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“We need to find out exactly what happened,” she said to him worriedly, and he nodded in agreement.
But, as she approached the body, May's attention was sidetracked by activity in a clearing nearby.
Two paramedics were attending to a young, good-looking man. He was sobbing brokenly and the front of his white shirt was spattered and smeared with blood.
Sheriff Jack was standing by them, watching and waiting, running a hand over his graying hair with a stern expression on his face. He was speaking on the phone. Perhaps he was calling this man’s parents, May wondered.
She felt as if she was walking into a complex puzzle, with many different and fragmented pieces. There were some that she didn't know or understand yet. But she knew that everything she was seeing so far would be important. Who was this young man; why was he spattered in blood; had he committed the crime?
There was no time to find out more from Sheriff Jack, because she wanted to move forward and view the body. Even though this scene was out in the woods, May hoped that there might be trace evidence that would help give them clarity. Just as Owen had done, May put on the foot covers and gloves from the cardboard box before approaching any closer.
Then, pressing her lips together firmly, May stepped nearer to where the pathologist was working. It was the county pathologist, Andy Baker, a man she knew well. His eyes were serious over his mask as he glanced around at her and gave a small nod of greeting.
Beyond him, she saw a young woman, lying in the early morning light, staring sightlessly up at the sky, wearing a silver prom dress.
The sight was a horrifying one for May, all the more so because it brought the memories of her sister flooding back. She closed her eyes, feeling a rush of sympathy for this girl and her family. She’d had a life ahead of her, and now it was over.
She had to keep strong and be professional, May resolved. She had to think clearly and be calm, to see and recall every detail.
Looking down, she saw the girl’s face was framed by long, luxurious curls. Her eyes were closed and her skin was pale, ashen. Her lips were parted. Her makeup was smudged. She was surrounded by red petals, that now looked wilted and drooped. They were scattered around her body, with one or two lying on her dress.
Rose petals? Had they been scattered there after the crime? That was very strange, May thought. And it was a crime. The cause of death was clearly visible. May didn't even need the coroner who was examining the body to explain what she saw. She gasped as she stared at the visible evidence.
She had been strangled. The marks on her neck and the evidence in her face, including a nosebleed staining her face and dress, told the story of the violent scene that had played out in these peaceful woods.
Strangulation. The word felt wrong, impossible, as May stared at the corpse. How could anyone have done such a thing? What had played out?
Had it been a crime of passion? she wondered. Fueled by excessive drink and emotion, had someone committed this violent act in the heat of the moment?
Or had it happened some other way?
A prickle of fear danced along the back of her neck, almost like someone was watching her. But when she turned to look, she could see nothing out of the ordinary. Only the dense, thick trees, still and waiting in the brightening light.
“Morning, Andy,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “What evidence do we have so far?”
"Morning, May," he greeted her, his voice sharp and worried behind his mask. "This victim has been identified as Alyssa Darlington, who lives in Sevenfields."
May nodded, visualizing the nearby small town immediately. It was an affluent area, less than fifteen minutes' drive from Fairshore.
"The cause of death is strangulation, as I'm sure you can see. On her neck, there are clear signs that someone reached around to strangle her," the coroner continued. "The attacker is most likely right-handed." May nodded, grateful for this important early evidence as he continued. "The witness who found the body is over there. He said he is her boyfriend."
He inclined his head toward the young man standing with Sheriff Jack and the paramedics.
A boyfriend? This situation was getting more confusing. Why had he not been with her as she headed into the woods? May wondered. Or had he? she then thought, with a chill.
"Do we have a timeframe?" she asked, glad that she sounded as calm and controlled as she’d hoped.
"We received the call twenty minutes ago, and reached the scene five minutes ago. The death must have occurred very recently prior to our call."
"That's helpful," May said.
"There's nothing we can do for her now but the post-mortem," he continued. "We'll prioritize that, of course. All the vital evidence will be gathered and recorded. I hope it tells us something."
May nodded. Given how recent this timeframe was, the testimony of every person still at this after-party would be critical and could add something important.
She felt glad she'd asked the officer at the parking lot to prevent anyone from leaving.
But first and foremost, she needed to find out more from the witness who had discovered the body. Why was he covered in blood? What had played out?
