Untitled (18 page)

       Peter stood and watched Megan run over to the tent at Harrison's command. He didn't know anything about the Detective, but already he didn't like him. He noted a similar hurt expression on Green's face as Megan disappeared inside.

       "Shouldn't you be in there with them?" Peter asked.

       "You'd have thought so," Green answered. "But there's nothing normal about how Harrison's handling this."

       "What's that mean?" Peter frowned.

       "Forget it." Green turned away and then paused. "But maybe we can find something out for ourselves," he said over his shoulder, nodding his head to indicate that Peter should follow him.

       Peter looked over at Kaci and Hewitt, but they seemed to be taking little notice of anything that was going on, talking amongst themselves in hushed whispers. He left them to it and caught up with Green, falling into stride beside him and trying his best to look as if he belonged despite the niggling guilt that he felt like a trespasser.

       "Where're we going?" Peter whispered the question.

"I'll know when I see it," Green answered, his eyes scanning the busy site.

"What's with Harrison?"

"You talk too much," Green snapped.

"Just trying to make conversation."

       "Well don't," Green ordered. "If you want to know about Harrison then ask him to his face."

       "Maybe I will," replied Peter, taking on a sulking tone.

       "I wouldn't recommend it."

       "Why not?" Peter continued to fish.

       Green didn't reply, happy to find what he'd been looking for and grateful to be able to change the subject. He stopped in his tracks and faced Peter.

       "Follow my lead and try not to speak too much." With that he started walking towards a smaller tent.

       Peter walked behind Green as they approached what looked like a plastic covered frame. He could make out silhouettes working away inside, the shadows made bold by the temporary lighting set up within the confines of the tiny enclosure. Before they could enter a middle aged man in a white jump suit stepped forward and held out a hand.

       "Sorry, no entry," he stated in a monotone voice.

       Green opened his jacket and found his wallet, pulling it out and opening it for inspection. The guard looked it over and nodded slowly before saying anything else.

"What about him?" He pointed at Peter.

"He's from the zoo," explained Green. "Expert on animal attacks."

       "I heard rumours someone was coming." The guard became slightly more relaxed. "Looks a bit young though."

       "College graduates," Green sneered and the guard grinned.

       "You'll have to wear one of these." The guard took two white suits from a portable hanger and handed them over. "Sorry, but one size fits all."

       Peter took the offered overalls and held them up in front of him and frowned. "Shame I'm not one size."

       Green glowered at him and Peter shrugged his apology, not replying as he climbed awkwardly into the gazebo sized body suit. Green watched him as he did so and had to suppress a smile. He turned to the guard and they gave each other a knowing look. Sometimes it was the little things that just brightened your day.

       They entered the tented area through a zippered front, Green pulling the zip shut behind them. Four people, all wearing white overalls were crouched in a circle and talking between themselves. Peter tried to listen in, but couldn't catch the meaning of the conversation. At first they appeared to be ignoring the two new arrivals, but eventually one of them looked around.

       "Green," she said with a genuine smile. "What are you doing in this neck of the woods?" She stood up and approached them.

       "You could say I'm babysitting." Green shook her hand. "But I thought I'd see if I could be any help."

The woman frowned at Peter, taking in the clearly oversized suit he was wearing.

       "This is Peter…" Green paused.

       "Booth. Peter Booth," Peter held out a hand in greeting.

       "Cecilia Harkman." She responded with a weak handshake. "But if you call me Cecilia you'll see my dark side."

       "Not a problem Miss Harkman." Peter smiled friendly.

       "And no Miss." Harkman made no attempt to smile. "I'm not a teacher and I don't intend to be one."

       Peter slumped within the baggy confines of the protective suit. He'd only come to be with Megan and that idea wasn't panning out the way he'd planned at all. He didn't get to dwell on the bad hand of luck he'd been dealt, Green turning the conversation around to the reason they were here.

       "What have you found?" Green asked, craning to look past the crouched figures.

       "Fucked if I know." Harkman stepped aside. "Take a look for yourself." She held out a hand and ordered the investigating team to clear the way.

       Peter stepped up next to Green, neither of them attempting to move any closer to the twisted lump that lay in the centre of the hole the team had cleared away.

       "When did you find this?" Green cocked his head to one side.

"About an hour ago," Harkman explained. "The dogs sniffed it out and we've been uncovering it ever since."

       "And you have no idea what it is?" Green frowned.

       "Not yet," replied Harkman. "Tissue and blood samples have been taken, but it'll be a while until we get the results."

       "It's regurgitated." Peter stated matter of factly.

       "You what?" Both Green and Harkman asked in unison.

       "It's like a snake," Peter said, moving towards the moist clump of remains. "They spit back what they can't digest." He lowered himself down and studied the compressed carcass.

       Green looked at Harkman and shrugged his shoulders before joining Peter on the floor.

       "Are you're saying a snake did this?" Harkman scoffed. "That's fucking ridiculous."

       "I said like a snake," Peter snapped, fed up with everyone's tone towards him. "I know what I'm talking about."

       "Then maybe you can tell us just what has been regurgitated." Harkman stared down at him.

       "Give me some gloves." Peter held out a hand and waited for one of the team to pass him a pair. "Thanks," he said, taking the surgical gloves and pulling them on one at a time.

Peter crouched down and reached out carefully. Even with the protective cover of latex he wasn't keen to touch the glistening, pulped sculpture of flesh. He inwardly cringed at the feel of it as his fingertips pushed through the soft surface. It was still warm on the inside and Peter gagged at the smell as he began to fold open the fatty tissue and brittle bone.

       "What the fuck is it?" Green moaned as the stench reached out around the confines of the tent.

       "The more important question is what is capable of doing this in the first place." Peter didn't even look up as he probed further into the miasma of fleshy pieces.

       "You said it was a snake," said one of the investigative team who hadn't been listening.

       "One last time," Peter rambled on excitedly. "I said like a snake."

       As Peter continued to work the rest of the group backed away, the smell reaching the point that you could actually taste it in the air. Peter ignored them, engrossed with the task at hand. He carefully peeled back more sections of leathery skin, picking out sections of bone and placing them to one side.

       "I think it's a horse," Peter stated. "Maybe a cow."

       "Don't they eat grass?" asked one of the team, realising his mistake as the others began laughing at him.

       "Best you keep your mouth shut, Bentley," Harkman berated with a firm voice, silencing everyone in the tent.

"How can you tell?" Green forced himself to approach, kneeling down at Peter's side.