Free The Defeated Aristocrat by Katherine John Page B

closer examination in the mortuary. The cuts are of uniform length and jagged suggesting they were made by a scissors or short-bladed knife. If I had to opt for one I’d say scissors. Sharp ones similar to boning scissors. Rigor hasn’t set in. I’d say he died sometime within the last three to four hours. Do you know who he is?’
    ‘The uniform is that of a kriminaloberassistent.’ Hafen pointed to the shredded clothes. ‘His pockets were empty. Picked clean.’
    ‘Did he come in with anyone?’
    ‘Not that anyone saw. In fact no one appears to have seen him enter the building.’
    ‘Was he on duty?’
    ‘No idea. I’ll check the rotas after he’s been identified. Did he die from blood loss?’
    ‘I doubt he’d have lived more than five, maybe ten minutes after the mutilation and attendant blood loss, and for most of that time he would have been semi-conscious from shock and pain.’
    There was a knock at the door. Georg opened it. Lilli was outside.
    ‘If you don’t need me …’
    ‘I don’t. Go home and try to get some sleep, Lilli. You might manage an hour or two before you have to get up.’
    ‘I wanted to check what I can print.’
    ‘There’s been a second victim.’
    ‘Nothing more?’
    ‘No, and no mention of the notes you received.’ Georg warned. ‘It’ll be your scoop when the time’s right.’
    ‘The victim?’
    ‘Unidentified as yet. We won’t release his name until after his family have been informed. As usual you’ll get any press release twelve hours before the Sonne . Tell Klein to arrange transport to take you home.’
    ‘Thank you, I will.’
    ‘It’s me who should be thanking you for bringing us the letter, Lilli.’
    ‘Be kind to the young officer who escorted me here. He wouldn’t have if I hadn’t lied to him. His name is Blau.’
    ‘I promise no more than three lashes,’ Georg joked. ‘Goodbye, Lilli. Take care of yourself.’
    Georg watched Lilli walk down the stairs. ‘Is there anything else, Martin?’ he asked after the front door had closed behind her.
    ‘Just one more thing before I remove the mask.’ Martin picked up a fragment of the victim’s uniform and wiped the blood from the man’s chest.
    Georg squinted, ‘Are those letters carved into the skin?’
    ‘Crude, but they appear to spell “defiler”. Given the blood flow they look as though they were incised during life. I’m no detective but added to the mutilation it could be an indication of motive. Was anything cut into the chest on the other corpse?’ Martin asked.
    ‘I don’t recall but I’ll check. Thank you, Dr von Mau. I can’t promise anything given Feiner’s connections but would you be prepared to consider the position of police doctor if I put your name forward, after consultation with the kriminalrat? Provided he agrees, of course.’
    ‘I would be honoured by the appointment, sir. As would my bank manager if there’s a retainer.’ Martin examined the lock on the base of the neck ring that secured the two halves of the scold’s bridle.
    ‘I’m not sure what the salary is, but it must be worth having as Feiner wants to keep it. Here, let me.’ Georg produced a bunch of skeleton keys. ‘Essential equipment for every officer who doesn’t want lawbreakers to have all the advantages.’ He had the lock unfastened in seconds.
    Martin tried to remove the penis from the mouth of the mask but it had caught on the metal “teeth” that framed the opening. Gently, exerting minimum pressure, he prised the front from the back of the bridle. He stopped when he saw a mark on the left side of the victim’s neck.
    ‘Something?’ Georg asked.
    ‘A bruise over the carotid artery. Exert enough pressure at that point for ten seconds, you render a man unconscious, twenty seconds, you kill him.’
    ‘Who would know that?’
    ‘A doctor, nurse, soldier, trained medic, sportsman …’
    ‘Too long a list to be helpful.’
    Martin folded back the hinged mask, removing the metal