Bones Read Online Free PDF Page B

said Milo, “a creepo thing. He watches them, stalks them, grabs them.”
    Reed frowned. “Stranger-on-stranger.”
    A bellowed “Hey!” made the three of us turn.
    A scrawny, bowlegged, bearded man in a white T-shirt, high green cargo shorts, and flip-flops strode toward us, pumping his arms.
    Same fellow who’d snarled the surly remark about humans three months ago.
    “Hey,” he repeated.
    No one answered.
    “What’s going on?”
    Moe Reed said, “You are…”
    “Silford Duboff, Save the Marsh. This is my place. I’m here to keep an eye on all proceedings.”
    “Your place,” said Reed.
    “No one else cares.”
    Reed extended a hand. Duboff took it reluctantly, as if fearing contamination. “What’s going on?”
    “What’s going on, sir, is early this morning we removed the body of a young woman who was murdered and left on the banks of the marsh. While processing the scene, we found at least three other bodies.”
    Silford Duboff blanched. “
Processing?
You’re digging?”
    “Nothing extensive—”
    “Out of the question.” Duboff noticed the flag marking Selena Bass’s dump site. “What’s
that
doing here?”
    “That’s where we found the first victim, sir. And as I said, three other women. All dead.”
    Duboff rubbed his beard. “This is a disaster.”
    Reed removed his sunglasses. Baby-blue eyes had narrowed. “I’d call four dead bodies a disaster.”
    “You said
at least
three more. Are you implying there could be more?”
    “Three’s what we’ve got so far, Mr. Duboff.”
    “Oh, crap — where are the others? I need to look.”
    Duboff started to head for the flag. Milo’s big arm held him back.
    “What?” Duboff demanded.
    “No access yet, sir.”
    “That’s absolutely unacceptable.”
    Milo showed teeth. “Sir, it’s eminently acceptable.”
    Duboff said, “What’s the reason?”
    “Police personnel are working the scene.”
    “What do you mean
working
?”
    “Examining particulars.”
    Duboff yanked on his beard. “This is a protected site, you just can’t have cops parking their grubby—”
    “Forensic anthropologists, sir.”
    “Anthro — they’re
excavating
? I
absolutely
must talk to them, right now!”
    “We appreciate your concern, Mr. Duboff. But these people are specialists and they respect every site.”
    “This isn’t just a site, it’s a—”
    “Beautiful place,” said Milo. “The only thing that will be removed is evidence.”
    “That’s outrageous.”
    “So is homicide, sir.”
    “This is worse,” said Duboff.
    “Worse than four bodies?” said Reed.
    “I’m not… I appreciate the fact that people have died. But when push comes to shove, all humans do is alter the balance — your murders are perfect proof.”
    “Of what?”
    “We keep murdering the earth, then we wonder why life’s so brutal.”
    I said, “Sounds like you don’t have much use for people.”
    Duboff stared at me. Not a hint of recognition. “As a matter of fact, I’m a card-carrying misanthrope but I don’t kill anything that breathes oxygen.” Pointing to his flip-flops. “Organic rubber.” He eyed the white flag. “What I’m saying is we need to ensure that this rare pocket of tranquility remains that way.”
    “Seems to me,” said Reed, “that it’s already been disturbed.”
    “Then let’s not make matters worse. I
must
have a talk with those ditchdiggers.”
    Reed looked at Milo.
    Milo said, “After you answer a few questions.”
     
     
    He loomed over Duboff, began peppering the increasingly flustered man with a mix of relevant and seemingly random questions. Eventually zeroing in on Duboff’s whereabouts during the past twenty-four hours.
    Duboff said, “You suspect
me
?”
    “Sir, these are the questions we need to—”
    “Who cares where I was last night? But fine, I’ve got nothing to hide, nothing. I was home. Reading.” Jutting his chin. “Enjoying
Utne Reader,
if you must know.”
    “You live alone?” said