Page 15 of Race to Save Her

“What?” she said softly, hearing about the incident for the first time.

About two months ago a barricade was dismantled and the perpetrator safely taken into custody. The man had locked himself in his home after committing an armed robbery. The report also said that once they started searching the residence, body parts were found in a hidden area under the floor. Pine Valley SWAT had been involved, but the jurisdiction was in the neighboring city of Rockview. She read further that the incident response team was led by the primary police negotiator, Jack Devlin. Katie didn’t know Devlin, but she sent him an email to request a meeting about the findings of that day.

Katie realized that she needed to study a report in regard to the human body parts that were discovered from the SWAT deployment in Rockview. It could explain some things in their investigation if they were connected in any way.

She hadn’t heard anything new from the scene, and it was going to take a while for DNA and evidence to be analyzed. Her energy was fading and she decided to go home.

As she walked out to her car, the dismemberment puzzle was still on her mind.

TEN

Saturday 1600 hours

Katie entered the medical examiner’s office. She was always greeted the same way: with sterile surroundings, the sounds of gurneys being moved around, and the smell of antiseptic. That day the scent of the latter was strong. In fact, Katie contemplated whether she should come back and give it time to clear. She had slowed her pace, but decided she needed some answers. She had called Dr. Dean beforehand and he’d said he would make time for her. He was always like that with the detectives; he seemed invested in finding the bad guy.

“Detective Scott.”

Katie heard him before she saw him coming down the hallway. “Dr. Dean, it’s always a pleasure.”

There was no confusing the ME with anyone else. He was always dressed casually in khakis and a Hawaiian shirt, usually with sandals. The white smock was usually spattered with blood, as it was today.

“How can I help you?” Dr. Dean asked.

“I need your expertise on the cut marks on the dismembered body parts that were found a couple of months back in Rockview.”

“Of course.”

“Did you see them?”

“Yes, I did and my notes are in here,” he said, fanning the file folders in his hand.

Katie followed him into the main autopsy room, which was like an empty cavern. There was an overwhelming feeling of doom, but she brushed it off.

“So you want to know what kind of instrument was used to separate the limbs?” he said. “I haven’t had the time to go over the finger and arm from today, but I’m familiar.”

“Yes. It will give us a little better understanding of the killer.”

The doctor turned and pulled across a rolling table with instruments lying on top. “Okay. Here are some of the tools we use; I’m sure you’re familiar with a few of them.”

Katie nodded, trying to block out the sound of the gurneys rolling by as technicians went about their duties.

“Here are scalpels and various blades, which are used for making incisions, but not cutting through bone.”

Katie couldn’t believe how shiny the silver instruments were. She couldn’t take her eyes off them.

“And here are the Stryker and bone saws, which are primarily used to cut through the skull and ribs.”

Katie retrieved her phone and swiped to a couple of the photos showing the marks that she assumed had been made during dismemberment. “Would one of those make these marks?” She gave her phone to the doctor.

He studied them. “Possibly. Especially the bone saw. It makes a quick cut with no tearing or messy aftermath.”

“Would it be easy for someone to acquire these?” she said.

“Not easy, but easy enough if you know where to look.” Dr. Dean scrutinized the photos. “I would safely say that it would be a combination of a bone saw and cutters.” He showed Katie the photo he was talking about. “See how there’s a simple straight line across the major bones and then it appears the smaller pieces like the tendons and muscles have been snipped through.”

Katie made note of this; it made sense. “How likely are these to have been used on these bodies?”

“My opinion would be an eighty-five to ninety percent likelihood.”