I was really wishing Katy had gone to the mall with Lily.
“So you can’t determine if the shark killed the kid or just scavenged on his body?” Perry pressed.
“Nope.”
As Perry and Gearhart spoke I studied the leg.
“Can you tell if the kid was killed at Halona Cove, or elsewhere, then regurgitated there?”
“Nope.”
I rotated the sad little hunk of flesh.
“Look, Doc.” Perry’s voice had an edge. “I have to consider whether this presents an issue of public safety. Do I need to close that beach?”
“In my opinion, no. Not based on a single isolated incident.”
Using one finger, I retracted the flesh overlying the distal tibia.
My heart kicked to a tempo that matched the refrain in my head.
“Meaning?” Perry asked.
“You get more than one death, then maybe you’ve got a rogue.”
“A rogue?”
“An opportunist. A shark who’s developed a taste for people.”
I looked up and met Ryan’s eyes. His brows dipped on seeing my expression.
“Bad news,” I said.
“THIS IS NOT THE SAME KID.”
“What do you mean?” Perry strode to the cart.
“Look.” I pointed to a triangular projection on the lower end of the tibia. “That’s the medial malleolus, the bony lump you feel on the inside of your ankle. The malleolus articulates with the talus in the foot, and provides joint stability.”
“So?”
I oriented the limb. “That’s correct anatomical position.”
Perry studied the short segment of calf. Then, “Sonofabitch.”
“What?” Ryan and Gearhart asked as one.
“This is from a left leg,” I said. “Parts of a left leg were also recovered on Tuesday, including a portion of medial malleolus.”
“A freakin’ duplication.” Perry shook her head in disbelief.
Gearhart got it. “A human being does not have two left feet. This has to be from a different person.”
I waited for Ryan to make a bad dancer joke. Mercifully, he didn’t.
“Two shark vics from the same bay.” Perry’s voice sounded higher than normal.
“That could change the picture.”
“You think?” Perry rounded on Gearhart. “So. Do I close that beach?”
“That’s your call, Doc.”
“Will this fucking fish strike again?”
Gearhart raised both brows and palms.
“Come on. Best guess.”
Gearhart shifted a hip. Bit her lip. Sighed. “If the shark is feeding, not just scavenging, the bastard bloody well might.”
Perry arm-wrapped her waist. Found the maneuver unsatisfactory. Dropped both hands. Turned to me.
“What can you tell me about this second vic?” Chin-cocking the cart.
“This individual is smaller than the first. Beyond that, zilch. There’s not enough to work with.”
Crossing to a wall phone, Perry punched buttons.
Seconds passed.
“Hope I didn’t interrupt the poker game.” Sharp.
I heard the buzz of a muffled response. Perry cut it off.
“Get me the Halona Cove bones. ASAP.”
The handset hit the cradle with a loud crack.
