Page 44 of Solid as Steele
“Then we’ll get a sample from today to our DNA expert. I’ll ask Emory to rush it, and request the results from Cassie’s file for comparison. I’ll request dental records and review them as soon as possible. The DNA should return something within twenty-four hours after preparing it.”
“Evening tomorrow or early morning the next day, then,” Owen said. “I don’t suppose your people will be working then and can provide the results.”
“We have techs who run DNA around the clock, but Emory might not be working, and you’ll want to wait for her to review the results. Not that the techs aren’t capable, but she’s the ultimate expert. It’s possible you’ll have to wait until the following morning.”
Owen couldn’t ask for more. “I can’t thank you all enough.”
“We’re glad to help you find closure.”
Closure. Yeah. He needed that and even knowing Cassie had died didn’t provide it. Not until he had an answer to the question of how she died and who ended her life. “You mentioned something about burned bones at dinner.”
“I did.” Kelsey grimaced. “The right side upper body is severely burned.”
His gut churned. “While she was alive? Maybe tortured?”
Kelsey shook her head, and a strand of hair fell free from her ponytail. “My preliminary findings tell me the burns occurred post-mortem.”
“In your experience have you found anything like this where just a portion of the body is burned?” Mackenzie asked.
“No.” Kelsey picked up a disposable wipe to clean her dirty hands or maybe wipe off her frustration from recovering the remains of another young woman cut down in her prime. “It’s almost as if the killer decided to dispose of her body by burning it and then changed his mind before more of it could be consumed by the flames.”
Owen sucked in a breath. “So you do believe this is murder?”
She nodded and discarded the wipe in a trash bag. “I discovered an obvious bullet wound to the skull, and Sierra recovered a slug from the outcropping nearby. We’ll give it to our weapons expert to analyze. Grady’s the best, and you can be assured he’ll be able to tell us everything that’s possible to know about it.”
Owen nodded, though his gut twisted as visions assaulted his mind of Cassie falling victim to a bullet. At least her death would’ve been quick.
“Sierra also found a piece of optical glass near the area where you’d been knocked unconscious,” Kelsey said.
“How will that help us?” Mackenzie asked.
“Sierra will consult a forensic optometrist and—”
“A what?” Owen had never heard of such a job.
“Forensic optometrist,” Kelsey said. “The same kind of doctor who examines your eyes, but has forensics training too. He or she can study even the smallest shard of a broken lens to reveal someone’s prescription. If you discover a suspect who wears glasses, then we can compare these findings to their prescription.”
Owen shook his head. “I know I clocked my attacker, and he wore glasses so maybe I broke them. Or maybe he stumbled and fell on the rock. Either way. It’s both interesting information and a good lead.”
“Exactly.” Kelsey smiled. “One other thing. Cassie’s pockets were filled with heavy rocks.”
“To keep the body submerged,” Mackenzie said.
Owen took another breath and shoved his hands into his pockets.
“I’m sorry.” Kelsey’s sympathetic gaze landed on Owen. “This must be hard for you to hear.”
“It is, but I can at least spare my parents from finding out these details unless it’s critical to convicting her killer.”
“That’s one advantage to you being involved, I guess.” Kelsey blinked a few times then a look of resolve replaced her concern. “We’ll also process the recovered slug for any prints and DNA.”
“With killers watching CSI shows and learning how not to get caught these days,” Mackenzie said. “What are the odds of finding prints or DNA?”
“The odds are good. Many of our investigations are for crimes of passion and these forensics still provide a lot of answers because the murders are rarely premeditated.”
She sounded so confident, but Owen had been disappointed in forensics many times over his detective career and remained skeptical. “Do you think you’ll get good results even after the bullet’s been in the rocks for so long?”
“Even then. Especially since we located the slug in a protected area. If prints or DNA were left on the slug, that is.” Kelsey’s mouth curved up in a slight smile. “Remember, you’re not dealing with mere mortal techs here, but the best of the best scientists.”
