BONES AU - PART THREE "The Cannibal in Question"

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"She knew they weren't artificial. Any first year student would know that." He brought up a model of the dentures with the canines in them on the screen then turned it to him. "The dentures were made from real teeth. All canines."

"What?"

"Canines are a symbol of the wolf which appears on the Gormogon tapestry in the vault. And certain ancient sects revere the wolf as a symbol of freedom. As a representative of the forces that will deliver us from persecution."

"Okay, enough about the wolf. What's going on?"

"Kirstie lied."

"Why?"

"She-She took the teeth from bone storage and he made Gormogon's dentures."

Joe's eyes widened. "Kirstier has complete access to the lab... She arranged for the explosion herself..."

Scott nodded. "It's Kirstie. She's the killer, Joe... It's Kirstie..."

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At the Regional Medical Center, Kevin was sitting in a chair, reading to Kirstie and also had no idea.

"The theory of conditional expressions is a non-profound generalization of propositional calculus."

Kirstie tilted her head. "What's it say after 'boolean forms'?"

Kevin laughed. "Well, there's a little thing that looks like a Japanese stool then a B with a tail and a fat fish. Does this makes sense to you?"

"It doesn't to you?"

Kevin snorted as Joe entered the room with a very flat tone voice. "Kevin, I'm gonna need the room."

Kevin turned to see Joe and Scott in the doorway. His face fell when he realizesd why they're there. He looked back at Kirstie and then got out of the chair and started to head to the door. He looked at the two and whispered. "I'm sorry, but I have to ask. Are you absolutely certain because-" Joe and Scott nodded their heads, solemnly, in confirmation. Kevin sighed. "I did not see that coming." He left the room to Scott and Joe.

Scott closed the door. "You had to know I'd see it eventually."

"I didn't foresee the extent of my injuries. I was going to sneak out of here but-"

"Your friends never left your side."

Joe sat down. "And you intended to steal the jaw bone and add it to the silver skeleton."

Scott nodded. "But you designed the explosion. You must have known exactly how big it would be."

Kirstie shook her head. "Max argued with me. He stood too close. The delay allowed the thermoplastic to reach the boiling point and as a result, the explosion was three times more powerful than I calculated."

Scott looked at her sadly. "You must have known how badly you'd be injured."

Kirstie nodded. "Yes."

Joe sighed. "Who's Gormogon, Kirstie?"

"That's not what he's called."

"Then what is he called."

"The Master."

"And you're his apprentice?"

Kirstie nodded.

"Kirstie, I need a name."

"I can't tell you. The apprentice is expendable. I'm expendable."

"Who is he?"

Scott shook his head. "Kirstie responds to logic, Joe."

Joe raised an eyebrow up at him. "Really? Cause I'd love to hear the logic of killing and eating people to change the world."

Kirstie shook her head. "The Master's logic is irrefutable."

Joe scoffed. "Irrefutable?! I saw him choking a child at the bottom of a pool!"

Kirstie's face turned defensive. "If you knew what I know, you'd understand. You'd be proud of me!"

Scott shook his head. "I've always been proud of you, Kirstie. I've never met anyone more rational or intelligent. But there's a fault in your logic."

"With all due respect, you aren't cognizant of his logic."

Scott took a breath. "Assumption number 1: Secret societies exist."

"Accepted."

"Assumption number 2: The human experience is adversely affected by secret societies."

"Accepted."

"Assumption number 3: Attacking and killing members of secret societies will have an ameliorating effect on the human experience."

"Accepted."

"All of your assumptions are built upon a first principle, Kirstie. To wit: The historical human experience, as a whole, is more important than a single person's life."

"Yes."

"Yet, you risked it all so you wouldn't hurt Max."

Kirstie looked down as she lets this sink in and realizes that he is right, her logic was flawed. Scott puts her forehead against hers, as a single tear rolls down his cheek.

"There's - You are correct. There is an inconsistency in my reasoning..."

Joe found this touching and all, but, "Bones, I need a name."

Kirstie looked up at him. "He first approached me three months ago at a symposium on burning plasma diagnostics."

"Kirstie, who is this guy?"

"I don't know his name. I've never known his name but I've been to his house. I was blind folded when he first took me there... But I remember every turn he took and I was able to estimate his speed. So when he brought me home, I found it on a map. It's in Bedding Ridge on a street called Savoy Crescent. It's a big place, almost as big as Max's house but run down. There's a flight of stairs at the back - outside. There's a blue door. It'll be locked but there's a key hidden in the crevice to the left of the door just above eye level. You will see a hallway. If he's found someone, you will smell meat cooking and that's how you'll know you're getting close. He'll have a knife. He's very fast. And he's very... very strong."

Joe got up instantly and started the operation. Within the hour, it was in progress. They followed the directions thoroughly. Lit candles are everywhere, Gormogon was in the middle of the room, sitting at a table, cutting a piece of "meat" on his plate.

Joe and the Agents arrive in the room and see him. Gormogon beared his teeth and throws the knife at one of the FBI Agents. Then his eyes widened, realizing what he had done. His hands shot up as his eyes went from inky black to a soft, kind brown. "BLURRYFACE I SWEAR IT WAS BLURRYFACE HE MADE ME DO THIS HE MA-"

Joe immediately shot him square in the chest and it sent him flying into the table. Gormogon, later identified as Noel O'Riordan, is dead.