“Yes.”
Gene wasn’t done.
“Was there sexual assault?” he asked.
Again, the man answered.
“No.”
That’s when Gene let him have it.ALL OF THATshould have beenINCLUDEDin the file. It was shit they needed to know to do their job.
“I don’t know how the cops around here solve shit, and frankly, that’s none of my goddamn business, but when the FBI asks for autopsy results, maybe putALL OF THE RESULTS IN THE REPORT!”
The man bristled.
Dannie cringed because someone wasREALLYgoing to be miserable from here on out. The ME was being called out in front of everyone.
Everyone was staring at the Fed reading the local ME the riot act. Oh, he didn’t blame him, but it was damn uncomfortable to watch.
Gene was making no friends here.
When he was done being pissed, the Fed focused on his ME and started getting as much information as possible.
“Doc, help a guy out. We’re two days in, and I still don’t know more than the basics. What can you tell me?” he asked. “I’ll want confirmation on what the‘good’doctor just shared with the class about the restraining and assault.”
Oh, the Fed ME got it.
It was wild that at the two-day mark, the other ME hadn’t given them the basics.
Luis was just finishing liver temp and doing the math with the temperature outside. He held up a finger, used a calculator, and then shared.
“She died a couple hours ago. I’m going to say around nine or ten. Her COD…that’s looking like a single stab wound to the heart. It’s a clean in and out, and likely bisected her aorta. She probably died immediately. I’ll know more on that when I open her up.”
Oh, there was no doubt.
“How about as to being bound or sexually assaulted?” Gene asked, staring right at the other ME as if daring him to say shit.
Luis tried to move her arm, but she was locked up from rigor and the cold.
“I don’t see anything, but when you remove the skin, you take away the visible part. I’ll have to look at tissue under the microscope. What I can see is a slight discoloration in the bloodvessels on her wrist. I’m going to say yes to being bound. As for sexual assault, I have to get her in to see that.”
Gene was curious.
“Can we brush off her face a little more? I can see her features, but we need to get a picture of her so we can figure out who she is.”
Their ME did as they asked, and when he did, Dannie actually moved closer.
“She looks familiar.”
That had Gene and Ethan’s attention.
“She does?” Blackhawk asked.
The man nodded and then looked over at his partner for confirmation.
“Does she look like that attorney at the courthouse? You know, the one who works there?” he asked.
Leah got a little closer and squinted at the woman. Her face was distorted from death.
