BONES AU - PART FOUR "Princess and the Pear"

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

"I can assure you that this is a clean and fair auction. We've been running this auction for 15 years." Derf, the auctioneer from ImagiCon , answered to Perotta and Malo at his booth.

Perotta shook her head. "Please answer the question, Mr. Dorf."

"Its Derf. And, yes, I certified and registered the item. I even gave the consigner an option to store it in our secure room. She declined."

"Consigner has to give you detailed contact information, right?"

"If they want to get paid."

"And sometimes you give that information to certain parties interested in illegal pre-bidding?"

"What? No, no. Look, I told you before-"

Malo cut in. "Your pupils are constricted, suggesting an increase in adrenaline. And the change in voice pitch indicates increased pressure in the neck via the laryngeal prominence."

Derf raised a worried eyebrow. "What, what are you saying?"

"That you're lying to us. Kinesthesia is a clear indicator of dissembling, Mr. Dorf."

"It's Derf! But look-"

Perotta interrupted him, holding up a recording and play back device. "Do you recognize this voice?" She played the recording from the answering machine.

Malo saw his eyes widen and tilted his head. "Did that woman contact you about the sword?"

Derf nodded. "Yes, she did. Her name is Valerie Daniels. She's a medieval weapons collector."

"And you provided her with Kendra Kim's address and phone number?"

"Every auction does private pre-bids, and no one ever gets-"

"Hurt?"

"What? Wait a minute. What about the Excalibur? Did you find it? Is it still going up for auction?" Derf asked after them as they left.

The two ignored him, having a separate conversation, now.

"Joe was right. You're like a portable polygraph."

"I'm guessing he didn't say that in an appraising tone, did he?"

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Malo and Perotta had gotten a hold of Valerie for questioning in the F. B. I. conference room. She was explaining what she did to them, for clarification.

"This is quite a collection of medieval and fantasy weapons, Miss Daniels." Malo remarked.

Valerie shrugged. "My parents call it a waste of my trust fund, which is praise enough for me."

Perotta raised an eyebrow. "Seems like an unlikely hobby for a young woman."

The questioned, again, shrugged. "I like sharp edges. I like sharp against soft. What do you like, Dr. Sweets?"

Malo went red. "W-What?"

Perotta shook her head and changed the subject fast. "Can you account for your whereabouts Wednesday night?"