Page 24 of Bring Them Home

“Did you notice anyone in the area you haven’t seen before?” She recognized the reach of the question. It wasn’t like a residential neighborhood in a town, where it was easier to note such things. To decrease the odds, the field where Paul had been found was a distance down the road.

Rhett turned to look out the window again. It was as if he were seeking a temporary reprieve to protect himself mentally and emotionally.

“No, but it’s not like we would. It’s rather quiet around here.” Shelley spoke up when her husband remained silent.

Amanda nodded. Again, she understood. And those who had dumped Paul’s body would have done so during the night, when there would be even less chance of being spotted. She stood and handed her business card to Shelley. “If either of you think of anything else, call me. The Prince William County Police Department also offers a service for victims. If you’d like to speak with counselors about what you’re going through⁠—”

“No,” Rhett pushed out with force. “I’m not talking to any quack. I’ll get through this on my own.”

“Rhett,” Shelley reprimanded her husband, her cheeks flushing a bright red. “We don’t call them that anymore.” To Amanda and Trent, she added, “Please excuse him. He can come across offensive sometimes. He’s just from a different time.”

“No worries, but if he changes his mind…” Amanda nudged her head toward her card in the wife’s hand. A silent acknowledgment passed between them.

Rhett’s gaze was fixed out the window as Amanda and Trent saw themselves out of the room.

Back in the car, Trent said, “That was hard to witness.”

“He’s got a rough time ahead of him.” How our day looks…

THIRTEEN

Amanda led the way through the field toward the body. No sign of Wildlife Resources yet, but Rideout was over the body with Liam at his side, on his tablet. He often recorded Rideout’s observations. CSIs Blair and Donnelly were standing back, ready to collect, photograph, or move in once the body was removed. The ground beneath the victim could house key evidence.

Rideout briefly looked away from the body to acknowledge their return. “And here you are just as you promised.”

“We wouldn’t want to let you down.” Amanda welcomed the light banter, anything that would attempt to tamp down the direness of the situation.

“Yes, well… I don’t have to tell you the birds made a real mess of the remains. I can still confidently say, there is evidence of several stab wounds. At preliminary count, there are five. I’ll know for sure once I get him back to the morgue.”

That would be where Paul Archer would be dissected further. His organs weighed and measured, and every part of him treated like parts of a machine. “Do you think he bled out from all those wounds, or was one in particular the cause of death?”

Rideout smiled. “I’ll reserve commenting until I’ve returned with him to the morgue and have conducted a thorough examination of the remains.”

Amanda glanced at the body again. “Multiple stab wounds could indicate torture. Can you tell if they were inflicted over a period of time?” She was thinking how the Archer house was tossed. Someone was looking for something. Now whether that was information stored somewhere or a specific item, they had no way of knowing at this point.

“Not here.”

“You’ll know more once you get back to the morgue.” That was the ME’s fallback position, not that she begrudged him that, especially with this case and the condition of the remains.

“Time of death, by chance?” Trent asked.

“Likely days.”

“Remember, Wildlife Resources should be able to help us with that too.” Emma Blair spoke up.

Rideout glanced at her and shook his head. “Sounds like Liam and I should leave then, let them take over from here.” His expression came out sounding serious until the end when his mouth cracked into a grin.

“Touchy,” Emma said to him. “All they can tell is us how long the body’s been exposed to the birds. That could give us a ballpark. So calm down, cowboy.”

Liam laughed, but Rideout grimaced.

Amanda pointed at the remaining eye. “Does the cloudiness suggest he’s been here a while?”

“Not necessarily. Corneal clouding begins within two hours of death. It’s also dependent upon environmental factors, like humidity, for example.”

Working in their favor was the fact it hadn’t rained since last Friday. That was at least one thing that hadn’t violated the scene. The sun and heat would have though. “So in this case…?”

“It would have happened fast.” Rideout motioned toward Liam, signaling for him to help move the body. “Let’s get him on the road. However long he’s been here, it’s been long enough.”