Page 16 (2/2)

"Okay, you asked for it! Anyway, Broca defined the differences between different ethnic groups Then there was a German anatomist, Hermann Welcker, ent on to measure the soft tissue in male cadavers and found nine ‘median points’ from which to work All this was then enhanced by a Swiss anatomist, Wilhelm His, orked with cadavers and used the nine median points and six lateral points to further the ability to re-create the appearance of life when nothing’s left but bone As you can tell, I love it And thanks to technology, e can do grows all the tih the years to identify reone"

"That’s really important," Betty said She cocked her head to one side "So, you’re an artist Are you an agent, too?"

"Yes, I’ent Anyone in a Krewe--part of the FBI’s behavioral sciences group--has to go through the academy"

"Good!" Betty said "I love to see other women in law enforcement Can you shoot?"

"Fairly decently, yes," Jane said

That made Betty smile "Well, you’re a wonderful asset to have here I’ot here for one of our very rare episodes of violence Murder," she added softly

"Bad things can happen anywhere But that doesn’t ain, obviously pleased at the cos--that’s just life, huh? I’ave an easy shrug "Well, I’ood as the day crew, but they’re okay"

Jane laughed, waving as Betty went to her car

Jane put Sloan’s keys in his desk, got the keys to the little Kia that had been rented for her use and then spent a few hours working with the soft-tissue markers on the skull After about two hours, however, she felt she’d have to pick up again the next day She was just too tired to concentrate and she didn’t want to read a es that had been deterh the years by many different anato artists needed to re the skull itself be the guide

The proble at the earthly ree McCor, and she’d seen her sketch That was definitely going to influence her But did that reallybefore she’d seen the painting above the bar and learned it was Sage McCormick

She surveyed her work so far Not much The skull and markers by the, she paused to look at the sketch she’d created the day before The woman she’d depicted based on the skull had been beautiful Of course, she’d given her the sparkle in her eyes and the look of friendly e McCor Maybe, Jane told herself, she’d been subconsciously aware of the painting when she’d checked in But she didn’t think so; she hadn’t really seen it until she was sitting there today with Valerie and Henri

Sloan Trent had seee--disturbed by it, even But then, he’d seeotten an explanation from him

She covered her ith a muslin cloth She was almost done with it and would start the buildup with clay to produce ation room and walked to the front Now that the sheriff’s office had a murder to deal with, she doubted there’d be lanced at her watch and saw that it was past nine When she reached the front office, she was pleasantly greeted by Scotty Carter, as at the desk He was the youngest of the crew here, she thought; he appeared to be about twenty-five, with a facial structure that suggested a Native Aent Everett? If you need anything, you let us know, okay? We try not to interrupt you e know you’re working," he told her

"I’ve been fine, thank you," she said, equally polite "Did you hear from the sheriff?" she asked

The deputy nodded "He’s in to Sloan won’t be taking any tis like that don’t happen in Lily very often Well, I mean, it used to--the streets ran red with blood, as they say--but that wasabout the deadup at her with dark brown eyes "It’s an ongoing , "you are a federal agent"

Jane s I’ll just ask how things are going when I see the sheriff"

"You got your car keys, right? You going to be okay getting around?"

"I’ll be fine," she assured him

Outside, the town seemed exceptionally quiet The stars overhead had never looked brighter, but she realized that was partly because there was little air pollution As she pulled onto the road to town, she thought that just as the stars had never looked brighter, the road had never see drive, and as she neared town, the darkness seeht shi from the theater and the saloon and the curio store, Desert Diamonds She parked behind the theater in the paved lot

As she walked around to the dirt road in front, she heard laughter and conversation Murder in Lily or not, the show, as shows traditionally one on

It had apparently concluded, since there were people spilling out onto the street, on their way to the saloon or to Desert Diamonds for pizza That afternoon she’d learned that the saloon stayed open until 1:00 a open to catch the late-night snackers and souvenir-shoppers whothe theater