AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The woman wore an ankle-length black skirt, baggy green top, and long-sleeved red cardigan that hung to mid-thigh. Her papery skin was wrinkled and splotchy, her eyes the pale gray of a winter dawn.
White hairs wisped from a turquoise scarf wrapping the woman’s head. Despite being elderly, her posture was that of a Buckingham Palace guard.
“I do not appreciate yourmeshuggenehthreats. Police or not, you are a very rude young man.” Another Big Apple accent.
“Sorry if my manners are wanting.” Monck’s apology lacked even a hint of sincerity. “Uri Stribbe lives here?”
“Who wants to know?” the woman asked, warily eyeing the robotic arm.
Monck identified himself.
Like Benjamin, the woman requested ID.
Monck held out his shield.
“I need to speak with Mr. Stribbe.”
“What do you want?”
“With allcourtesy, ma’am, that’s none of your business.”
“Everything Uri does is my business.” A finger came up and jabbed the air, long and bony as the rest of the woman. I guessed her height at six feet, her age at about two thousand.
“Why is that?” Monck demanded.
“Uri is my son.”
“And you are?”
“Adeera Stribbe.”
“I must talk to your son.”
“Can’t happen.”
“Why not?”
“He isn’t here.”
“Where is he?”
“With allcourtesy, that’s none of your business.”
Adeera was matching Monck’s hostility with hostility. I stepped in.
“I understand Uri is ashochet?”
The nearly colorless eyes shifted to me. “Are you Jewish?”
“I’m not.” I smiled humbly. “Did I pronounce that word correctly.”
“No. Who are you?”
“Dr. Temperance Brennan.” I left it at that. “Joe Benjamin mentioned Uri’s profession.”
Adeera sniffed and cocked her chin, a gesture identical to the combo Gran employed to indicate scorn.
“Young Benjamin is posing as a Judaic expert now, is he? Such chutzpah.”
