Boston, Massachusetts
Monday, June 25th, 2018
“Sorry, I’m late. What can you tell me, Doc?” Kate asked as she rushed into the examination room, wearing scrubs that matched those of Dr. Cooper, except hers were still clean.
“Same manner and cause of death. This one was just found sooner.”
“Rape?”
“I don’t believe so, although there were signs of recent sexual intercourse.”
“How recent?” she asked while her eyes darted toward the bloody organs that had been taken out of the vic already.
“Hard to tell. Sperm can live for five days. But I collected a sample for you to compare with that of the other victim.”
“What about stomach contents? Empty like last time?”
The doctor joined her by the side of the organs and lifted a plastic bag. “No, some pasty red stuff.”
“Looks like grape juice and crackers in there. Drugs?”
“Hard to tell if the same poison or drug was used, but the irises and pupils point to that, as well as the clear lack of struggle.”
“Whoever the killer is, he’s not taking delight in being in charge or earning that kill. Is the rosary the murder weapon again?” Kate asked.
“The victim technically died of heart failure due to asphyxiation. Ligature strangulation with a few of those rosaries. Like the last victim, there are too many beads imprinted for just one rosary. The pattern is much clearer this time since the body isn’t bloated or discolored yet.”
“Did you bag the rosary for me?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll have the DNA analyzed. Thanks, Doc,” Kate said before grabbing the evidence bag he offered.
“One more thing,” the doctor said, holding another evidence bag with just a swab in it.
“What is it?”
“I didn’t notice this on the previous victim, but it may have been there as well. Decomposition and insects may have made it harder for me to notice. There was an oily residue on the middle of her forehead, shaped like a cross—”
“Someone performed a religious rite on her?”
“Possibly. That’s for you to determine.”