Page 83 of Pretty Broken Dolls
“That’s the way I interpret it. This time, the killer appeared to do a test—actually two tests—first, incapacitated the victim but it wasn’t enough to cause a full cardiac arrest. And then the final strike of the cutting of the throat allowing the bleed-out was what completed their procedure.”
Katie thought about that for a moment and realized that this was a brutal signature. “There isn’t a way to tell if the same person committed both murders by the way they incapacitated the victims and then sliced their throats?”
“I see what you’re getting at, Detective, but I can only give you the cause and manner of death. There were quite a few defensive wounds, as well.” He adjusted his glasses, turning his focus on her. “But I can tell you that the same technique was used—whether it was the same person who used it against Jeanine Trenton or someone who was taught the same method, you’ll have to figure that out.”
“I see.”
“Otherwise, I would be stepping into your territory.”
“What else can you tell us?”
“She was in good health, appropriate weight, didn’t appear to have any diseases or disorders.”
“Toxicology?”
“Still waiting on that, but I don’t foresee anything. I’ll be sending you the official report after the autopsy is complete.” He smiled.
“I noticed at the scene she had some broken fingers and toes.”
“Yes, her left hand had breakages on the pinky and ring fingers of the middle phalanges and the middle metacarpal bone.” He picked up Darla Winchell’s hand, moving the fingers for documentation. Turning to the X-ray light box, he showed the broken hand and foot bones. “Also the left proximal phalanges on the outside toes.”
Katie studied the X-rays. “Thank you, Dr. Dean.”
McGaven gave a nod.
“She also had a faint tattoo on her left arm right here,” he said and brought their attention to the inside of her left wrist.
“What is that?” she said.
“It looks almost as if it’s a…K and a 9.”
It stopped Katie cold. Could it be another K9 handler?
“Detective?” said the medical examiner.
“Yes?”
“If anything unusual comes up, I’ll be sure to contact you right away.”
Katie smiled before she exited the room, followed by McGaven. Now their work really began. Who was Darla Winchell? Was she a military K9 handler? Why did she end up at the fairgrounds?
Chapter Thirty-One
Wednesday 1015 hours
Katie was relieved and excited to receive a text from John saying that he had some things to update her on relating to the Darla Winchell investigation. McGaven was still researching names and doggedly cross-checking them. It was something that he did well, so he wasn’t going to be with her at the forensics reveal.
She stood at the forensic exam room door, which was, unusually, closed. She knocked twice softly.
“Come in,” said John.
Katie opened the door and walked into the darkened room. The overhead light was off and there was just a dim light in the corner where John hovered over a large microscope. She wasn’t sure what type it was—usually he used a scanning electron microscope for the evidence comparisons, but this one looked different and more specialized.
“Uh, you seem busy. Should I come back later?” she said, feeling a bit awkward, not knowing what she should be doing. “What do you want me to do? You want me to come back?”
“Hang on a minute. Have patience.”
Katie looked around and noticed that everything had been choreographed a bit differently. The larger computers and screen were in the corner area and the exam tables were in the middle, which made it easier to move around each side.
