Brillo grunted. “Anybody around who can take a read?”

“No.”

“You sure it wasn’t an accident?”

“I can’t tell, Brillo. I can say that his skull shifts when you touch it.”

“He couldn’t have fallen?”

“Not where the body is. I mean, yes, he could have tripped and fallen, there is plenty to fall over in the cave, but at least at first glance he looks like he’s taken a lot of damage, more than could be reasonably expected from a trip-and-fall. His clothes, too.”

“Well, shit.” An aggravated sigh. “Put him on a plane.”

“Don’t hang up, Brillo, there’s something else.”

“Color me surprised.” Dr. Hans Brilleaux, the state medical inspector, went heavy on the sarcasm.

“There is another body in the cave, a skeleton. Been there a while, just the bones. I can see it but I can’t get at it yet. I do have one of the hands.”

A huff of exasperation. “Send it up with the body.”

“I want to know if it’s human and how long it’s been there, Brillo.”

“Miracle workers R us.” Click.

Liam lowered his phone.

“It takes thirty-six hours for rigor to go off,” Jo said.

“This is now a crime scene, Jo. I need to ask you to leave.”

“If he’s been lying there for thirty-six hours, how did the boys miss him?”

“Jo.”

“You and what army?” she said impatiently. “How are you going to get the body up that trail?”

He called the post. Ms. Petroff answered. He explained the situation. “I will notify the Blewestown volunteer fire department, sir.”

“We’re sure they will respond all the way out here?”

“The fire department always responds everywhere, sir,” she said, the reproof clear in her tone.

“Thank you, Ms. Petroff.”

Instead of hanging up in her usual efficient fashion, she said hesitantly, “Did I understand you to say that you were at the archeological dig up East Bay Road, sir?”

“You did.”

“And the deceased?”

“We don’t comment on ongoing investigations, Ms. Petroff.”

A brief silence. “I see. Thank you, sir. I will so inform the fire department.” Click.

He stared at his phone. In the entirety of his acquaintance with Ms. Petroff, all one and a half days of it, that was the first time she had requested clarification on any point at issue. Don’t go soft on me now, Ms. Petroff, he thought, and called Wy. “Got a job for you, not a fun one.”

“Do tell.”

He was momentarily distracted by the husky quality of her voice but called himself sternly to order and to duty. “I’ve got a body that needs transporting to Anchorage. The ME’s office will meet you at Merrill to take it off your hands.”

“Height and weight?”

He had never loved her more. “Six foot plus, a hundred and sixty pounds or thereabouts. Maybe less, skinny guy.”

“I’ll head for the airport and start prepping the Cessna.”

“Need a favor.”

“Name it.”

“Those hand bones from yesterday night. I want you to take those to Brillo, too.”