Cross Bones Part 26

I did. For a full five minutes. Then the woman came back on. She did not sound bored.

"May I ask how this skeleton came into your possession?"

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"I'll explain the situation to the proper authority."

"The IAA is the proper authority."

"Who is the director, please?"

"Tovya Blotnik."

"Perhaps I should speak with Mr. Blotnik."

"He's gone for the day."

"Is it possible to reach-"

"Dr. Blotnik dislikes interruptions at home."

For some reason, I felt reluctant to divulge the full story. Jake's admonition not to call before contacting him? LaManche's reference to international relations? Irrational gut reaction? I didn't know, but there it was.

"I mean no disrespect. But I would prefer to speak with the director."

"I am physical anthropologist for the IAA. If the bones are to come here, Dr. Blotnik will direct me to handle the transaction."

"And you are?"

"Ruth Anne Bloom."

"I'm sorry, Dr. Bloom, but I'll need verification from the director."

"That's a highly unusual request."

"I'm still making it. This is a highly unusual skeleton."

Silence.

"May I have your contact information?" Glacial.

I gave Bloom my cell and lab phone numbers.

"I'll pa.s.s on the message."

I thanked her and hung up.

Logging back on to the Internet, I Googled Tovya Blotnik. The name came up in conjunction with several articles addressing a controversy over an ancient stone coffin called the James ossuary. In each, Blotnik was cited as director-general of the IAA.

Okay. Blotnik was kosher. So why the hindbrain heads-up to be cautious with Bloom?

The fact that Lerner and Ferris thought the skeleton in my lab was Jesus Christ? The fact that Jake asked me not to do what I was doing?

I wasn't sure. But again, there it was.

I was shooting the last few pictures of Morissonneau's skeleton when Ryan reappeared, looking like the cat that swallowed Big Bird. I waved him into the lab.

"They've got him," he said.

"I'll bite," I said.

"Hershel Kaplan."

"How'd they catch him?"

"Genius failed to pay for a bauble."

"He stole something?"

"Slipped a necklace into his pocket. All a terrible mistake. He intended to pay."

"Of course. What now?"

"I'd like to haul his a.s.s back to Canada."

"Can you do that?"

"Not unless we charge him. Then we can formally request extradition through external affairs."

"Have you got enough to charge him?"

"No."

"He'd fight it anyway."

"Yes."

Ryan chin-gestured the skeleton. "What's happening with Masada Max?"

"Carbon fourteen puts his birthday somewhere around the time of the Bethlehem star."

"No s.h.i.t."

"I'm trying to send him back to Israel."

I told Ryan about my conversation with the IAA.

"What got your sonar pinging?"

I thought about that.

"Jake told me not to talk to anyone in Israel until I'd spoken with him."

"So why call?"

"LaManche wants the skeleton gone."

"Why not level with Bloom?"

"Jake's caution, I suppose. I'm not sure. A little voice just told me to wait and talk to Blotnik."

"Probably a good bet."

"There's something else."

I told him about Morissonneau.

Ryan's brows dipped. He was about to speak when both my cell and his beeper erupted.

Ryan took the gizmo from his belt, checked the number, and pointed at my desk phone. I nodded and stepped into the adjoining lab.

"Temperance Brennan."

"Tovya Blotnik calling from Jerusalem." Santa voice. Rich and jolly as h.e.l.l.

"I'm delighted to hear from you, sir. I wasn't expecting your call before morning."

"Ruth Anne Bloom phoned me at home."

So much for the ban on interruptions.

"Thank you for taking the time," I said.

"Not at all. Not at all. It's a pleasure to accommodate foreign colleagues." Blotnik chuckled. "You work for a coroner in Canada?"

I explained my position.

"Right, then. What's this about a skeleton from Masada?"

I described the photo that had started it all. Then, using no names, I told Blotnik how the skeleton had been stolen from the Musee de l'Homme by Yossi Lerner, then hidden by Avram Ferris and Sylvain Morissonneau.

I outlined the radiocarbon results.

I did not mention Hershel Kaplan. I did not mention the Joyce book, or the reason behind the theft and concealment of the bones. I did not mention the samples I'd sent off for DNA testing.

I did not mention the fact that Ferris and Morissonneau were dead.

"You obtained this photo how?" Blotnik asked.

"From a member of the local Jewish community." True enough.

"Probably all nonsense." The jovial chuckle now sounded forced. "But we can't ignore this, now can we?"

"I think not."

"And I'm sure you're quite anxious to be rid of this mess."

"I've been authorized to release the bones. If you'll provide a shipping address, I'll arrange with FedEx-"

"No!"

No chuckle there.

I waited.

"No, no. I can't put you to all that trouble. I'll send someone."

"From Israel to Quebec?"

"It's no problem."

No problem?

"Dr. Blotnik, archaeological materials are transported internationally all the time. I'm perfectly happy to package the materials and use any shipping service you select-"

"I must insist."

I said nothing.

"There have been some unfortunate outcomes recently. Perhaps you've heard of the James ossuary?"

The James ossuary was the ancient stone coffin mentioned in the Internet links. I vaguely recalled something in the news a few years back about damage to an ossuary on loan to the Royal Ontario Museum.

"The James ossuary was the piece broken in transport to Toronto?"

"Smashed would be a better word. En route from Israel to Canada."

"It's your call, sir."

"Please. This is best. I'll be back in touch shortly with the name of the envoy."

Before I could reply Blotnik cut me off.

"The skeleton is is in a secure location?" in a secure location?"