Read Online Bone Thief by Thomas O' Callaghan - Free Book Online Page B

ring.
    Francis examined it carefully.
    â€œThat’s a wedding band. Jade studs. Cool. You’ll want to wear it someplace special, no?”
    â€œIs that one of your specialties? Implanting jewelry in special places?” she asked.
    â€œThree times a week I’m asked to hook a ring like that onto one of several places on the body.”
    â€œHow ’bout a woman’s clitoris?”
    â€œThere too.”
    â€œSo that’s a common request?”
    â€œVery.”
    â€œSome people would call that surgery.”
    â€œYou bet it is.”
    â€œYou got a license to operate?”
    â€œI need one?”
    â€œSome would say you do.”
    Francis shrugged.
    â€œYou could really hook a ring this size to a clit?” she asked.
    â€œPiece of cake.”
    â€œHow do you do it?”
    Francis leaned his pockmarked face into Margaret’s. “You leave that to me. A drop of medical magic, and you won’t feel a thing.”
    â€œWhat if I wanna feel a thing?”
    â€œNo Novocaine for you, then.”
    â€œYou pull teeth, too?”
    â€œIf I find any down there,” he smirked.
    She held back on the impulse to slap the man’s face.
    â€œThere’s a catch,” Margaret said, biting the tip of her tongue, containing her anger.
    â€œDon’t tell me? You’re a hemophiliac.”
    â€œNo. I want two. One for my finger, and one for down there. And I want the rings to match.”
    â€œNo problem. But you gotta bring me the other ring.”
    â€œCan’t you supply it?”
    â€œThat’s a specialty item. Handmade!”
    â€œI thought you were a specialist.”
    Francis stopped speaking and stared fixedly at Margaret, this woman who was asking so many questions. The markings of fear slowly carved themselves on his face. He sensed danger. “You’re in the wrong bodega, Miss. Hasta la vista.”
    His stare drifted to the sheen of a police shield brandished by Margaret, its glint reflecting off of the room’s overhead lighting. “C’mon, where’s your sense of humor?” he said with a sheepish grin.
    â€œIs this your handiwork?” she said, producing the forensic team’s photograph of Monique’s genitalia, which displayed the inserted ring.
    â€œThat’s not one of mine.”
    â€œThen whose is it?”
    Anger and defiance replaced his fear. He grabbed a tattered Yellow Pages directory. “Here! Body Piercing! There’s four pages. Take your pick.”
    Margaret’s hands grabbed his forearms like a vise, pressing them hard against the Formica counter.
    â€œDon’t try fucking with me,” Margaret growled. “You need a medical degree to draw blood, and I can close you down faster than you can say health violation.” She flipped open her cellular phone. “You’re just seven digits away from an inspection by the Board of Health.”
    â€œThat’s police harassment.”
    Margaret punched in a series of numbers.
    â€œOh shit,” he groaned as Margaret placed the handheld receiver close to Francis’s ear.
    â€œYou have reached the New York City Department of Health. If you are calling from a touch-tone phone, please press 1.”
    Margaret’s finger complied.
    â€œIf this is an emergency, please press 2…If you are reporting a violation of health code, please press 3…If you are calling to speak to someone in our AIDS Awareness Center, please—”
    â€œI think 3 is the one we want, don’t you?”
    â€œTurn that thing off.”
    â€œYou gonna tell me what I want to know?”
    Francis nodded.
    Margaret hit the disconnect button and folded the cellular phone.
    â€œYou know what they do to whistle-blowers in my line of work?” Francis whined.
    â€œI don’t give a fuck. I want to know who made the ring, and who did this piercing.”
    â€œHe’ll string me up by my