Dr. Kincaid rolled the victim to her side. “Note her back is clear of any signs of bruising or lividity. However, her hands and feet are a dark purple, suggesting she was hanging when her heart stopped beating.” Using the sharp tip of a scalpel blade, she flayed the lifeless flesh. From the underside of the right breast, Dr. Kincaid removed and inspected the large breast implant before laying it in a silver basin.
Using bolt cutters, Dr. Kincaid clipped the rib-cage bones, lifted the heart away from the body, and set it on a small table by the body. She inspected the organ. Slightly enlarged. Next, the lungs showed signs of stress. Asthma. Dr. Kincaid noted in the microphone that Lana’s gut was inflamed. All the major organs were removed and weighed, and then tissue samples taken from each before they were repacked in the body.
“I’ve sent blood samples off for testing,” Dr. Kincaid said. “We’ll know in a few days what kind of cocktail of drugs she had in her system.”
“A year and a half ago, her drugs of choice were vodka and triple sec. Benny didn’t like her using the coke.”
Dr. Kincaid inspected the lungs. “It looks like she recently discovered meth, but the tox screen will confirm it. Not enough at this stage to affect her teeth, but that would have been a matter of time.”
The remainder of the autopsy was routine. The doctor confirmed Lana was not pregnant.
When Dr. Kincaid stepped back from the table so Tessa could close, Julia thanked everyone as she turned away, anxious to leave the room. Lana deserved a lot better.
Through the doors, she heard the doctor say to Novak, “All right. I’ll get back to you with a report in a day or two.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Novak replied.
As Novak pushed through the swinging doors, Julia stripped off her gown and reached for her jacket. Novak came up behind her and lifted the jacket’s edge so she could slide in her left arm.
“I want to walk the Ortega crime scene again,” he said.
She flipped up her collar and reached for her purse. “I’ll come.”
“Good. Mind if I grab a bite to eat on the way? I know a place near the scene.” He grinned. “I haven’t mastered the art of eating alone since Bella left for college.”
“I ate but I’ll get coffee.”
“It’s a date.”
He made it sound easy. A coffee. But he was clever and used his calm voice and relaxed manner to draw in suspects and extract information, as he’d drawn her into his life.
He dumped the gown in the bin and slid on his coat, tugging the front sides until the jacket fell into a crisp line. He held the door for her, waiting for her to pass.
She arched a brow. “Novak, you’re treating me like a lady.”
“Last I checked, you are a lady.”
“I’m a cop.”
“And a good one.” He grinned as he nodded toward the elevator. The doors closed, and they were alone. His size, the faint scent of his aftershave, the way he rubbed his thumb and index finger together made her aware of him.
She drew in a breath, trying to ignore him and a tightening wave of desire. She had lowered her guard with him, and she’d gotten away with it. To sleep with him again risked exposing all her shortcomings and fears.
Outside, she slid into the front seat, and seconds later he was behind the wheel. He drove across the river into the Manchester district and parked in front of a small street vendor.
“Sure you aren’t hungry?” he asked.
“No. Go ahead.”
They got out of the car, and he purchased a couple of bagels and two coffees. He handed her a cup and kept the bagels with extra cream cheese. Tossing his tie over his shoulder, he bit into the first bagel. As she stood in the parking lot, she stared out over the James River at the cityscape on the other side. A small boat floated lazily on the water.
“It’s one of my favorite views of the city,” he said, wiping his mouth with a paper napkin.
“I’ve been through this area enough but never stopped.”
“I worked patrol in this district. Got to know the area well. Nice to see the new restaurants and new business.” He finished the first bagel and offered her the second. When she shook her head, he bit into it. She sipped her coffee and was pleasantly surprised to discover it tasted good.
He smiled at her reaction. “Do you think I’d bring you anywhere that made bad coffee?”
She raised the cup to him. “Is it always this good?”
“Always. And the hot dogs at lunch are the best.”
“Good to know.” She sipped and stared more at the city. “So what’s your next step in the Ortega murder?”
“We walk the crime scene. And then you know how it goes. Review credit card receipts, cell phone data, surveillance cameras. Any trail will help reconstruct her last weeks.”
“She didn’t have family in the area, but said she was from San Diego. Her whole world had become Benny.”
“Friends?”
“You mean other than me?”
He wiped his mouth, crumpled the napkin, and tossed it on the plate. “She considered you a friend?”
“She did. I was paid to listen to her and pull information, so that’s what I did. She was like a lot of kids. She wanted to make something of her life. There was a point at which I tried to help her.”
“How?”
“Benny had smacked her hard and left a bruise on her face. I found her in the back office, trying to cover it up with paint and powder. I said she deserved better.”
“Did she believe that?”
“She thought he was better. She thought bruises were the cost of doing business. Anybody else, and I might have hauled them to a shelter, but I couldn’t do that for her without giving it all away.”
“You were doing your job.”
“Yes, I was. But it still sucked to see the pain on her face.” She dug her finger into the side of the cup, not liking the fact the conversation was trained on her. “So tell me about you, Novak. I get tired of hearing about myself.”
“My life has been work and my kid.”
“No special lady in your life?”
His gaze sharpened. “No.”
“Why not? You’re decent looking.”
“Decent?”
“You have a quality,” she said, smiling.
“Thanks. I think.” A smile tugged. “No special lady. What about you? Anyone in particular?”
Her smile faded when she realized he was watching and waiting for an answer. “No one in my life. I’m not easy to be around, if you haven’t noticed.”
He tossed his trash in a street bin. “Didn’t notice.”
She threw away her cup. “I thought you were a better liar than that.”
He winked. “Let’s have a look at that warehouse.”
The site was three blocks away, and they opted to walk. Forensic and DNA testing could often seal the deal on a conviction, but knocking on doors and talking to people caught most suspects.
The area around the warehouse was quiet. Though there’d been some economic development in the Manchester district, this pocket was mostly untouched.
“If I were looking for a place where no one would bother me,” she said, “it would be here. This is a good hundred yards from the next business.”
Novak scanned the buildings as they passed. “There’s a security camera on the grocery store and the gas station. Riggs is reviewing both.”