Free Cause of Death (Det. Annie Avants Book 1) by Renee Benzaim Page A

this victim yet?" she asked, clasping her hands in front of her on the desk and leaning towards Tom.
    "No information as to her identity.  There weren't any responses to her fingerprints.  However, Laine says the boot print is distinctive, not your everyday run-of-the-mill Nike or New Balance brands.  She will have someone look into the sole pattern to determine the make and manufacture of the boot."
    "So, what does all of this mean?" Sgt. Collins asked.
    Tom felt her impatience radiating across the desk.  He knew she was under pressure from the hierarchy above her to find quick.
    "I don't know," said Tom.
    "As to the general condition of her body, Deputy Coroner Schillings believes that she was naked the whole time and found encrusted feces and the strong scent of urine on her body.
    "Laine did a grid search of the immediate area surrounding the body and up and down South Fairfax Road.  Besides the boot print I mentioned before, they found and cast a tire track in some soft mud along the roadway.  Whether it was from the vehicle that transported the victim or not is hard to say."
    "What about contusion, abrasions, lacerations, those kinds of things?  Did Deputy Schillings notice anything?"
    "We won't have his full report until later.  Doc scheduled the autopsy for 9:00 AM this morning and, of course, Detective Avants, Jesse Greyeyes, and I will attend.  That's about it for now."
    "OK, Tom, keep me updated.  This is just strange enough that it raises red flags in my mind.  Obviously, our main focus is to get her identified and find out what led her to this spot at this point in time.  That's it.  Let's get back to work and see what happens with the autopsy."

CHAPTER NINE
    Tuesday, 14 August 2012, 9:00 AM
    Annie and Tom arrived at the morgue at 9:00 AM to view the autopsy on their 'Jane Doe'.  The contract forensic pathologist, Dr. Preston Richards, along with the diener - the autopsy assistant - Joseph Al-Fassi, had finished setting up for the autopsy. 
    Both Tom and Annie cringed as the odor of cleaning agents and death assaulted them.
    "Do you think it's possible to get used to the smell?" Annie asked Tom, as she wrinkled her nose in disgust.
    "Probably not," Tom said.  "However, I knew someone who lost his sense of taste and smell after an unfortunate surgery," Tom said.  "For him, smell isn't an issue.  Think about this - what if each law enforcement agency hired someone with this condition and trained them to be the expert autopsy viewer?"
    Annie thought about it for a minute.  "He or she could view the procedure for the investigating officers.  Combined with the dictation, photos, and videotape from the pathologist, they'd have the complete picture," Annie said.
    "That sounds like a good idea," Tom said.  "Feel free to suggest it to the Sergeant when we do our update."

* * *
    A couple of minutes later, Jesse Greyeyes, along with Deputy Coroner Schillings, arrived.  Deputy Schillings verified that it was the same body he had signed over to the morgue the day before and he checked her toe tag.  When that formality was taken care of, the four suited up.
    Joseph positioned the body on a slightly tilted stainless steel table so any fluids would drain off away from the body.  The table had raised sides so no fluids could leak onto the floor.
    The victim lay on her back and Annie, Deputy Schillings, Tom, and Jesse stepped back so the forensic lab assistant in charge of x-rays could get the x-rays done and leave to have them processed.
    Doc looked up and greeted everyone.  "You all know Joseph Al-Fassi.  He will be assisting me today and Joelle Marchand will videotape the procedure as we progress.  Manny Espinosa, our forensic photographer, will be in charge of taking the photographs.
    "The body is that of an unembalmed, well-developed, mal-nourished, dehydrated Hispanic female between the ages of 25 years and 30 years.  Her weight is 120 pounds and she is 64 inches in length.  The scalp is covered