Free The Bastards of Pizzofalcone by Maurizio de Giovanni, Antony Shugaar Page A

surface of the floor, right arm semiflexed, and left arm extended along the torso. Lower limbs extended and parallel. The feet present as intrarotated . . . just put down ‘in opisthotonos,’ Matte’, I’ll know what it means. She’s wearing a dressing gown, satin, rose-colored, the sash in place, a nightdress, antique white with lace trim, flesh-colored panty hose, a pair of panties the same color, also lace. Around the neck we note the presence of a white cord. Upon turning over the corpse, we note that the extremities of the cord are attached to a pair of eyeglasses, with burgundy frames, for reading; the right lens appears to be broken at the level of the nosepiece on that side. We herewith note that the garments have been removed for the purpose of being produced individually as evidence, for whatever potential subsequent biological investigations might be considered useful. Length of the cadaver, 169 centimeters, with gynecoid adipose tissue distribution.”
    The doctor crouched down near the face, sighing: “Eyelids open. Corneas slightly opaque and the presence, at the corners of the eyes, of Sommer’s sclerotic patches. Oozing from the rima oris is a rivulet of pinkish liquid. Discharge of hematic material from the left ear, which has gathered partly on the floor and partly around the pavilion of the ear and the homolateral cheek, soiling them. Upon a preliminary external examination, tissues of a pasty consistency were found in the left occipital region, as per subgaleal collection. Despite the presence of dense scalp hair, it is nonetheless possible to perceive that the dermis of the occipital region appears to be affected with a shift in hue toward the reddish-blue range. Further inspection also reveals, at the center of the dyschromic area in question, a small wound, roughly 1.5 centimeters long, which, upon preliminary inspection and delicate manual divarication of the margins of the wound, allows glimpses of connective tissue strands as in a lacerocontusion, with modest blood loss. The remaining skin surfaces are free of traumatic lesions.”
    He turned the body over, gently pulled open the dressing gown, and lifted the nightdress.
    â€œWe note the presence, in the paraumbilical region, of an old scar, with an axis of roughly one centimeter. Two other scars, each with an axis of more than 0.5 centimeter, are located on the line of the anterior superior iliac spine, 5 centimeters to the right and left, respectively, of the median line. This scar cluster can be attributed, with high probability, to a laparoscopic surgical procedure. The body is negative for the presence of extraneous material beneath the fingernails, which moreover appear to be intact, with white nail polish normally applied. Cadaverous rigor mortis is underway in all regions. Presence of hypostasis at anterior site, as produced by prone posture, with the exception of the decubitus areas, already immune to probing via digital pressure. Rectal temperature of the cadaver is 26.5° C. The inspection is concluded at 9 A.M. And also write, Matte’, that the window was locked.”
    Beyond a contrite Cuomo who stood looking down at the tips of his shoes, Lojacono took in the panoramic view offered by the open window. An extraordinary spectacle composed of wind, sea, and sky, with the peninsula enclosing the bay as distant backdrop. He decided that if he ever had the good luck to live in such a place, he’d just sit and stare out the window all day long; he wouldn’t get himself killed, wouldn’t let himself get bonked on the head while he was wearing a dressing gown.
    â€œDoctor, do you have any idea of when it might have happened?”
    The medical examiner got to his feet with some effort, removing his latex gloves.
    â€œLieutenant, for now we can state that this woman died between nine and eleven hours ago. She suffered a violent cranial trauma at the nuchal site. More than that I