To Dwell in Darkness by Deborah Crombie Read Free Book Online Page B

crouching now over the corpse, his blue Tyvek suit made bulky by the leather jacket underneath.
    â€œIs the victim male?” Kincaid asked, impatience evident.
    â€œJudging from the facial bones, probably,” said Rashid. “Parts of the shoes are left . . . hiking boots, I’d guess, a fairly large size. But the hands are gone. And the center of the torso . . .” He used a probe, carefully. “The body contracted, of course, but I’d say he was holding the device at waist level, more or less.”
    â€œAny ID?”
    Rashid glanced back at Kincaid. “Bloody hell, Duncan. This guy is toast. I’ll be lucky to get teeth. Although”—he prodded again with the probe—“there does seem to be some fabric remaining underneath him. It might have been somewhat protected by his torso. A backpack, maybe? There’s not going to be much more I can tell you until I get him on the table. We’ll need a gurney to get him into the van.” He stood and rejoined them, pulling back his hood.
    â€œIf you’re finished with me for the time being, I need to check on Tam,” said Melody. “And, oh, God, someone has to ring Michael and Lou—” She tried to draw a breath and began to cough. Michael was Tam’s partner, Louise their next-door neighbor and closest friend.
    Rashid peered at her, then stripped off his glove and took her wrist, pressing his fingers on the pulse point. “Melody, you look like hell. You’re white as a sheet, and your heart rate is sky high.” He gave her hand a pat and let it go, but gently. “How much of that smoke did you breathe?”
    â€œI covered my face.” It’s bloody phosphorus, she heard in her head, and the blue handkerchief flashed in her memory. “I tried to cover my face,” she said aloud. It came out almost as an apology. “I didn’t have a bandanna.”
    â€œYou’re going to hospital.”
    She’d never heard Rashid use that tone of command.
    â€œWhat? But I— Tam—”
    â€œNo buts.” Rashid turned to Kincaid. “It’s toxic, the smoke from white phosphorus. She needs to be monitored. And she needs oxygen. Now.”
    â€œBut—” Melody tried again to protest, but she felt woozy.
    A firm hand grasped her elbow. “I’ll take her to the medics.” It was the officer Kincaid had introduced as DI Sidana. “Steady,” said Sidana. Then, more softly, “It’s Hindi, the word bandanna . Did you know that? The root of the word means tie-dyeing.”
    Melody knew when she was being managed and she wasn’t having it. “I’m fine, really. I—”
    A squawk came from Nick Callery’s handheld radio and they all turned.
    Callery listened, murmured something Melody didn’t catch, then clicked off.
    â€œThat was British Transport,” he told them. “One of their officers has a witness who says she can identify the victim.”
    â€œWhere is she, this witness?” Kincaid asked Callery.
    â€œDown at the market concourse. They’ve got some coffee going, and a warm place to sit.”
    â€œSidana, I want you to stay here,” said Kincaid. “Make sure DS Talbot gets the medical care she needs, and oversee the scene.”
    â€œBut, sir. I should be in on the interview. I’m second in command—”
    Kincaid stepped away from the others and jerked his head for Sidana to follow. “It’s precisely because you are my second in command. I need someone here that I can depend on. Sweeney’s perfectly capable of taking notes on the interview and I’ll fill you in afterwards.” More softly, he added, “Look, Sidana, I’m not sure what’s going on here with SO15. I want someone from our team on the scene until I know who has jurisdiction. Clear?”
    â€œSir.” Sidana nodded. She didn’t look happy, but she didn’t