Introduction

Dr. Temperance Brennan, newly minted head of forensic anthropology at the Jeffersonian Institute in Washington, DC, decided to spend her first weekend in town at the Georgia O'Keefe art exhibit that was currently showing at the art museum. True, there were several things that she could have been doing- not least among them sorting out all of her things out of their boxes at her new apartment. But O'Keefe was one of her favorite artists and she had a feeling that she would be very busy once her job started on Monday.

The exhibit was every bit as enthralling as she had thought it would be. The flower paintings were beautiful, though some were a bit abstract for her taste, but what truly drew her to O'Keefe were the skull paintings. Placed in numerous settings from the desert, to simple, non-descript white and blue backgrounds, the pieces drew her in like a magnet.

Perhaps it was because of her own extensive work with human skulls, but not only was she drawn in by the accuracy and attention to detail on the O'Keefe skull paintings, she was also intrigued as to what the flesh counterparts of those skulls may have looked like. It was like a game to her, to try and determine what the livestock may or may not have looked like- which was very much in the same vein of what she did for a living.

Dragging her eyes from the canvas in front of her to check the time she noticed a woman about her own age, with a drawing tablet and a charcoal pencil, carefully sketching something. Usually, Brennan was not one to stare, but the tablet caught her interest because the artist at work was putting on to paper exactly what Brennan had been envisioning in her own mind: a face on the horse from the skull in the portrait.

Her curiosity piqued, she watched as the young woman worked, a sense of awe overtaking her as she watched each stroke breathe life into the dry bones of the skull.

"Excuse me," Brennan said, hoping that she would not be perceived as rude for interrupting, "Your work is marvelous."

"This old thing?" the artist turned to her, revealing a smiling face framed by dark, shoulder-length hair, "I just thought the poor thing deserved more than a bare skull," she pointed to the O'Keefe painting in front of them.

"It's highly accurate and very aesthetically pleasing," Brennan complimented her, "I was envisioning the same thing myself."

"And here I thought I was the only one who did stuff like that," the artist replied, thrusting out her hand, "I'm Angela Montenegro, by the way."

"Dr. Temperance Brennan," they shook hands, "I could never translate my thoughts to paper in the way that you do."

Angela shrugged, "It's second nature for me."

A thought occurred to Brennan, "I don't wish to be rude but are you currently employed?"

Angela threw back her head and laughed, "Sweetie, I just finished backpacking through Europe, so no, no job for me."

"Would you be interested in one?" Brennan asked, "It would involve doing very similar work to what you are drawing right now."

"You want me to put faces to horse skulls?" Angela raised her eyebrow and sounded uncertain.

"Humans actually," Brennan clarified, "I'm a forensic anthropologist at the Jeffersonian Institute and I am in the process of forming a forensics team to assist me. I believe your work could aid our work immensely."

"Sure," Angela shrugged, shocking the young doctor, "Anything I need to do?"

"I will speak with my supervisor tonight," Brennan promised her, "But I believe it will not be an issue."

"Okay," the artist began packing her things into a small bag, "I'm starving! You wanna grab something to eat?"

"Yes, are you familiar with any restaurants in the area?"

"There are some great Thai places," Angela said as the two headed for the exit, "And an Indian place that is to die for."

Brennan wasn't sure why one would want to die for a restaurant, but she did not wish to look ignorant in front of her new friend and merely replied, "Either one is fine in my opinion."

"Indian it is!" Angela declared, "Ya know, this just could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship!"

"I don't know what that means," Brennan admitted, "But as I am new to the area, and since we will most likely together, I am not opposed to the idea in the least."

Angela laughed again and the two headed off together into the night.