Read Online Bone Thief by Thomas O' Callaghan - Free Book Online

slash and carry,” said Jasper Eliot.
    Pearsol hit the on button and continued: “The second and third cuts are lateral incisions to both thighs, allowing extrication of the bones from the upper legs. The incisions measure 29 and 30 centimeters, respectively. The victim’s patella, fibula, and tibia are missing, as well as externus and internus malleolus.”
    â€œThe gulls got some of the choice parts,” Jasper Eliot whispered to Driscoll. “What’s he want with the bones?”
    â€œThat’s what we’d like to know. Larry, kill the recorder for a minute and talk to me.”
    â€œYou got it.” The ME hit the switch and turned to face Driscoll. “What we have are the remains of an undernourished Caucasian female, possibly anorexic. She dyed her pubic hair blonde. Nestled within it is an old tattoo of a faded heart. Kinky. About five-eight, five-ten, weighing between 105 and 110 pounds. My initial examination of her genitalia shows no indication of a recent assault or violation. In the flesh of her shoulders I found circular wounds, half a centimeter in diameter, eight in all, probably postmortem, left by three-inch nails.”
    â€œThat’s how he hung her on the boards, by the shoulders. Tell me about the piercing.”
    â€œAn abundance of scar tissue surrounds the perforation.”
    â€œDoes that tell you when she got it done?”
    Pearsol unscrewed the top to an aluminum canister and emptied its contents. The ring made a clinking sound as it hit the base of a glass dish.
    â€œJudging from the scar tissue, I’d say she’s been wearing it for a couple of months, give or take a few days,” he surmised.
    Driscoll stared at the ornament, a gold band with jade studs. “I’d like to know the composition of the ring as soon as possible.”
    â€œOne step ahead of you, Lieutenant.” Jasper Eliot handed Driscoll a computerized printout detailing the chemical analysis of the ring: “11.1 milligrams gold, 26.2 milligrams copper, 2.6 lead, 2.3 tin, 8.7 steel and 3.7 resins. Studs: imitation jade. Estimated worth: $16.32.”
    â€œLarry, what about the body piercer?” Driscoll asked, scanning Eliot’s report.
    â€œWell, he’s a perfectionist. The guy knows his flesh. No nail gun used here. These suture marks are perfectly symmetrical. Impeccable work. You’re thinking, maybe the body piercer and your perp are the same guy?”
    â€œCan’t overlook it.” Driscoll punched in a number on his cell phone.
    Margaret answered on the third ring.
    â€œI want a list of body piercers,” Driscoll said. “Start with the tristate area.”
    â€œAren’t earrings against Department regulation?”
    â€œVery funny. It may be a lead.”
    â€œSorry, sir.”
    â€œI gotta run. Get on that list right away.”
    â€œYou got it.” Margaret grumbled. He’s gotta be kidding. Does he know how many body piercers there’d be in the goddamn tristate area ?
    Thomlinson picked up the ring. “If this could only speak…”
    â€œCan you make it speak, Larry?” Driscoll asked.
    â€œI’d say the ring was handmade. Probably by the guy that did the piercing. They like to make their own jewelry. And your victim, she was into pain. I can tell you that much.”
    â€œHow’s that?”
    â€œThe ring was inserted without an anesthetic. Body piercers use a local, a mix of paracin trichloride and Novocain. It always leaves a trace in the surrounding membrane. A signature. There’s none here.”
    â€œLet’s hope that’ll help us ID the piercer,” said Driscoll.
    As Pearsol returned to his recorder, Driscoll’s thoughts drifted. What does a homemaker have in common with a nineteen-year-old aside from being female? And what lure did this madman use to attract these two unfortunate women? Staring down at the butchered remains of Monique Beauford,