Free Deadly Justice by William Bernhardt

disapproval and changed subjects. “I’m surprised this hasn’t been done already.”
    Koregai paused for the barest of seconds, then proceeded with his examination. “I have already examined the corpse. Thoroughly.”
    Tomlinson was beginning to catch on. “Then this rework wasn’t your idea?”
    “No. Decidedly not.” Koregai’s fingers pressed against the flesh surrounding her pelvis, letting the light refract at a variety of angles. “They have become desperate, because they want this killer so badly. Unfortunately, they have no clues, no evidence. The killer is too careful. He has cleaned his victim, removed all trace evidence. That is why I found nothing before. That is why I find nothing now.”
    This unwanted assignment might be a hassle to Koregai, but it was a blessing for Tomlinson. Angry, Koregai was uncharacteristically talkative. “You haven’t found anything of interest?”
    “Why do you ask?”
    “I just thought maybe if I knew what you knew, maybe I could find something in the field that would”—he straggled for words; obsequiousness was not his strong suit—“that would assist you in preparing your report.”
    “Are you working on this investigation?”
    “Uh…yes. Unofficially.”
    “Unofficially?” Koregai’s forehead wrinkled, then he resumed his work. “Might as well. The official investigators need all the assistance they can get.”
    Tomlinson suddenly shot forward, jarring the table. “What’s that?”
    Koregai lost his balance and fell to one side. “By all that’s—” He muttered some words in a language Tomlinson didn’t understand. “I want you to leave im med— ”
    “I thought I saw something!” Tomlinson said hurriedly. “Something in the blue light.”
    Frowning, Koregai returned the wand to the body. He was scanning the center pelvis, just above the pubic hair.
    “A little higher.”
    Koregai obediently elevated the wand. He moved it back and forth, then rotated it, letting the light sparkle and radiate. After a few more moments, he saw what had caught Tomlinson’s attention. With a small pair of tweezers, he removed a stray hair. He dropped the hair into a glass vial.
    “What do you think it means?” Tomlinson asked.
    “I…don’t know. Will have to run tests…”
    Tomlinson could see that Koregai was disturbed. He was accustomed to being flawless. Now some stupid police sergeant had seen him make a mistake.
    “Look, Dr. Koregai, I’m sorry I startled you like that. I’m sure you would’ve seen that hair in a second. In fact, you probably noticed it when you did your preliminary report. It just didn’t seem important enough to write down.”
    Koregai stopped his work, shut off his tape recorder, and peered at Tomlinson. Gradually, his face relaxed; he realized a peace offering was being extended. “Is there…some way I can help… you ?”
    Tomlinson smiled. “I don’t know, Doc. Have you come across anything during your examinations of the three corpses that might give me a leg up? Something everyone else has overlooked, or didn’t think was important. It might be the most trivial detail in the world to you, but it might break the case wide open for me.”
    Koregai stood for a moment, poised in thought. Without speaking, he turned back to the corpse and gently lifted her left breast with the wand. On the underside of the breast, in the blue glow, Tomlinson saw a small tattoo. It was a butterfly, with a garland of flowers across its wings.
    Tomlinson knew that the coroner could determine how long ago the ink had stained the skin. “How old?”
    “The tattoo is of recent origin.”
    “Has anyone else seen this?”
    Koregai nodded. “It’s in my report. But they don’t know what to do with it. They attempted to trace it. Without success.”
    Tomlinson beamed. “Thanks, Doctor. I really appreciate it. And if you get anything on that hair, please let me know.”
    Koregai bowed politely, then returned to his work.
    Tomlinson raced out