With Malice

It wasn’t that she was hardened to it; she was just accustomed to it—very different things. It was never pleasant—it would never be pleasant—but she no longer had to fight to maintain control in here.

“What have you got so far?” she asked the M.E., Dr. Caleb Carter, when he’d finished dictating something into the microphone that hung from the ceiling on an adjustable arm. Right now it was close to his mouth.

“Female Caucasian, approximately twenty-eight years of age…”

Karen had already pretty much figured that much out, but she let him run through the stats: height, weight, general health.

“Diseased right ovary,” he continued, “and evidence of at least one not-too-good abortion. I’d say that was a long time ago, though.”

“Okay.” She had her notebook out, ready to write down anything that seemed particularly relevant, things she wouldn’t want to forget before the report was issued.

“Proximate cause of death appears to be strangulation from a nylon stocking wrapped around her throat. There are four separate bite marks. From their locations and depth, I’d hazard a guess that there was a lot of rage involved in this act.”

That was worthy of note. “Not ritualistic?”

“Well, there’s always that possibility,” he said, looking across the table at her. “I’m not a profiler. But…my guess is this was an act of rage, an instant response to some kind of provocation.”

“Was she raped?”

“From my external examination, I’d say no. The swabs might say differently.”

“Anything else?”

“Oh yes. She’s got plenty of skin under her fingernails. She must have put up a fight before he got her hands bound behind her back. My guess is that someone is running around with some pretty deep scratches, probably on his arms.”

“So look for a man in an overcoat, huh?”

Carter chuckled. “Or at least long sleeves.”

Outside, Karen found Previn standing in the hallway, watching from behind the safety of the window.

He flushed when he saw her. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay, Previn. The first one is always hard. Just give me back my Vicks in case I need it.”

Sheepishly, he passed her the small jar. “It didn’t sound like he had much.”

“Actually, he gave me a great deal.”