Body Of Truth by Deirdre Savoy Read Free Book Online Page A

drugs we look for.”
    Horgan flipped over a page in her chart. “Her last meal—eggs, toast and Canadian bacon—was still fairly intact. I’d put her death between six and ten o’clock Friday morning.”
    Jonathan recorded the pertinent details in his notebook. “Anything else?”
    â€œHere’s where it gets interesting,” Horgan continued. “Remember, I told you I thought the body had been washed before being dumped in the alley? I confirmed it. I thought from the smell it was probably rubbing alcohol and it was. But, here’s the interesting part.”
    Horgan produced a tiny glassine envelope with a miniscule scrap of something dark in one corner. “Your killer wasn’t as thorough as he thought. This scrap of fabric was imbedded in her skin, here.” He pointed to an area on his own neck. “Some sort of silk material, maybe from a blouse or a scarf. I’m sending it over to your lab boys to check it out.”
    Horgan put down his clipboard and ran his hand through his hair, making it stand on end. “One last thing. The job on her face happened post mortem.”
    Which fed into Jonathan’s theory that she’d been beaten for the sole purpose of hiding her identity. “Any guess on the weapon?”
    Horgan shrugged. “Something round and heavy. Maybe a paperweight.”
    After writing down the additional information, Jonathan closed his notebook. “If you think of anything else.”
    Horgan winked. “I know where to reach you.”
    Once outside in the oppressive heat, Jonathan loosened his tie and opened his collar before they reached the car. As Mari got in, he heard her snicker.
    He laid his jacket on the back seat before sliding in behind the wheel. “What’s so funny?”
    â€œYou are, my friend. You and your brethren.” She tugged on his tie. “How can you stand to wear those things?”
    He slid a sideways glance at her as he started the car. He recognized her comment for what it was—an attempt to distance herself from the brutality they’d just seen with the aid of a little humor. He didn’t mind playing along. “If men are ridiculous for wearing ties, what does that make women for wearing panty hose?”
    â€œYeah, well women don’t like pantyhose. Besides, it’s not like we wear this big sign on our chests that points to our gonads. It’s like, ‘There’s my penis. Right there. Look at it, look at it.’ It’s disgusting.”
    Smiling, Jonathan pulled out of the space and into traffic. “Then how do you explain the push-up bra?”
    â€œOkay, you’ve got me there. I guess neither sex corners the market on unbridled vanity.” She sighed. “I suppose I ought to call the LT. He asked me to let him know when Pierce’s identity was confirmed.”
    In the periphery of his vision, Jonathan watched her pull out her cell phone. Lieutenant John Shea was one of those political beings that made their way up the ranks not through intelligence or hard work but through cronyism and a certain brand of craftiness better suited to lesser animals. He was a master of serving his own ends rather than protecting his men or serving the public, and Jonathan wondered about his involvement in this case. Obviously, it concerned him enough to have Mari call him on a Sunday morning to report their progress. Jonathan hoped that keeping on top of what was likely to be a sensational case was his only motive.
    They’d already decided on their course of action for the day by the time they’d met Banks. First, they’d see if Pierce’s brother could identify her. If not, they were back to square one and they’d start back on it on Monday. If he could, they’d head to her apartment. Since she obviously hadn’t been murdered in the alley, she had to have been killed somewhere. Her apartment was as good a bet as anywhere