“We’ll search the perimeter for evidence. When Dr. Whitefeather finishes, we’ll collect forensics from the body.”
“Please examine the rocks over there,” Ellie said as she pointed to the boulder the deputy mentioned. “The local deputy said there are initials of the names of the other two suicide victims etched on the rock. That teens are coming here and taking photographs in front of it.”
His eyebrows rose in interest. “You think we’re looking at a suicide pact?”
Ellie shrugged. “It’s possible. It’s also possible that this girl’s killer may have lured her to the ridge to make us think it was a suicide. I want to determine if there’s a connection between her and the other suicides.”
Williams nodded. “We’ll photograph the rock and brush for fingerprints, although no telling who’s touched the rock or the initials.”
“True. Just do the best you can.” She gestured toward the crow feathers. “Definitely catalog detailed shots of the feathers before collecting them. I don’t know exactly what they mean, but I think they’re significant to the crime and could be a killer’s calling card.”
Lt. Williams and his team began working and Ellie turned to the ME. Although it was the middle of the night, Laney looked fresh, her reddish-brown hair held back by a clip, but instead ofher black slacks and blouse, she wore jeans, a long T-shirt, jacket and boots.
“If the girl jumped from that ridge, she probably died on impact from internal injuries,” Laney said. “But we’ll definitely perform an autopsy. Let’s go check her out.”
With her medical bag in hand, Laney followed Ellie, and they carefully made their way across the rocks. “She reeks of alcohol,” Ellie said.
“Sure does,” Laney murmured as she neared the girl. “I’ll be sure to run a detailed tox screen.” They grew quiet as Laney scanned the rocks then knelt beside the girl. They both lapsed into a pensive momentary silence in respect for the life lost, and Laney pulled on gloves. She was meticulous and often recognized signs of foul play by letting the body tell the story.
“Poor baby,” Laney said in a raw whisper as she gently raked tangled black strands of hair from the girl’s bruised face. Blood streaked her hair, forehead and cheeks and still swirled in the water. “I wonder what would drive her to kill herself in such a brutal way,” Laney commented.
Ellie always wondered that about suicides, especially shootings. Most women chose pills or a method not as gory and bloody as a gun or high jump. “Maybe the publicity about the other suicides gave her the idea.”
Laney carefully examined the girl’s arms, fingers and legs while the deputy stood by and watched, still sullen. “One arm is broken, her left hand also, and both legs.” Laney used a handheld magnifying glass to examine her hands and fingers more closely. “Nails are broken as well but I’ll see if there’s particulates beneath them that could indicate she wasn’t alone, that she might have been pushed.”
Ellie simply nodded.
“Now, let’s see what she looks like,” Laney said as she gently rolled the body to her side.
Ellie gasped at the pretty young girl’s disfigured face.
Laney leaned closer to examine in more detail. “A broken nose and jaw are obvious. Her mouth is bloody and three of her teeth have been knocked out. She probably has crushed ribs and possibly her pelvis. We’ll know the extent of her injuries after the autopsy.”
A wave of nausea washed over Ellie, and she turned her head away for a second.
“Blue eyes. A heart-shaped face. She was attractive,” Laney murmured. “Just a teenager.”
Tears burned the backs of Ellie’s eyelids. She’d seen a lot of bodies on the job and should be used to it. But seeing death so close up always got to her.
This poor young girl had her entire life ahead of her. Why would she throw it away like this?
Or if she was murdered, who would want to kill her?
NINE
Cord punched Ellie’s number. She answered on the first ring, “Hey, how’s it going?”
He heaved a breath. “Definitely questionable, El.”
A tense second passed. “What did you find?”
“Boot prints, likely a man’s.”
“Dozens of people may have hiked that path yesterday and even the day before.”
“There’s more. An empty bottle of liquor on the rocks not far from where she would have jumped.”
Ellie muttered a low sound beneath her breath. “Maybe she was drinking to summon the courage to go through with her plan.”
