Blue Moon Rising: A suspense thriller by Lillian Francken Read Free Book Online Page A

glanced at the clock on the wall and then turned back to Nancy.
    “Something came up, and I called only to set up a meeting with you, preferably tomorrow.”
    Dan took a step closer to the examining table. A sheet covered the lower half of the corpse.
    “What did you find so far?” Dan asked, disregarding what she had just said.
    Nancy shook her head and then turned to the table. “The body was unusually clean considering where it was dumped except for a few minute fibers under one fingernail.”
    Nancy picked up the slide tray. “And I found this animal hair between two toes that the assailant missed.”
    “Maybe it came from where we found the body,” Dan added.
    “No. I doubt that. There was no indication any animal was near the body. I’m not sure, but I think it’s from a black bear.”
    Dan looked puzzled. “When will you know for sure,” he asked quickly.
    “Later.”
    “If it was a black bear, all I need to do now is find the fireplace it’s lying in front of,” Dan joked. “What was the cause of death?”
    “The more he struggled the tighter the rope got around his neck until finally he died of Asphyxiation.”
    “With all those cuts?”
    “They were superficial. There was only one that could have been fatal, but he was already dead when he sustained it.”
    “Are you saying what I think you are saying?”
    “Yeah, the person watched him struggle until he died and then stabbed him to make sure he was dead.”
    “What kind of person does that to a fellow human being?”
    “A very sick person,” Nancy said. She rolled her eyes as she approached the tray with instruments. “You should see some of the bodies I’ve worked on.” Nancy hesitated a moment as she turned back to Dan and added. “I sent some tissue samples down for DNA.”
    Dan gave the body a once-over. He understood now why Charlie was so upset. He did not know how he would handle it if something like this every happened to Kelly.
    “Not a pretty sight.”
    “You’re right there. I’ll have the evidence to convict, all you have to do is find the bastard who did this.”
    “What about the rope?” Dan inquired.
    “You can buy it at any hardware store.”
    “You seemed pretty interested in the knot. What about it?”
    “The rope tied to the feet had what’s called a surgeon’s knot,” Nancy remarked and then hesitated. “For obvious reasons.”
    “So our guy has a medical background?”
    “Not necessarily. He could also be a Boy Scout.”
    Dan looked at Nancy a moment and then glanced at his watch while Nancy reached for the scalpel. She was about to make an incision when Dan stepped closer to the table. Dan studied her for the longest time. There was something comfortable about talking with her that he hadn’t felt in a while.
    “Doc.”
    “It’s Nancy, if you don’t mind.”
    “I’ve got to go out to Senator Maxwell’s house.”
    Nancy suddenly had a funny look on her face. She turned away from Dan and avoided his gaze.
    “Why did you give me that look?” Dan asks.
    “It’s nothing.”
    “Come on,” Dan goaded. “What is it?”
    Nancy shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
    “I’m not playing games. I want to know. What is it?” Dan asked one more time.
    “It was just that a few years back in Little Rock, his son was implicated in this case I was on.”
    “Alan?” Dan appeared puzzled for a moment because he had not realized Alan was ever in trouble.
    Nancy held up her hand. Dan stared at the scalpel in the other hand.
    “Nothing came of it. I shouldn’t be repeating it.”
    “I never heard anything about it.”
    “Like I said, it was nothing.”
    “What was the case?”
    “I don’t even remember, it was so long ago,” Nancy said, as she shook her head. “He was cleared.”
    “But something made you think about him.”
    Nancy motioned with her hands for him to leave. “If you don’t mind, I have work to do.”
    Dan studied Nancy a moment and then turned and walked out. He didn’t know her