all been interviewed, and no one saw or heard anything that night. But the bartender back at the Crab Shack says he saw a light-colored van coming down off the bridge when he was locking up that night. Said it was around ten after three.”
“No make or year on that van?”
“He said it was going fast. He just saw that it was a light van.”
“Maybe the body was brought by boat,” Dorsey suggested.
“A boat would have been seen or heard. Because of the way the currents run, the only safe place to moor is to the immediate left of the old house. Which is why the dock was placed there. A car would actually have been the best way on and off the island if someone was trying to avoid being seen.”
“How was the body left?” Dorsey stood and slapped at the back of her neck.
“Laid on her back, her hands crossed over her stomach. Legs straight out in front of her. I have photos in the car, I’ll show you later.”
“So she wasn’t just tossed out of the car. Someone took the time to lay her carefully on the ground.”
“Right. Which means this is probably no random killing.” Andrew nodded. “Her clothes were carefully arranged, even the short skirt she was wearing was pulled down as far as it would go.”
“No sexual assault?” Another slap, this one on her left hand.
“No. Not that the ME could tell, anyway. Remember, she was a working girl. There were signs of recent sexual activity, but according to her roommate, she’d been working that night.”
“So there’s no way of knowing if she’d had sex with her killer. If he was one of her johns…”
“Right now, we know nothing,” Andrew agreed.
Dorsey knelt again to inspect the grasses. “She wasn’t killed here. There would have been blood.”
“Right. There was no indication she was killed here.”
“So, where do we start?” Dorsey shoved her hands into the pockets of her linen pants, which had looked so crisp when she’d put them on earlier that morning but were now full of wrinkles. She should have worn jeans. “Why aren’t you swatting?”
“They’re not bothering me.”
“That’s really annoying.”
“Sorry. And it’s not where do
we
start. It’s where am I on the investigation, which is already underway.”
“Right.” She bristled but nodded her understanding.
“I’ve spoken with the roommate briefly, but I got very little out of her. I did take a few notes, which I’ll let you read, along with the statement she gave the police, but we’re going to need to meet with her in person.” He paused as if something had just occurred to him. “Maybe you’ll have more luck with her. She doesn’t seem to have a very high regard for men.”
“Most prostitutes don’t. But I’d be happy to talk to her, if you think it will help.”
“And I’ll want to talk to the family, back in South Carolina. I haven’t been in touch with them yet, though I understand the state police have been. Once the locals realized what they had, they couldn’t get rid of it fast enough.”
“So I’ve heard.” She turned slightly and looked out at the sea, where dark clouds were gathering and a storm was just beginning to move toward the shore. Even from the opposite side of the island, she could hear the waves pounding on the beach. The air was still, except for the hum of the mosquitoes that seemed to grow louder with every minute. She swatted at the air near her right ear and smacked her left arm.
“That’s it. I’ve had enough for one day. I say we head inland, away from these goddamn little flying vampires.”
“Good idea,” Andrew said, though the insects still appeared to ignore him. “First we’ll take a look at the body, then we’ll visit with Edith Chiong.”
“Who’s Edith Chiong?” Dorsey started toward the car.
“Shannon’s roommate.”
“Where’s the body now? She hasn’t been buried yet, right?”
He caught up with her at the car.
“No. They’ve only just identified her a few days ago. The body
“No make or year on that van?”
“He said it was going fast. He just saw that it was a light van.”
“Maybe the body was brought by boat,” Dorsey suggested.
“A boat would have been seen or heard. Because of the way the currents run, the only safe place to moor is to the immediate left of the old house. Which is why the dock was placed there. A car would actually have been the best way on and off the island if someone was trying to avoid being seen.”
“How was the body left?” Dorsey stood and slapped at the back of her neck.
“Laid on her back, her hands crossed over her stomach. Legs straight out in front of her. I have photos in the car, I’ll show you later.”
“So she wasn’t just tossed out of the car. Someone took the time to lay her carefully on the ground.”
“Right. Which means this is probably no random killing.” Andrew nodded. “Her clothes were carefully arranged, even the short skirt she was wearing was pulled down as far as it would go.”
“No sexual assault?” Another slap, this one on her left hand.
“No. Not that the ME could tell, anyway. Remember, she was a working girl. There were signs of recent sexual activity, but according to her roommate, she’d been working that night.”
“So there’s no way of knowing if she’d had sex with her killer. If he was one of her johns…”
“Right now, we know nothing,” Andrew agreed.
Dorsey knelt again to inspect the grasses. “She wasn’t killed here. There would have been blood.”
“Right. There was no indication she was killed here.”
“So, where do we start?” Dorsey shoved her hands into the pockets of her linen pants, which had looked so crisp when she’d put them on earlier that morning but were now full of wrinkles. She should have worn jeans. “Why aren’t you swatting?”
“They’re not bothering me.”
“That’s really annoying.”
“Sorry. And it’s not where do
we
start. It’s where am I on the investigation, which is already underway.”
“Right.” She bristled but nodded her understanding.
“I’ve spoken with the roommate briefly, but I got very little out of her. I did take a few notes, which I’ll let you read, along with the statement she gave the police, but we’re going to need to meet with her in person.” He paused as if something had just occurred to him. “Maybe you’ll have more luck with her. She doesn’t seem to have a very high regard for men.”
“Most prostitutes don’t. But I’d be happy to talk to her, if you think it will help.”
“And I’ll want to talk to the family, back in South Carolina. I haven’t been in touch with them yet, though I understand the state police have been. Once the locals realized what they had, they couldn’t get rid of it fast enough.”
“So I’ve heard.” She turned slightly and looked out at the sea, where dark clouds were gathering and a storm was just beginning to move toward the shore. Even from the opposite side of the island, she could hear the waves pounding on the beach. The air was still, except for the hum of the mosquitoes that seemed to grow louder with every minute. She swatted at the air near her right ear and smacked her left arm.
“That’s it. I’ve had enough for one day. I say we head inland, away from these goddamn little flying vampires.”
“Good idea,” Andrew said, though the insects still appeared to ignore him. “First we’ll take a look at the body, then we’ll visit with Edith Chiong.”
“Who’s Edith Chiong?” Dorsey started toward the car.
“Shannon’s roommate.”
“Where’s the body now? She hasn’t been buried yet, right?”
He caught up with her at the car.
“No. They’ve only just identified her a few days ago. The body