Read Online Faces of Evil [4] Rage by Debra Webb - Free Book Online Page B

eaten. “I was just on my way to check on the progress at the coroner’s office.”
    “I have nothing scheduled this afternoon.” He held up his hands. “We could have a quick lunch and then make your stop.”
    She hadn’t heard from Leeds or Baron. There might very well be no news at this point. Why not take Wesley up on his offer? “That works. Sure.” She pushed a smile into place. “I’ll drive.” She could pick his brain about how the Lopez situation might relate to the Grayson case. Not that she really believed it did, but it was one of those avenues that had to be fully investigated.
    They were barely out the door when Jess’s cell clanged. She dug in the bottom of her bag while ensuring she kept Wesley marching toward the elevator. What she really wanted to do was get out of the building before Burnett saw them together. He would drive her nuts about it.
    … Drive her nuts .
    People tossed that phrase around all the time. Had Gabrielle Grayson meant it literally or was she just using a common expression when she made the statement in front of the pool guy about her child?
    Jess managed to get her cell to her ear and said, “Harris,” at the same time she paused at the elevator and hit the down button. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.
    “Chief Harris, this is Dr. Sylvia Baron.”
    The elevator doors slid open but Jess ignored them. “You have news?” She couldn’t imagine any other reason for the call. The woman already disliked her immensely. She certainly wasn’t looking for a lunch partner.
    “Before you get excited, Harris, understand that we’ve completed only a very preliminary exam, but we have narrowed time of death to a smaller window and we have a few other details confirmed.”
    The elevator doors had closed with Jess too caught up in the conversation to act. She stabbed the button again. “I was actually just about to have a quick lunch and then drop by your office but, please, don’t keep me in suspense, Dr. Baron.”
    Jess turned the phone away from her face and to Wesley whispered, “It’s the medical examiner about my case.”
    Wesley made an “oh” face and gave her an understanding nod.
    The elevator doors glided open once more and Jess started to step inside, determined not to let it get away this time. She stopped just in time to prevent running into Burnett on his way out.
    As he looked from her to Wesley and back, Jess silently swore at her bad timing.
    “Gabrielle died between nine and midnight,” Dr. Baron said, dragging Jess’s attention back to the phone conversation. “That’s as close as we can narrow the window with any real accuracy at this stage and considering the fact that she was lying on a cold tile floor. Be that as it may, I suspect what you’re going to find the most interesting, Chief Harris, is cause of death.”
    One hand held up for Burnett to give her a second, Jess’s full attention zeroed in on the conversation. She tuned out the sound of the elevator doors trying to close with Burnett blocking their path. Every instinct warned that whatever Baron was about to tell her, it was pivotal to the case and finding Gabrielle Grayson’s killer.
    “First, we found no evidence of sexual assault.”
    Jess was thankful to hear that.
    “The beheading, which I believe was accomplished with a saw, something with teeth , was done postmortem. The stab wounds were postmortem as well, but I’m sure you surmised that much already,” the associate coroner announced. “Ironically, cause of death was manual asphyxiation. Now, my question to you, Chief, is, unless the killer was trying out for a part in the next Saw movie, what was the point of all the theatrics?”
    That was a damned good question with only one clear answer.
    Distraction .

 
    Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, Cooper Green Hospital, 2:45 p.m.
    D r. Sylvia Baron waited next to the stainless-steel table where the body, along with the detached head, of Gabrielle Grayson waited for the next step in the