Free No One Left to Tell by Jordan Dane

paperwork on a clipboard and labeled test tubes.
    With a surgical gown draped loosely over her street clothes, Raven accompanied Tony into the room, slipping on latex gloves. Tony's voice echoed in the chamber. "We got a meeting with the chief in a half hour. Just wanted to see what you got so far. I know you've barely started."
    "Actually, we found something interesting. It's not much, but it might give you a lead." Dr. Chapman spoke in monotone, with the composure of a CPA poring over a tedious tax return.
    Raven admired her professionalism. Without any apparent emotion, the woman stood over Mickey with his gaping throat and shocked expression fixed at the time of his death. But under this light, Raven found it hard to dismiss the man's terror.
    "When we removed his clothing, we found that pellet," the doctor explained. She pointed to a small plastic capsule bagged on a nearby counter. Raven bent to get a closer look at the evidence.
    The medical examiner continued, "You'll need to confirm my suspicions, but one of my techs was familiar with that type of pellet. He says he's seen it used for paintball. Are you familiar with the game?"
    Raven's stomach lurched. She knew what Tony would be thinking. She'd been trained to remain objective during an investigation, yet she found herself blinded to Delacorte's possible involvement. Blame it on her cop gut instinct—or had Christian tainted that, too? Damn it! With her eyes focused on the body, she fought to keep the emotion from her face.
    "Yeah, just saw it played as a matter of fact." Her tone steady, she stepped back to the table, catching the eye of her partner. "But why wasn't the man plastered with paint? Wouldn't it have been on his clothes?"
    "Good question, Detective. You're right, but not if the pellet had been filled with rubbing alcohol. It seems paintball pellets can be purchased separately. Filled by the buyer." The CSI man offered his opinion. "With rubbing alcohol, the sting of the pellet would be multiplied as it pummeled the body. It would explain the bruising."
    Pointing to the man's temple and neck, Scott added, "He's got dark abrasions here from direct hits. See the breaks in the skin. His chest has only faint markings of impact, maybe lessened by his clothing. Still, it would have stung like hell, to be blasted with something like that. One of the pellets dropped into his shirt. We were lucky to find it."
    "So we're looking for a sick bastard with a twisted game of paintball." Tony glanced at Raven with a grimace that spoke volumes. She knew Christian would be back at the top of her partner's suspect list. "Anything else?" he asked.
    "Yeah. We've had a couple of other cases under a similar MO. Two homeless guys. Maybe a practice run using people that wouldn't be missed? The MO is too unique not to be connected. It's a theory." Scott offered his opinion with a clinical shrug. "And as you remember, his tie and coat were missing. Didn't find his tie stuck in a pocket, so those items are still gone. And buttons were torn from his shirt. You might get lucky and find them at the murder scene, if you find it."
    "You still think he was killed elsewhere?" Tony confirmed.
    "Given the blood evidence, I'd say yes. He was killed somewhere else." Scott pointed to the vic's pants. "And we found small flecks of some kind on his pant legs and hands. We've sent samples to trace, but it'll take time to process. You'll have to check back with me in a day or two. The lab's backed up."
    "Speaking of his hands, anything on them or under his nails?" Raven asked.
    "We scraped under his nails, no apparent DNA evidence. But we did find GSR on his hands. Looks like the guy tried to defend himself. With an empty holster, you'll be looking for a gun, too."
    "We've got a check going for his permit to carry. Once we get that, we'll start the search for his missing weapon," Tony replied. "Anything on the wound? Time of death?" He glanced at the ME.
    "From the angle of the cut, left to