Chapter 17 #2
“Skin condition: moderate maceration present, particularly to hands, feet, and buttocks. Early adipocere formation observed on thighs and abdomen — indicative of postmortem submersion in cool water, accelerated by recent flooding and then stagnation. We have virtually no signs of insect activity. Skin slippage noted across the forearms, and there is no jewellery, piercings, or tattoos visible. Let’s turn her over. ”
I turned away while Nate and his assistant moved the body onto its front.
“Ah. This isn’t a surprise.” Nate’s voice rang clearly through the room.
“We have a penetrating stab wound to the left posterior flank), entering between ribs ten and eleven, which would’ve severed the left renal artery.
Depth approximately ten centimetres. She was stabbed in the back, which I think is the same as your second victim, if I remember correctly.
From looking at this, because I know it’ll help, it’s probably the same, or a similar weapon.
I’ll get back to you about that once I’ve finished the preliminaries – Dr Mizra’s left me the other case in Leeds to look at too. ”
“What case?” Vinny turned to me.
“I’ll tell you later. It’s probably a wild goose chase.”
Nate continued. “Five additional stab wounds to the back and scapular region. None immediately fatal but cumulatively contributed to blood loss. Hunter MK-two profile observed in previous victims — serrated tear marks are visible in secondary wounds. Wound morphology indicates a single-blade weapon. No defensive injuries present. No signs of a struggle – I’d guess your victim didn’t suspect she was about to be attacked.
The first stab wound to her back would’ve had her falling to the ground.
You’d have to be pretty strong and have good aim for that, so I’d say your killer here is practiced and intelligent.
” He continued to study the body as if she was going to sit up and tell him her secrets.
In some ways, that was what was happening.
It just took a different sort of ear to listen.
“Do you think it’s the same perp from the other two victims?
” Vinny was watching intently. He actually enjoyed being at the postmortems, or at least he had until he pissed off Dr Miz.
I’d once asked him why he hadn’t gone into forensics.
The response – he’d never passed his science, which was a bit of a barrier.
Nate was still doing his preliminary exam.
“We have some mild contusions on right parietal scalp, but no cranial fracture — possibly sustained through impact during collapse or restraint and there are some minor abrasions noted on the upper spine and rear scalp, which look to be postmortem, through maybe blunt contact during restraint or storage. However, residual rigidity in the hips and knees — along with fixed limb angles — suggests the body remained in a foetal position during the peak of rigor, likely due to compression inside a confined space. This positional imprint, combined with lack of decomposition prior to immersion, supports the hypothesis that the body was stored in a cool, concealed environment – the culvert would be a match - for some time before being submerged.” He stood up, his height dominating the space even more than the body.
“What do you mean by a confined space?” I was beginning to form a picture in my head.
Janine Doe was stabbed in the back by surprise.
Collapsed. Was put into a container that could be moved, maybe something on wheels such as a suitcase, or a body bag which two people could’ve moved her in, but something small which she was folded into before rigor set in.
“A big box. I’ll be able to tell you more when I look closer at the X-rays.
The difficulty you’ve got is that she’s been submerged in water, which has washed away trace evidence.
Whoever’s done this knows what they’re doing, Mia.
I’d even say they wanted her to be discovered soon after she was dumped in the water, they knew that because of the heavy storms and then the break in the rain, there’d be a falling waterline, and she was poorly concealed.
If they didn’t want her to be found, they could’ve left her in culvert.
” He tipped his head from side to side. “Those stones, too, they weren’t there by accident. ”
“Where will you send them?” Vinny asked. “How long until we might find out where they’re from?”
“I’ll send a sample to the Environmental Trace Analysis Unit, but I have a friend at the university here who’s a geologist. I’m pretty sure he can have a look and give you an idea of composition and origin. They’ve been cleaned and polished though – someone’s taken care of these.”
“Deliberate. Who was it for though?” I wondered out loud. “The victim? Us? Someone else?”
“That’s your job. Mine is to give you as much evidence as I can to help. Look, Mia, this is where it gets messy. Come back in about three hours and I’ll have more for you. And are you free for dinner tonight?”
“Well, I’m flattered, Nate.” That, of course, was Vinny. “But I actually have a date - ”
“Good job, because you weren’t invited. Mia?”
I always enjoyed seeing Vinny get shot down. “Sure. Where and what time?”
“Eight-thirty, unless anything major comes up, and I’ll text you my address. I moved in last Friday so it’s still full of boxes.”
“You’ve bought a house in Manchester?”
He nodded, studying what implement he was going to use next rather than looking at me.
“And you still have my phone number?”
“Unless you’ve changed it. I know I’ve not used it much. I’m sorry if that’s upset you.” He still didn’t look at me.
I could feel Vinny bristling next to me.
“You can explain later. Text me the address. My number hasn’t changed, and we’ll see you in about three hours.”