BONES AU - PART THREE "The Cannibal in Question"

CHAPTER THREE

Max looked over with wide eyes. "Oh ho whoa, 12th Thentury Calabrian? You know what that meanth?"

All he received was blank stares from everyone.

"Fine. I'll explain it. The Order of Alcantara? You people have no idea of the reach of the Illuminati, do you?" Everyone rolled their eyes. "I tell you what elthe, this whole bank is an original vortex point on the triangular grid, designed by the infamous architect of D.C., Pierre Charleth L'Enfant; Not to mention, the way the thkeleton is dithplayed absolutely suggest-"

Dobium interrupted. "Okay, okay we get it. This is the lair of a cannibalistic secret society."

Max scoffed. "Hey you know what - you don't want my answerth? Don't ask me the questionsth."

Scott butt in, not finding the current conversation helpful. "Someone is replacing the silver bones in the sculpture with human bones. There's no way this manubruim and this sternum came from the same person." He pointed out the bones.

"We got a multiple murder?" Dobium perked up a little.

Mitch whispered up to Max. "Why does he sound pleased?"

"Hell, you could go your whole career without catching something this... enticing. Who had access to the building?" Dobium asked whoever had an answer.

Joe answered this one. "The Building Conservancy."

Dobium nodded. "Run those people. Look for priors. Childhood cat-skinning, all that."

Scott stood back up, away from the remains. "I'd like permission to move the contents of this room to the Jeffersonian."

Joe looked at him like he was crazy. "Bones! Its an entire bank vault!"

Kevin shrugged. "Theres always room in the basement..."

Dobium agreed. "I think this more like one of those 'bring the mountain to Mohammed' situations, Hobbs."

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In Mitch's office, their PI was informing them of his upodates.

"You were married by John Kakala who is the head man of a hamlet called Nakavala on the island of Vatulolo during a feast in honor of the shark-god, Daquwaka." Thorton read from his file.

Max looked at Mitch for confirmation and he shrugged. "I mean, it doesn't sound wrong..."

Max sighed. "Cant this headman tell uth who he married?"

"Yea, um, see, he's dead. Town was wiped out by tsunami two years ago. The ah island is deserted and no one wants to talk because the place is ah haunted and uh cursed." Thorton read out.

"Of course it is." Mitch sighed.

"Do you happen to remember any Australians?" Thorton asked Mitch.

Mitch scoffed. "Okay, look they have this local drink called kava that is really - Anyway, when it comes to memory, no. Not so much. Which is probably why when I tried to sketch him, I only came up with this." Mitch held up a picture of his face he drew, which was more of an abstract blob than a face. Mitch was good at art, just not when he couldn't remember what he was drawing.

Max snorted. "Handsome. And, uh, why Austrailianth?"

"Well on or around the day of the marriage license the uh, there was a tramp steamer of out Adelaide. The Innocent City may or may not have been docked on Vatulolo." Thorton read off.

"Well, leth, uh, track down the theamer boat!" Max exclaimed.

"It'll cost."

"I have moneyth."

"Thanks." Thorton nodded, collected his things and left, leaving Mitch and Max alone in the office.

"You having second thoughts?" Mitch asked hesitantly.

"Are you kiddingth?! Hey! Thith ith, like, thome great venthure!" Max smiled.

"Adventure, hm?" Mitch grinned as they kissed.

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Kevin and Scott walked up on to the platform, seeing Cody, Mitch and Max.

"These are the bones from the altar." Cody motioned to the skeleton on the lit table.

"Can you confirm that any of these are Collins'?" Scott asked.

"To be 100%, we'd have to use D. N. A." Cody answered.

Kevin nodded. "Then lets get that's started."

Joe walked up to see the whole gang there and smiles. "Hahaha. Bones, I mean, you see what going on here, right?"

"Joe, as usual, I've no idea what you're talking about."

"You, you're getting all of them to help you now!" Joe smiled.

"Joe, this vault is filled with priceless artifacts. And probably materials stolen from other victims. It's going to take months to sift through all that evidence." Scott replied.

": No, this is enabling. You're enabling somebody with a mental problem." Joe pointed at them all with his back to the entrance. He furrowed his brow when everyone's faces lit up. "What?"

Scott ran down the stairs. "KIRSTIE!" And hugged her.

Kirstie had her hair cut short, her skin was tanned and her clothes were lose from weight loss, as she held a military style duffle.

Mitch ran down as well and joined the hug. "It- Its Kirstie!"

Max smiled as he followed. "What are you doing here?!"

Kirstie looked uncomfortable with all the hugging, but didn't refuse. "Can I move back into the space above your garage, Max?"

Max nodded quickly. "Are you kiddingth?! Of courthe!"

Joe tilted his head as everyone let go. "You get wounded or something?"

"No. They just sent me home." Kirstie shrugged.

"When can you start work?" Scott asked impatiently.

Joe looked back at Cody and waved. "It was nice meeting you, kid."

Kirstie looked up at Cody. "If you didn't fill my job, who's that guy?" She raised an eyebrow.

Cody shook his head. "Nobody." He took off his gloves and left the platform, mumbling as he left. "You people are too emotionally involved with each other, anyways."

Max looked at Kirstie. "You look like crapth."

Kevin hit his arm. "Iraq isn't a vacation, yknow!"

Mitch laughed. "Well I think you look very rakish. Are you starving?"

Kirstie shook her head. "Actually, what I'd like is get into whatever you were talking about before Br. Hoying's mental problem."