At this point, no one can help me.
The door closed behind him.
No one, she murmured. Its just between you and me, isnt it, Jimmy?
CHEVY CHASE
WEDNESDAY EVENING
11:45 P.M.
Hes nearly finished, Timwick, Fiske said. He said the job was easier than he thought. Maybe another twelve hours.
Have you seen the skull?
I cant make anything of it. It doesnt even have a nose or eyes yet. I think youre wasting your time.
Ill be the judge of that. Call me when hes done and Ill come right down.
Fiske replaced the receiver. Twelve more hours and hed know if Doprel or Logan and Duncan were the targets. He almost hoped it was Doprel. Logan and Duncan were more of a challenge, but Doprel was beginning to annoy him beyond belief.
BARRETT HOUSE
THURSDAY
6:45 A.M.
Smooth the clay.
Delicacy.
Sensitivity.
Let the tips of your fingers move of their own volition.
Dont think.
Help me, Jimmy.
The clay was cool, but her fingertips felt warm, almost hot, as they molded and smoothed.
Generic ears. She had no idea whether theyd stuck out or had longer lobes.
A longer, thinner nose.
Mouth?
Generic again. She knew the width but not the shape. She made the lips closed, without expression.
Eyes.
So important. So difficult. No measurements and very few scientific indicators. Okay, dont be in a rush. Study the shape and angle of the orbits. The size of eyeballs were all pretty much the same and grew only a little from infancy to adulthood. Should she make Jimmys eyes protruding, deep-set, or somewhere in between? The angle of the orbits and the bony ridge above would help her decide.
But not yet. Eyes were always a clincher. Most forensic sculptors worked from top to bottom and the eyes went in close to the beginning. She had never been able to do that. Shed found that she had an even greater tendency to hurry if the eyes were looking at her.
Bring me home.
More smoothing along the cheekbone. Not too deep.
Dont look at the face as a whole. Take each sec-tion and feature separately.
Smooth.
Fill in.
Slow down. You cant let go yet. Dont let your mind totally guide your hands. Dont visualize. Build. Measurements are still critical. Check them again.
Nose width, 32 mm. Okay.
Nose projection, 19 mm. Okay.
Lip height, 14 mm. No, it should be 12. Bring the top lip down, its usually thinner than the bottom lip.
Build up more around the mouth, theres a major muscle under there.
More shaping to the nostrils.
A little creasing on each side of the nose. How deep?
Whats the difference? Nobody ever identified anyone by a skin crease.
Deepen the area around the lower lip.
Why? It didnt matter. Do it.
Smooth.
Mold.
