“How long would you estimate that she’s been dead?” Brodie asked.
“Perhaps three to four days. You say she was found at St. James’s?” He proceeded to carefully open the front of her jacket.
“The wound is here.” He gently probed the cut fabric of the jacket and the shirtwaist underneath.
“A knife wound, just there under the ribs. Here is something interesting.”
He retrieved an instrument from the side table and gently probed the wound.
“The blade was approximately five to six inches and there was just the one wound. It would have severed a major artery, and very likely internal organs. Death would have been very quick with the loss of so much blood. It’s difficult to determine anything more, as there has been loss of some tissue, creatures in the park perhaps,” he explained. “Animals and other things, worms and such.”
Yes, of course, I thought as I listened. Worms.
“Three to four days,” Brodie commented. “Then, she would have been murdered very soon after Charlotte Mallory.”
“There is this as well,” Mr. Brimley drew our attention once more as he examined Margaret Cameron’s fingers.
“There appear to be some sort of small puncture wounds.”
I looked at Brodie.
“Could it be the sort of puncture wounds that might come from the stem of a rose?” I asked.
“Perhaps or possibly from something as she reached out and then fell.”
According to Mr. Dooley, a rose was found on Margaret Cameron’s body, the same as Charlotte Mallory. However, in looking about the doctor’s examination room, there was no sign of it. Nor had Dr. Cameron made any mention of it.
I found her handbag that had been set aside. According to the police report, it contained substantial coins, the same as Charlotte Mallory.
Once more, a young woman murdered, and robbery apparently was not the motive.
“Is there anything else?” Brodie asked. “Anything found under her nails that might indicate a struggle with her attacker?”
Mr. Brimley shook his head. “Such a pity. So young and those out there that would do such a thing.”
Doctor Cameron had returned. “Will that be all then?” he asked.
“Was there anything else found about the body when it was brought here?” Brodie inquired.
“No, nothing,” the doctor replied. “If you are quite finished, I am expecting an appointment that I must prepare for.”
An appointment? This late in the day?
“Of course,” Brodie replied as we prepared to leave. He turned back at the door.
“Ye are Judge Cameron’s brother, are ye not?” he asked.
“Yes,” he replied. “My brother was drawn to the law, while I preferred the practice of medicine.”
“And you have been most successful it would seem,” Brodie commented, with a slow look about the examination room and then a look into the outer office, with its expensive furnishings usually found in the front parlor of someone of some means.
“I have been most fortunate. As Mr. Brimley can attest, I received the finest education at King’s College, as well as four years of study at the medical school in Edinburgh.”
“That would include research as well?” Mr. Brimley inquired.
“Yes, the finest in research and new treatments.”
It was then the woman in the black gown appeared at the entrance to the examination room.
