Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Laurel watched the fire. “Thank you for calling. What did you find?”
“Starting with Delta Rivers, I found multiple contusions and abrasions on the upper limbs and right side of the head.”
“Okay,” Laurel said. “Somebody grabbed her arms and her head.”
“Yes,” Dr. Ortega affirmed. “Specifically, there are clusters of bruises on both forearms consistent with being forcefully gripped, and also an abrasion on the right cheekbone, maybe from blunt force trauma.”
That made sense with Laurel’s theory of the case. “So somebody grabbed her arms and her head, and either hit her in the face or smashed her face into a hard surface such as ice.”
“That’s what I surmise. No internal injuries or fractures noted, and the skin around the wrists was damaged. I collected fiber samples that look like rope and sent them to the lab”
So the killing was more about restraint than inflicting bodily injury. “What about cause of death?”
“Petechial hemorrhage is present in the conjunctiva of both eyes, indicative of asphyxia.”
“What about her lungs?” Laurel asked.
He cleared his throat and then coughed several times, sounding as if he was coming down with a cold. The man had probably been working around the clock. “The lungs are edematous and congested, with foam present in the airways consistent with drowning.”
Laurel clicked through what she remembered about the victim. “What about a microscopic examination?”
Keys tapped across the line. “The presence of diatoms was confirmed in lung tissue samples supporting the diagnosis of drowning.”
Laurel had figured that would be the case, but one never knew. “Any additional findings?”
“Yes, the toxicology report is pending, but blood analysis shows signs consistent with hypothermia, including elevated levels of cold-induced enzymes.”
Laurel nodded. “That makes sense because the river is freezing. Please give me the conclusion.”
Dr. Ortega cleared his throat. “Cause of death is determined to be drowning with evidence of premortem physical altercation, including bruising consistent with forceful restraint and signs of blunt force trauma to the head. The manner of death is classified as homicide.”
Laurel leaned back and rubbed a hand over her eye. “What do you think? It sounds like she fought with somebody, and then they shoved her head down into the freezing water until she drowned.”
“Unfortunately,” Dr. Ortega said, “that’s exactly what it sounds like. The thing is, especially at the Iceberg River, they would’ve had to cut a hole in that ice, even on the edge, to be able to do this. There was scraping on the top of her scalp as if her head was actually shoved beneath the ice.”
“That’s a very brutal killing,” Laurel murmured. “What about Teri Bearing’s autopsy?”
The doctor clicked keys again. “Everything’s pretty much the same as the first victim except for height and weight. Same manner of death—definite drowning.”
“Any other injuries?”
“Affirmative. Contusions on the body and same on the skull that might’ve caused loss of consciousness, as well as damage from the probable ropes around the wrists,” he said.
Laurel looked up at the ceiling. “It would take a perpetrator with impressive strength to be able to hold a victim down like that.”
“Maybe,” Dr. Ortega said, sounding exhausted. “It would depend on leverage.”
That was an excellent point. Especially on the freezing banks of both rivers, if the victims’ hands were bound for some time. Even if their hands had been freed, it would have been difficult for either of them to find purchase with arms or elbows or hands to shove themselves back up, particularly if somebody had pushed their heads beneath the ice.
“Thank you for your dedicated work. I appreciate it,” Laurel said.
“Any time. I hope you catch this guy before I get another body. Good night, Agent Snow.” He ended the call.
Another body? So did she. The wind howled against the windows, and she shivered. Was Jason Abbott this killer? Or did she have two monsters out there?
Chapter 17
Val Vuittron could not make the bank shot. Frustration made her hands shake as she tried again and missed.
“It’s okay.” Her pal Lonni slapped her on the back. “Take a deep breath. This is just open gym, dude.”
Val looked at her friend. “Did you just call me dude?”
Lonni grinned, showing new blue rubber bands in her braces. She had curly black hair and sparkling brown eyes. Her skin was a deep brown with peach highlights, and she was an excellent point guard. “Yes. Relax. We’re just goofing off. We have a lot of time until the spring tournaments.”
“Yeah, but I want to win this year.” They played three-on-three in the street, and last year she’d nearly broken her ankle. Her mom had freaked and made her wear a brace for the rest of the tournament. Sometimes it seemed like her mom working with Laurel and the FBI calmed her, and other times, Kate had to triple-check the locks on the doors before going to sleep.
Lonni tossed the ball and hit the backboard, making a basket. “We will, but part of this game is having fun.”