"There's a lot more metals than gold and silver," Dean said. "They used to call aluminum siding salesmen 'tin men.' Maybe 'metalman' is some sheet metal worker or some heavy metal rocker."
Fred nodded and began writing on his pad. "I remember a Bruins hockey player with a metal plate in his head. They called him metal man."
"Pumpkin Green was a fan of heavy metal music," Cynthia offered. "Maybe he's metalman29."
"And he was in the play, Boo!" Fred added. The trio had pretty much dismissed Pumpkin Green's involvement in spite of his connection with the play. His age was wrong but that was when they suspected Martha's bones dated back to the 1960s. Now it was open season, as they had no idea of the skeleton's age-provided Jennifer Radisson's report of Josh Mulligan's later death was credible. Dean planned to cruise the town later in hopes of locating the young man.
The trio continued to click down the list of people at Bird Song who were around when the bone fragment theft was discovered. They moved on to anyone involved with the mine property. Back to the Dawkins clan and Jennifer. Brandon Westlake? He qualified as always being around. Even his many years absence from visiting Ouray no longer eliminated him as a suspect now that the age of the bones was uncertain. There was attorney Faust but there was no proof he had even set foot in Bird Song. Then they were back to Fitzgerald, AWOL but not out of the picture.
"This 'metalman' business may be the key," Dean said. "There's a chance the offer for the mine was completely innocent-simply someone who was legitimately interested in The Lucky Pup and then changed his mind."
It was then Cynthia renewed her simple earlier suggestion. "If we want to know who 'metalman29' is, why don't we just write him? E-mail him. It can't do any harm and it may shed light on his intentions."
The more Dean thought about it, the more it made sense. If "metalman29" was someone who wished to remain incognito, he might not answer, but he'd know that someone besides the Dawkinses was aware of his existence. If he was an innocent prospective purchaser, he might very well reply.
The three went to Fred's temporary quarters in Martha's small first-floor room to compose the message. After much discussion, they agreed on the wording:
"I understand you have an interest in the Lucky Pup mine in Ouray County, Colorado and may be anxious about what was found therein. Perhaps we could arrange to meet and discuss this matter."
"Should we sign it from Bird Song?" Cynthia asked.