Page 90 of Forever Dead
“Poor choice of word,” Connor said.
Blethan grimaced. “Fair.” Connor headed for the door.
By the time Selena reached the porch, she had settled into the careful rhythm Connor had watched at the motel. Her expression carried equal parts concentration and irritation.
“Morning,” Connor said.
Selena gazed past him into the house. “You must be desperate.”
“Good to see you, too.”
Arnold said, “She drove herself.”
“I can see that.”
Selena lifted one finger. “Neither of you is my father.”
Connor stepped aside. “Scene route is marked. Don’t touch anything.”
“I do remember how this works.”
Blethan appeared in the hall. “And you stay on the cane.”
Selena sighed. “Has everyone formed a committee?”
“Yes,” Blethan said. “I chair it.”
Connor almost smiled.
They took her through the front rooms slowly. Selena stopped twice to study the absence of disturbance. At the laundry-room doorway, the frustration about the cane disappeared as her attention moved over the rafter, rope, body, window, blood and door.
Connor watched without interrupting until Selena asked, “Do we think this is the same killer?”
Blethan answered first. “Different MO.”
Selena nodded. “Definitely different...”
Connor leaned against the wall. “But?”
“Both victims are women. Both killings are extremely violent. Both bodies were manipulated after the initial attack.”
Blethan said, “Eleanor was dead before the chair was placed over her. This victim was alive when she was hanged.”
“I’m not saying the mechanics match.” Selena pointed toward the nurse’s uniform. “I’m asking whether the presentation is critical.”
Matt said, “Uniform could be hers, unless she was dressed up.”
“Could be,” Selena replied. “Has anyone confirmed she’s a nurse?”
“Not yet.”
Selena’s attention shifted to the blood across the abdomen.
“Stab wound to the stomach?”
“Abdomen,” Blethan corrected. “Deep wound. But the hanging could have been the fatal thing.”
Selena stayed quiet for several seconds, then said, “Could she be a midwife?”
