main collection.”
“May I see it?”
“Of course, of course!” And Puck was shuffling off again in a new direction. “Right around the corner.”
They stopped at last before two shelves. The upper was full of more papers and boxes. On top of one box was a promissory note, with a faded inventory of items transferred from J. C. Shottum to T. F. McFadden, as payment for Services Rendered and Promised. The lower shelf was stuffed with a variety of curious objects. Glancing over them, Nora saw stuffed animals wrapped in wax paper and twine, dubious-looking fossils, a double-headed pig floating in a glass jeroboam, a dried anaconda curled into a giant five-foot knot, a stuffed chicken with six legs and four wings, and a bizarre box made out of an elephant’s foot.
Puck blew his nose like a trumpet, wiped his eyes. “Poor Tinbury would turn over in his grave if he knew that his precious collection ended up down here. He thought it had priceless scientific value. Of course, that was at a time when many of the Museum’s curators were amateurs with poor scientific credentials.”
Nora pointed to the promissory note. “This seems to indicate Shottum gave McFadden specimens in exchange for his work.”
“A standard practice.”
“So some of these things came from Shottum’s Cabinet?”
“Without a doubt.”
“Could I examine these specimens, too?”
Puck beamed. “I’ll move all of it to the Research Room and set it up on tables. When it’s ready, I’ll let you know.”
“How long will that take?”
“A day.” His face reddened with the pleasure of being of use.
“Don’t you need help moving these things?”
“Oh, yes. My assistant, Oscar, will do it.”
Nora looked around. “Oscar?”
“Oscar Gibbs. He usually works up in Osteology. We don’t get many visitors down here. I call him down for special work like this.”
“This is very kind of you, Mr. Puck.”
“Kind? The pleasure’s all mine, I assure you, my dear girl!”
“I’ll be bringing a colleague.”
An uncertain look clouded Puck’s face. “A colleague? There are rules about that,what with the new security and all…”He hesitated,almost embarrassed.
“Rules?”
“Only Museum staff allowed. The Archives used to be open to everybody, but now we’ve been restricted to Museum staff. And trustees.”
“Special Agent Pendergast is, ah,
connected
with the Museum.”
“
Agent
Pendergast? Yes, the name’s familiar… Pendergast. I remember him now. The southern gentleman. Oh, dear.” A momentary look of distress crossed the man’s face. “Well, well, as you wish. I’ll expect you both tomorrow at nine o’clock.”
TWO
P ATRICK M URPHY O’S HAUGHNESSY SAT IN THE PRECINCT CAPTAIN’S office, waiting for him to get off the phone. He had been waiting five minutes, but so far Custer hadn’t even looked in his direction. Which was just fine with him. O’Shaughnessy scanned the walls without interest, his eyes moving from commendation plaques to departmental shooting trophies, lighting at last upon the painting on the far wall. It showed a little cabin in a swamp, at night, under a full moon, its windows casting a yellow glow over the waters. It was a source of endless amusement to the 7th Precinct that their captain, with all his mannerisms and his pretensions to culture, had a velvet painting proudly displayed in his office. There had even been talk of getting an office pool together, soliciting donations for a less revolting replacement. O’Shaughnessy used to laugh along with them, but now he found it pathetic. It was all so pathetic.
The rattle of the phone in its cradle brought him out of his reverie. He looked up as Custer pressed his intercom button.
“Sergeant Noyes, come in here, please.”
O’Shaughnessy looked away. This wasn’t a good sign. Herbert Noyes, recently transferred from Internal Affairs, was Custer’s new personal assistant and numero uno ass-kisser. Something unpleasant was definitely
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