the ME—Dr. Baxter. I’d like to speak to Dr. Baxter, then.”

“You’re doing great,” Doyle stage-whispered, watching Larkin from where he stood in front of the desk.

Larkin shot Doyle a look as he said into the receiver, “Ma’am, perhaps you don’t fully understand the process of facial reconstruction, which is fine, but if that is the case, I need to speak to someone with a higher pay grade than yourself.”

Doyle gave a thumbs-up. “Excellent first try.”

“Will you please stop,” Larkin hissed.

“I’m being supportive.”

“You’re like a kindergarten teacher in the wings of the school auditorium, miming the absolutely ridiculous gestures and lyrics to a song about a baby whale, while her students watch stage right like deer in the headlights—no, ma’am, I’m not addressing you.” Larkin squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose.

When the steam whistle finally stopped blustering, she put Larkin on hold and he let out a sigh of relief.

Doyle’s whiskey-smooth voice fractured the welcome silence when he said, “‘Baby Beluga’ really did a number on you as a child.”

Larkin muttered, “I regret agreeing to your assistance.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I regret even shaking your hand.”

“My earlier examples for you to follow must have been too subtle.”

“You think I should tell Dr. Baxter they have eyes like the moon.”

Doyle had the audacity to give the ceiling a contemplative expression. “Well, I don’t recommend saying they’ve got an ass like the moon, or you’re going to have HR on the line.”

Heat rose up Larkin’s throat, pooled in his cheeks, and by the way Doyle’s smile grew, he knew the blush was visible against his pale complexion. “I ha—llo. Hello, Dr. Baxter. Everett Larkin, Cold Case Squad.”

“Good save,” Doyle said with a nod.