Page 106 of Forever Dead

Connor slowed behind a delivery truck. “So, what is it?”

Blethan’s irritation came through clearly. “If I knew, Sheriff, I would have begun the call with that.”

Selena smiled faintly. “You’re stumped.”

“I’d prefer to say I’m waiting for an answer.”

“Then we need another opinion,” Selena said.

“I agree. Matt’s arranging formal laboratory analysis.”

“Could Connor request a comparison through the FBI lab?”

“He can make the request. You can’t order it while you’re off duty, my lassie.”

“I was asking.”

“And I’ve answered. In the meantime, I’ve sent some comparison samples to a consultant I trust.”

“Who?”

“Dr. Gerald Foss.”

Connor frowned. “Never met him.”

“You wouldn’t have. He lives in Eagleton.”

“What kind of doctor?” Selena asked.

“Retired pathologist. He’s in his early sixties now. We worked at the same hospital for a few years, though he left full-time practice in his early fifties when the pathology department was reorganized.”

“Why so early?” Connor asked.

“He preferred working with tissue to managing a department. Carried on doing occasional consultations afterward. He’s helped me identify unusual samples before.”

Connor said, “You sent evidence to a doctor’s house?”

“I sent properly logged comparison samples to a qualified consultant I trust. Chain of custody is documented, and Matt packaged them. I had him send representative fragments as soon as I saw the resemblance this morning.”

Selena said, “You knew I was going to ask.”

“I’ve known you long enough.”

“Has Foss looked at them?”

“Yes. They were delivered earlier. He called me twenty minutes ago and said he wants another look before committing himself, but he’s intrigued.”

“That doesn’t sound reassuring.”

“It wasn’t meant to.”

Connor asked, “Will he talk to us?”

“I already asked him. He said yes.”

“Today?”

“Now, if you want. He’s home.”