Read Online Cause of Death (Det. Annie Avants Book 1) by Renee Benzaim - Free Book Online
Authors: Renee Benzaim
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run deep and may never be healed."
"I know, Doc. That's a sad story, and I see the pain in his face when he remembers what happened. I don't know what the answer is. I can't even sort out my own life, let alone someone else's. Besides, we may think we know what's best for another person, but we don't," Annie said.
"The only word of caution I have, Annie, is not to transfer the pressure you get from your family to settle down and have kids onto Jesse. He's a good man. I think if you let him know how you feel, and how your family treats you, he'll better understand your resistance."
"You're right, Doc. I need to talk to him straight up and let him know what my fears are. Thanks for the advice and for caring.
"I appreciate the quick turn around on the prints, Doc. I'll see you bright and early in the morning."
As Annie turned to leave, Doc said, "Oh, Annie, by the way. These spider bites are a real puzzle. I am comparing each one to the charts I have that track the progress of a black widow spider bite, and they seem to have occurred over a period of several days. I'll have more information when I do the autopsy and have time to analyze each bite, but it is perplexing."
"Maybe we'll know more tomorrow. Just thinking about spiders crawling over her body gives me the creeps," Annie said, as she visibly shivered.
Doc laughed, "Take care, Annie, and stay out of trouble."
Annie echoed his laughter as she left his office.
* * *
When Annie finally got back to her desk, she called the deputies who took the witness statements at the scene to see if their reports were ready.
Deputy Hermosillo arrived shortly with copies of the hand-written reports.
"This is what we have. None of the three at the scene had much to say that you don't already know. We will wait a couple of days and follow up with them again just in case they remember something significant, or even insignificant, as well."
Deputy Hermosillo placed the folder on Annie's desk and she rewarded him with one of her cheerful smiles.
"Several deputies are still canvassing the area around the crime scene, but businesses and residences are spread out and they haven't returned yet. We're trying to determine which businesses are located such that the employees would travel on South Fairfax Road. We will talk to those employees specifically who go to work in the early morning or late evening hours."
"Good work, Raoul. Could you let me know as soon as the deputies turn in their hand-written reports? And make sure to ask them if they told each person interviewed to go to the substation in Lamont to sign the typed reports."
"I already mentioned that to them. They're on top of it. They'll take their original reports to the substation to be typed up and I'll bring a copy of the original statements here for you."
"Thanks, Raoul."
* * *
Later in the day, Annie called Laine DelMonte to see if she or her crew had found anything unusual at the crime scene. She hoped there would be some clues to help them identify the victim, or whomever put her there.
"I did find some leaves that aren't indigenous to that area," Laine said. "They look like they're from an olive tree. They have the light color underneath and are the right shape. I'm going to have them checked to make sure. Unfortunately, there are many olive trees in this County, so it won't really narrow down where she might have been. At least we can be fairly certain that she was somewhere else before being moved to the vineyard."
* * *
At 4:30 PM Deputy Hermosillo returned with copies of several of the hand-written reports.
Annie was sitting at her desk going over, once again, the three statements by the men from the crime scene.
"Hi Detective. Here are some of the reports from the field. I'm afraid there isn't much information. No one remembers hearing or seeing anything."
"That's kind of what I was expecting, Raoul, but we still have to give every avenue a
"I know, Doc. That's a sad story, and I see the pain in his face when he remembers what happened. I don't know what the answer is. I can't even sort out my own life, let alone someone else's. Besides, we may think we know what's best for another person, but we don't," Annie said.
"The only word of caution I have, Annie, is not to transfer the pressure you get from your family to settle down and have kids onto Jesse. He's a good man. I think if you let him know how you feel, and how your family treats you, he'll better understand your resistance."
"You're right, Doc. I need to talk to him straight up and let him know what my fears are. Thanks for the advice and for caring.
"I appreciate the quick turn around on the prints, Doc. I'll see you bright and early in the morning."
As Annie turned to leave, Doc said, "Oh, Annie, by the way. These spider bites are a real puzzle. I am comparing each one to the charts I have that track the progress of a black widow spider bite, and they seem to have occurred over a period of several days. I'll have more information when I do the autopsy and have time to analyze each bite, but it is perplexing."
"Maybe we'll know more tomorrow. Just thinking about spiders crawling over her body gives me the creeps," Annie said, as she visibly shivered.
Doc laughed, "Take care, Annie, and stay out of trouble."
Annie echoed his laughter as she left his office.
* * *
When Annie finally got back to her desk, she called the deputies who took the witness statements at the scene to see if their reports were ready.
Deputy Hermosillo arrived shortly with copies of the hand-written reports.
"This is what we have. None of the three at the scene had much to say that you don't already know. We will wait a couple of days and follow up with them again just in case they remember something significant, or even insignificant, as well."
Deputy Hermosillo placed the folder on Annie's desk and she rewarded him with one of her cheerful smiles.
"Several deputies are still canvassing the area around the crime scene, but businesses and residences are spread out and they haven't returned yet. We're trying to determine which businesses are located such that the employees would travel on South Fairfax Road. We will talk to those employees specifically who go to work in the early morning or late evening hours."
"Good work, Raoul. Could you let me know as soon as the deputies turn in their hand-written reports? And make sure to ask them if they told each person interviewed to go to the substation in Lamont to sign the typed reports."
"I already mentioned that to them. They're on top of it. They'll take their original reports to the substation to be typed up and I'll bring a copy of the original statements here for you."
"Thanks, Raoul."
* * *
Later in the day, Annie called Laine DelMonte to see if she or her crew had found anything unusual at the crime scene. She hoped there would be some clues to help them identify the victim, or whomever put her there.
"I did find some leaves that aren't indigenous to that area," Laine said. "They look like they're from an olive tree. They have the light color underneath and are the right shape. I'm going to have them checked to make sure. Unfortunately, there are many olive trees in this County, so it won't really narrow down where she might have been. At least we can be fairly certain that she was somewhere else before being moved to the vineyard."
* * *
At 4:30 PM Deputy Hermosillo returned with copies of several of the hand-written reports.
Annie was sitting at her desk going over, once again, the three statements by the men from the crime scene.
"Hi Detective. Here are some of the reports from the field. I'm afraid there isn't much information. No one remembers hearing or seeing anything."
"That's kind of what I was expecting, Raoul, but we still have to give every avenue a
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