Winding Up the Serpent by Priscilla Masters Read Free Book Online

‘Underneath the navy blue nurse’s uniform she was wearing this sort of garb? I can’t believe it. She always seemed such a ...’
    â€˜Such a what?’ Joanna prompted.
    â€˜I don’t know.’ The doctor rubbed his forehead with his two forefingers. ‘One just doesn’t imagine, you know.’
    He looked at Joanna. ‘She certainly had very expensive taste in underwear.’ He touched the boned part that tapered the waist. ‘Isn’t this real silk?’ He scratched his cropped head. ‘I have to admit. I am puzzled. And this house,’ he added. ‘It’s better than mine. How did she afford it? She was not married. I thought of her as rather a dangerous old maid.’ He looked apologetically at Joanna.
    â€˜What on earth do you mean?’ Her tone was sharper than she had intended.
    â€˜I don’t mean to be rude.’ Underneath the dark skin Dr Bose flushed almost purple. ‘She was man mad,’ he said simply, and quickly unpacked his equipment – gloves, thermometer, swabs.
    The two police watched as the doctor made a thorough examination of the body. And it was thorough, hunting through her hair for signs of contusion, behind the ears, into the dead pin-point pupils, under and along the arms.
    He looked at Mike. ‘Help me roll her over, will you?’
    Moving the clothing out of the way, he took a rectal temperature, screwing up his eyes tightly as he read it. ‘She died round about sixteen hours ago. Let me see ... That takes us back to around eleven last night.’
    Mike looked sceptical – never a believer in science, he preferred to deal in what he considered hard facts. ‘How accurate is that thing?’ he said.
    Sammy Bose grinned at him. ‘A corpse’s temperature nears the surroundings’ by the end of the first day. It’s pretty accurate. Divide the difference in body temperature by twenty-four and you have it – to within an hour or two. Basic principle of taking a large piece of meat out of a slow oven. Takes a long time to cool. See?’ He gave a quick flash of pink tongue and very white teeth.
    Joanna was silent. She knew where she had heard that analogy before. She could remember Mat explaining it to her six – seven – months ago ...
    â€˜We’ll strip her completely, of course, at the PM, examine the clothing.’
    Joanna nodded and watched him work until at last he stood up and she could begin to ask questions.
    â€˜Cause of death?’ she asked casually.
    Sammy Bose looked up at her. ‘I haven’t a bloody clue,’ he said. ‘Could be anything.’
    â€˜But you’re her GP,’ Joanna said.
    â€˜Listen, lady—’
    â€˜Inspector ...’ Surprisingly it was Mike who said this, but Joanna felt annoyed rather than grateful. What did he think she needed? Some Sir Launcelot? She felt her mouth tighten.
    â€˜Inspector ...’ Sammy Bose grinned. ‘Sorry. I have to explain this. I am someone’s doctor – yes. But I only see them professionally if they ask to see me. Otherwise ...’ He shrugged his shoulders. ‘She did not ask to see me. That’s that. I saw her sometimes at the surgery – at medical lectures and meetings. She did not consult me professionally.’
    Joanna felt at a loss. ‘Was there anything wrong with her – heart?’ she ventured.
    Sammy Bose shrugged again. ‘How should I know?’ he said. ‘As I’ve said. She didn’t come to see me professionally. Look ...’ He stared straight at Joanna. ‘Inspector?’
    â€˜Yes?’ Joanna said testily. It had been a long day and it was nowhere near over.
    â€˜Inspector,’ the doctor said. ‘Get the body to the mortuary. Then you’ll have to get a decent pathologist to dig around.’ He looked across the body at her. ‘You understand what I’m saying? I can’t possibly issue a