I was dividing triangles into smal er triangles, berating myself for my carelessness, when my cel phone sounded. I flew to my purse and dug it out.

"Mrs. Gal ant?"

"I've been cal ed gal ant, but never Mrs."

Ryan.

"I thought you were someone else."

I knew that was stupid as soon as I said it. Mrs. Gal ant/Bal ant/Talent had phoned through the switchboard. She couldn't possibly know my private number.

"It shatters me to hear such disappointment in your voice."

Resuming my seat, I smiled the first smile of the day. "You're dazzling, Ryan. My disappointment has to do with a case."

"What case?"

"The pizza basement skeletons."

As we spoke I kept watch on the message light. One twinkle and I'd leap back into my voice mail.

"Did today bring the pleasure of Claudel's company?"

"He was here."

"Alone?"

« 40 »

"The rest of the Waffen SS couldn't make it."

"Claudel can be a little rigid."

"Claudel is a Neanderthal. No. I sel the Paleolithic short. Neanderthals had ful y sapient brains."

"There's nothing wrong with Claudel's brain. He just tends to put a lot of weight on past experience and usual patterns. Where was Charbonneau?"

"Two prostitutes were assaulted. One died. The other is hanging on at the Notre-Dame Hospital."

"I heard about that," Ryan said.

Of course. A twinge of irritation.

"I believe the ladies' business manager was invited in for questioning."

"You would know."

Rvan either ignored or missed the annovance in my voice.

"\Vhat Joes Claudel want to do with your bones?"

"Unfortunately, very little."

"I know what I'd like to do with your bones."

"That didn't top your agenda last night," Dons piped up before I could stop her.

Ryan did not reply.

"Al three skeletons are the remains of young girls," I segued back.

"Recent?"

"Claudel relieved the owner of some buttons he claimed to have found with one set of bones. An expert at the McCord assessed them as nineteenth century."

"Let me guess. Claudel's not interested in what he sees as prehistoric?"

"Odd, since his head's been up his ass since the Neolithic."

"Having a bad day, sunshine?" The amusement in Ryan's voice irked me. His failure to explain last night's hasty departure irked me.

My desire for an explanation irked me.

What was Anne's philosophy? Never explain, never complain.

Right on, Annie.

"This week has not been a picnic," I said, stil staring at my desk phone. The little square remained frustratmgly dark.

"Claudel's a good cop," Ryan said. "Sometimes he needs more convincing than we intuitively brighter types."

« 41 »

"His mind is made up."

"Change it."

"I hadn't thought of that."

A moment of silence. Ryan broke it.

"How old do you think these bones are?"

"I'm not sure. I'm not even sure al three girls died at the same time."

"Dental work?"

"None that I've noticed."

More silence.

"Gut feeling?"

"The burials haven't been in the basement that long."

"Meaning?"