Page 26 of Mystic Justice
‘I don’t know,’ Kate said hopelessly. ‘I’ve never seen it before, either. What I can tell you is that the time of death was between 1am and 1.30am.’
I reached a hand into my pocket, feeling the smooth weight of my dad’s pocket watch in my fingers. I turned the watch round and round as I thought. If that was the time of death, Sandra could have done it. She’d lied about staying until the shift had ended. Yes, I definitely needed to take a look at Sandra Jaxim.
Kate continued. ‘Moss’s last meal appears to have been plain porridge but I also detected a potion in her system. I haven’t been able to identify it yet, so I’ve sent off her blood to Dave for a full toxicology report. He’ll get back to us when he can but he’s off today – his daughter’s wedding.’
‘Fair enough. When is he back in?’
‘Tuesday.’
My tension eased; that wasn’t too long a wait. ‘Okay, thanks. Anything else I need to know?’
‘Her liver is showing surprising degradation for someone her age, but there are no other signs of alcohol or drug abuse, which is unusual. She had good muscle tone – I’d say she was a runner. The marks around her wrist, as you’d noted in your report, were made from rope and there was some form of man-made fibre in the lacerations that had started to heal. I’d say she was bound and struggled against the restraints.’
I’d known that, been certain of it. Once upon a time I’d had similar marks. I let none of that show on my face.
Kate went on, ‘I’d agree with your suggestion that she was kidnapped and held prior to her death. Besides that, lovely Moss looked after herself – hair freshly dyed, nails manicured, toes pedicured.’
‘She enjoyed taking care of herself,’ I murmured. ‘She wanted to be a singer. A star.’
Kate sighed. ‘It’s a crying shame because she was so full of promise. I care about everyone who comes into my domain but the young ones always hit me hardest. I think about the pathsthey didn’t take, the experiences they’ll never have, the dreams they’ll never fulfil. It just slays me.’
‘That’s because you’re a good person. Itshouldhurt. The day it doesn’t is the day we quit.’
She nodded solemnly. ‘I’ll type up my findings and make sure Dave prioritises the toxicology when he’s back in. I hope you find some answers for Moss’s family.’
‘I certainly intend to.’ I didn’t promise because there were no certainties in policing, but I’d definitely give it my all. ‘Thanks for staying late. I owe you.’
‘Not at all. Sometimes you have to do what is right, even if it isn’t easy.’ A yawn cracked her face.
‘Should you be driving home?’
She waved my concern aside. ‘I’ll be fine. As a doctor, you get used to functioning with no sleep.’
‘That’s not a good thing.’
‘I know. But itishandy in a crisis.’
‘Message me when you’re home safe,’ I said.
It wasn’t a request but she smiled as if it were. She touched my arm, her eyes soft with quiet affection. ‘I will. Thanks.’
We waited until she’d locked up before heading out ourselves.
Loki was not so quietly fuming. ‘Leave Loki,’ he complained loudly. ‘Like Loki a Commonbird.’He spat out the word like it was a curse.
‘I know you’re not a bird, Loki, but we can’t risk contaminating—’
Loki squawked loudly, interrupting me. ‘I no ruin evidence. Lokismart.’
‘Of course you are—’ I started to say to placate my cranky caladrius.
He turned his back on me, lifted his tail up and pooped. The white splat hit the floor and I stared at it for a moment. The mess was definitely a Sharon problem; if anyone deserved birdpoop at the start of their day, it was the cranky dryad. Besides, exhaustion was clawing at me after yet another long day and I didn’t have the bandwidth, or the cleaning products, to deal with more shit.
Home was calling me and I would have gone straight there but for my mum’s name flaring on my phone screen.
Dammit. I was late for dinner. Again.
Chapter Thirteen
