becoming
stranger by the minute. When she didn’t say anything, David spoke again.
“I’ve sent Jason
to meet with Professor Bearson from the university. He will be able to tell us
what type of animal it belongs to.”
“When should we
be expecting him?” she asked.
“In the next few
hours,” he said.
“Did you
determine the cause of death?” Anna asked, even though she had already guessed.
“It turns out
that Mr. Brickton had a massive coronary event.”
“You mean he
died of a heart attack?” she asked, surprise in her voice.
“Well, yes and
no,” David said. “The injuries to his neck would have killed him, but at the
approximate time he sustained it he also suffered a heart attack.”
Anna’s stomach
dropped a little. She felt intense pity for Alan Brickton. How terrible that
must have been for him. Literally being scared to death.
“What else do
you know?”
“I know it
wasn’t a lower order animal that killed him,” David said. “Logically, I can
rule that out.”
“What do you
mean?” Anna asked.
“Aside from the
neck wound, his ankles were crushed. There were also some scrapes on the back
of his head, a few inches above the wound.”
“So you’re
saying he was dragged on the ground,” Anna estimated. Just like Sam , she
remembered with a shiver.
“Indeed,” David
said. “And what’s more, the contusions around his ankles are similar to those
inflicted by human hands in some ways.”
“In some ways?”
Anna asked. “What about the other ways?”
“Either our
killer is on some significant doses of steroids, or…” his voice dropped off.
“David?”
“I’m sorry, I
cannot find a way to end that thought.”
“Because you’re
still contemplating it or because there’s nothing else to say?”
“Quite honestly,
Anna, it defies logic.” He paused. “And I do not say that lightly.”
“I know, David.
I know.” “So what’s the next step?” Anna asked.
“Well, I am
hoping Professor Bearson arrives within the next hour.”
“You really
asked him to come?” Anna asked, wondering what a professor could really do for
them. “What more can he do than tell us what animal the weapon came from?”
“He is a capable
man, Anna. I have a feeling his services may be necessary.”
That’s awfully
cryptic ,
Anna thought. And a little presumptive.
“I am sure that
was an unusual statement, Anna. But these are unusual circumstances.”
“Indeed they
are, David. Indeed they are.”
“There’s one
more thing, Anna,” David said. “There was a strange liquid around the entrance
wound on the victim.”
“Have you been
able to discover its origin?” she asked.
“If I didn’t
know any better, which I’m not sure at this point if I do, I would say that it
is some sort of saliva.”
“Some form of
saliva? How many types are there?” Anna wondered.
“Well, there’s
your regular saliva that you and I have. And then there’s saliva that isn’t
human.”
“So you think
that perhaps an animal may have bitten him after he had been killed?” Anna
asked.
“That’s the
thing, Anna. Although I have to run some tests, it looks to me like the saliva
mixed with the blood while it was still warm. In other words, either our killer
bit him, or there was a scavenger close by waiting for its turn at the kill.”
“I need you to
chuck reason out the window for a moment, David,” Anna began. “Forget logic.
What is your gut telling you?”
He paused too
long for Anna’s comfort. Sighing softly, she decided she would give him the
time he needed.
“I think our
killer likes to either bite or lick his victims.” Anna shuddered at his choice
to use the plural.
“You don’t think
he’s finished, do you?” Anna asked.
“Judging by the
savagery I’ve seen this evening, he’s not done by a long shot.”
“David, I need
you to do me a favor.”
“Sure thing,
Anna. What do you need?”
“I need you to
find the autopsy report for Matthew McMillan,
stranger by the minute. When she didn’t say anything, David spoke again.
“I’ve sent Jason
to meet with Professor Bearson from the university. He will be able to tell us
what type of animal it belongs to.”
“When should we
be expecting him?” she asked.
“In the next few
hours,” he said.
“Did you
determine the cause of death?” Anna asked, even though she had already guessed.
“It turns out
that Mr. Brickton had a massive coronary event.”
“You mean he
died of a heart attack?” she asked, surprise in her voice.
“Well, yes and
no,” David said. “The injuries to his neck would have killed him, but at the
approximate time he sustained it he also suffered a heart attack.”
Anna’s stomach
dropped a little. She felt intense pity for Alan Brickton. How terrible that
must have been for him. Literally being scared to death.
“What else do
you know?”
“I know it
wasn’t a lower order animal that killed him,” David said. “Logically, I can
rule that out.”
“What do you
mean?” Anna asked.
“Aside from the
neck wound, his ankles were crushed. There were also some scrapes on the back
of his head, a few inches above the wound.”
“So you’re
saying he was dragged on the ground,” Anna estimated. Just like Sam , she
remembered with a shiver.
“Indeed,” David
said. “And what’s more, the contusions around his ankles are similar to those
inflicted by human hands in some ways.”
“In some ways?”
Anna asked. “What about the other ways?”
“Either our
killer is on some significant doses of steroids, or…” his voice dropped off.
“David?”
“I’m sorry, I
cannot find a way to end that thought.”
“Because you’re
still contemplating it or because there’s nothing else to say?”
“Quite honestly,
Anna, it defies logic.” He paused. “And I do not say that lightly.”
“I know, David.
I know.” “So what’s the next step?” Anna asked.
“Well, I am
hoping Professor Bearson arrives within the next hour.”
“You really
asked him to come?” Anna asked, wondering what a professor could really do for
them. “What more can he do than tell us what animal the weapon came from?”
“He is a capable
man, Anna. I have a feeling his services may be necessary.”
That’s awfully
cryptic ,
Anna thought. And a little presumptive.
“I am sure that
was an unusual statement, Anna. But these are unusual circumstances.”
“Indeed they
are, David. Indeed they are.”
“There’s one
more thing, Anna,” David said. “There was a strange liquid around the entrance
wound on the victim.”
“Have you been
able to discover its origin?” she asked.
“If I didn’t
know any better, which I’m not sure at this point if I do, I would say that it
is some sort of saliva.”
“Some form of
saliva? How many types are there?” Anna wondered.
“Well, there’s
your regular saliva that you and I have. And then there’s saliva that isn’t
human.”
“So you think
that perhaps an animal may have bitten him after he had been killed?” Anna
asked.
“That’s the
thing, Anna. Although I have to run some tests, it looks to me like the saliva
mixed with the blood while it was still warm. In other words, either our killer
bit him, or there was a scavenger close by waiting for its turn at the kill.”
“I need you to
chuck reason out the window for a moment, David,” Anna began. “Forget logic.
What is your gut telling you?”
He paused too
long for Anna’s comfort. Sighing softly, she decided she would give him the
time he needed.
“I think our
killer likes to either bite or lick his victims.” Anna shuddered at his choice
to use the plural.
“You don’t think
he’s finished, do you?” Anna asked.
“Judging by the
savagery I’ve seen this evening, he’s not done by a long shot.”
“David, I need
you to do me a favor.”
“Sure thing,
Anna. What do you need?”
“I need you to
find the autopsy report for Matthew McMillan,
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