Body Politic by Paul Johnston Read Free Book Online Page A

Yellowlees turned briefly to the nurse, his eyes meeting hers above their masks, then stepped closer to the body. “It hardly matters now, does it?” He started the preliminary examination.
    I soon realised that the medical guardian hadn’t forgotten any of his pathologist’s skills. The mortuary assistant scarcely got a look in as Yellowlees involved himself in everything, removing the plastic bags from head and hands, taking samples of dried blood from around the wound in the abdomen, scraping underneath the fingernails, telling the photographer exactly what angles he wanted. Then he lifted the tunic from around the head. I leaned forward. This was the interesting bit. As Sarah Spence had been lying on her left side, that part of her face and limbs was dark blue in post-mortem lividity. I saw immediately that her ears were intact and her nose unblocked. The guardians and I exchanged glances.
    Yellowlees bent over her neck, then motioned to his assistant to turn the body over. “No doubt about the cause of death. Strangulation by ligature.”
    â€œThe Ear, Nose and Throat Man’s modus operandi,” said Hamilton, nudging me.
    â€œWhat?” I had suddenly been back in Princes Street Gardens, pulling a ligature of my own round a much thicker neck.
    â€œAll twelve of his victims were despatched that way.”
    Caro’s face flashed before me, then was gone.
    â€œQuite so,” said Yellowlees. He pointed to the deeply scored line in the victim’s flesh. “You can see the contusion where the ligature was twisted with considerable force. Unfortunately the killer took it away with him. We’ll check for fibres, but it’s possible he used strong wire.”
    Like I did.
    â€œTurn her to the front,” Yellowlees ordered, bending to lift the eyelids. “Note the haemorrhaging to the conjuctivae.” He took a syringe and plunged the needle into the right eye. Hamilton stepped back quickly. “The vitreous humour. I should be able to give you a fairly accurate time of death after I’ve tested for potassium.”
    â€œWhat’s your estimate from the body temperature?” I asked.
    â€œI don’t much like estimates,” the guardian said, his eyes narrowing. “Still, you need all the help you can get. I’d say between four and six a.m.; as the body was found just after six, we’re already in the frame.”
    I nodded and watched as he started examining further down the cadaver, cutting and plucking hairs then applying swabs to the vagina and rectum.
    â€œThere’s extensive damage to the anus consistent with violent buggery.”
    â€œAs with almost all the ENT Man’s victims, male and female,” said Hamilton.
    â€œCorrect.” Yellowlees lifted his mask and lowered his face to the dead woman’s buttocks, then sniffed.
    â€œJesus Christ.” The public order guardian gagged and turned away.
    â€œCurious.” Yellowlees stood up straight and glanced at me. “A hint of spermicide. Tests will confirm that.”
    â€œA condom?” I said. “The Ear, Nose and Throat Man never used them.”
    â€œAnd we still never managed to track him down from his DNA profile.” The medical guardian shook his head impatiently.
    â€œHe managed to keep himself out of all the Council’s numerous files,” I said, looking at the pair of guardians. “Pretty good going.” He was a cunning bastard. Even though I buried him, I never knew his name. Members of the drug gangs always used aliases. I don’t think the other Howlin’ Wolf headcases knew his identity either. After I got rid of him, I didn’t try to find it out. Maybe I should have.
    Yellowlees had replaced his mask and was peering at the arms and chest. “No evidence of a struggle. She must have blacked out immediately. It happens.” Now he was over by the abdomen, reading off measurements. “Wound made by three