Read Online Stillborn Armadillos (John Lee Quarrels Book 1) by Nick Russell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nick Russell
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on latex gloves. The bones had been laid out on three tables, which were assembled side-by-side.
"We don't have any one complete skeleton," Shania said. "We've tried to put the bones we do have in the right places, based on our observations and past experience. But that's not to say that every bone on Number 1 here shouldn't actually be over there on Number 2 or 3."
"I understand. What do you think happened to the other bones? Everything we found out there is here."
"Oh, it's hard to say. Animals may have carried some off, changes in the earth from temperature variations may have shifted some around. There are all kinds of possibilities. I'm sure your folks and the team that went out from here found everything there was to find."
"Good, I'd hate to think we missed something. We've never come across a crime scene like this before, so we're kind of out of our league."
"Not to worry, we'll give you all that we have here. So, here are a few things I can tell you to start with. All three of the victims were of African descent."
"How can you tell that?"
She pointed at one of the skulls and said, "The nasal features of the skull, of all three skulls, are the first clue. Notice the shape of the nasal opening on each one?" She went to a glass cabinet on the wall and removed another skull. "This gentleman is a Caucasian of European descent. See the difference in size and shape?"
"I do."
She replaced the specimen in the cabinet and turned back to the table. "I would go so far as to say that these people are all of West African descent. Skulls of people from that region are prognathic. They usually have a protruding mouth/jaw area, and a tendency to have a longer, thinner shape. On the other hand, Caucasian skulls like the one I just showed you tend to be more flat faced, and quite often have occipital buns."
"That's amazing," John Lee said.
"I think so. Now in addition to their race, I feel comfortable in saying that these gentlemen were of a low socioeconomic status. Notice how the teeth are all worn and look like they were poorly cared for? This indicates to me a poor diet along with a lack of any kind of dental care,"
"You just described half the people in Somerton County, black or white," John Lee told her, remembering Rita Sue Baker's smile.
Shania laughed. He found himself really enjoying her company.
"You said gentleman. You can tell their sex?"
"Deputy Quarrels, I don't have to see a penis to know it's a man."
"These days you're never sure either way unless you actually check," John Lee said, then instantly regretted it, hoping he had not stepped over a line. But she put his mind at ease when she laughed loudly.
"There's a lot of truth there. Even in a relatively small city like Tallahassee I've seen some things that just make me shake my head."
John Lee found himself liking her more by the moment.
"Anyway, back to gender. Male skeletons have a narrow deep pelvis and women a wider, shallower pelvis better suited to carry a baby. And you see this notch here in the fan shaped bone of the pelvis? If you stick your thumb in and there is room to wiggle it, it's a female. If it's tight, it's a male. And I know what you're thinking, you sicko, you!"
This time they both laughed.
"I have to admit, you're not at all what I expected," John Lee told her.
"What do you mean? Because I'm black, or a woman, or a scientist?"
"All three," he admitted. "I don't know, I'm just a backwoods boy. I guess I pictured some gray-haired old man with thick glasses and no sense of humor."
"I'm sorry to disappoint."
"Not at all," he assured her. "It's a very pleasant surprise."
"For what it's worth, you're not exactly what I expected, either," Shania said
"How so?"
"A good ol' boy white deputy from the piney woods. I guess maybe a black city girl like me expected a redneck named Bubba with a cheek full of tobacco. But you're not half bad."
"Oh, if you want to meet some of those Bubbas you just described, I know a whole bunch of
"We don't have any one complete skeleton," Shania said. "We've tried to put the bones we do have in the right places, based on our observations and past experience. But that's not to say that every bone on Number 1 here shouldn't actually be over there on Number 2 or 3."
"I understand. What do you think happened to the other bones? Everything we found out there is here."
"Oh, it's hard to say. Animals may have carried some off, changes in the earth from temperature variations may have shifted some around. There are all kinds of possibilities. I'm sure your folks and the team that went out from here found everything there was to find."
"Good, I'd hate to think we missed something. We've never come across a crime scene like this before, so we're kind of out of our league."
"Not to worry, we'll give you all that we have here. So, here are a few things I can tell you to start with. All three of the victims were of African descent."
"How can you tell that?"
She pointed at one of the skulls and said, "The nasal features of the skull, of all three skulls, are the first clue. Notice the shape of the nasal opening on each one?" She went to a glass cabinet on the wall and removed another skull. "This gentleman is a Caucasian of European descent. See the difference in size and shape?"
"I do."
She replaced the specimen in the cabinet and turned back to the table. "I would go so far as to say that these people are all of West African descent. Skulls of people from that region are prognathic. They usually have a protruding mouth/jaw area, and a tendency to have a longer, thinner shape. On the other hand, Caucasian skulls like the one I just showed you tend to be more flat faced, and quite often have occipital buns."
"That's amazing," John Lee said.
"I think so. Now in addition to their race, I feel comfortable in saying that these gentlemen were of a low socioeconomic status. Notice how the teeth are all worn and look like they were poorly cared for? This indicates to me a poor diet along with a lack of any kind of dental care,"
"You just described half the people in Somerton County, black or white," John Lee told her, remembering Rita Sue Baker's smile.
Shania laughed. He found himself really enjoying her company.
"You said gentleman. You can tell their sex?"
"Deputy Quarrels, I don't have to see a penis to know it's a man."
"These days you're never sure either way unless you actually check," John Lee said, then instantly regretted it, hoping he had not stepped over a line. But she put his mind at ease when she laughed loudly.
"There's a lot of truth there. Even in a relatively small city like Tallahassee I've seen some things that just make me shake my head."
John Lee found himself liking her more by the moment.
"Anyway, back to gender. Male skeletons have a narrow deep pelvis and women a wider, shallower pelvis better suited to carry a baby. And you see this notch here in the fan shaped bone of the pelvis? If you stick your thumb in and there is room to wiggle it, it's a female. If it's tight, it's a male. And I know what you're thinking, you sicko, you!"
This time they both laughed.
"I have to admit, you're not at all what I expected," John Lee told her.
"What do you mean? Because I'm black, or a woman, or a scientist?"
"All three," he admitted. "I don't know, I'm just a backwoods boy. I guess I pictured some gray-haired old man with thick glasses and no sense of humor."
"I'm sorry to disappoint."
"Not at all," he assured her. "It's a very pleasant surprise."
"For what it's worth, you're not exactly what I expected, either," Shania said
"How so?"
"A good ol' boy white deputy from the piney woods. I guess maybe a black city girl like me expected a redneck named Bubba with a cheek full of tobacco. But you're not half bad."
"Oh, if you want to meet some of those Bubbas you just described, I know a whole bunch of
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