“We recovered a wallet, but the driver’s license was too badly degraded to make out and no other cards. Sierra’s people are working on the license, but she said not to hold out any hope for improvement. Victim two didn’t have a wallet or any ID.” Kelsey leaned against the table. “We should have bones ready to review for this victim in the morning.”
“And the persons in graves three and four?” Teagan asked. “Did Dr. Albertson take control of those bodies?”
“Yes. She agreed that the victims retained enough flesh and internal organs for a full autopsy. She will conduct them in the morning.” Kelsey dug in her pocket and pulled out a business card. “She gave me this to have you call her regarding the schedule.”
Drew took the card. “Is this why you wanted us to stop by?”
“No. I wanted you to see this.” She pushed off the table to pick up one of Smiley’s ribs and display it. “As you can see, there are sharp cuts to this bone.” She ran her fingers over gouges then set down the rib and lifted two sections of the middle part of the spine and pointed at a deep notch in the bone. “An even deeper corresponding cut in the thoracic spine.”
Teagan leaned in closer. “And that tells you what?”
Kelsey set down the sections of the spine and went to the desk in the corner where she removed a long sword. “Grady Houston, our weapons expert, provided this.” She held the blade parallel to the floor. “Several of the rib cuts show the victim had been slashed across his chest at this angle. The injuries are consistent with a sword of this size.”
“His cause of death?” Drew asked.
“No. Those were just superficial strikes.” Kelsey held out the sword to Drew and took a bigger bone from the chest area. “The sternum has a similar slash mark, but it’s also fractured near his heart.”
Drew stared at the sword in his hands. “Which means what?”
Kelsey tapped the table. “This man was stabbed in the heart with a blade of similar size to the one you’re holding.”
“A sword fight. Or at least an attack.” Drew turned the metal in his hand and studied it. “Gives new meaning to the sword we found in the middle of the circle.”
“Symbolically,” Kelsey said. “But that one is much too large to be the murder weapon.”
“I didn’t see a sword at Smiley’s place,” Teagan said. “But then I wouldn’t expect to find the murder weapon left behind.”
“That would be odd,” Kelsey said. “Sierra also didn’t locate any weapon that could account for these injuries.”
“Do you know if she located anything of interest?” Teagan asked.
“Not that she told me, but when I left the scene, she was still working inside the house.” Kelsey set down the bone. “She could be back and still in her lab tonight if you want me to check.”
“Would you?” Teagan asked.
“Of course.” Kelsey went to the desk in the corner. She grabbed the handset for the desk phone and punched a button. “Oh good. You’re still at work. Drew and Teagan are here. Do you have anything that you want to share with them?”
Kelsey tapped her finger on the desk and tilted her head. “Oh, okay. I’ll bring them right up.”
“She find something?” Drew asked, sounding desperate for a lead.
Kelsey’s eyes glinted in the overhead light. “She did indeed, and she’s glad you’re here to tell you about it.”
16
Drew looked in the glass windows as Kelsey escorted them to the door for Sierra Rice’s trace evidence lab on the front half of the fourth floor. She pressed her fingers on the wall-mounted reader, and the door popped open with a decisive snap. She stepped back.
Drew smiled at Kelsey. “Thanks for the escort.”
“No worries. It’s good to get out of the basement.” She chuckled. “Actually, I like working down there. It’s quiet. No one wants to come down because of what I do, and they don’t happen to pass by. Limits my interruptions.”
This woman had so many layers, Drew doubted anyone could ever fully uncover them all. “You don’t seem the type who likes to avoid people.”
“Oh, I don’t. But with two kids and another on the way, I have to make every minute of my workday count. So to that end, I’ll say goodnight.” She mocked a bow and took off.
Drew held the door for Teagan. “I suppose you’ve been to this lab before.”
She nodded. “Quite the place. Top-notch equipment and experts just like all the other labs here.”
