Page 19 of A Circle of Crows

“Hello?”

“William,it’s Inspector Brodie, from the Fort Crow—”

“Aye.What can I do for ye, Brodie?”

“Iwanted to ask about the autopsy for Grace Allan,” I demanded.

Williamsaid, “Oh, did her family come?”

“Yes.Her sister is here andaskin' to see the report,” Ilied, and obediently, William asked for me to give him a moment while he foundthe file. Why it wasn't there at the ready, I don't know, and why it hadn'tbeen shown to her sister already, I could only begin to wonder.

“Herewe go,” he said. “Did ye want me to bring it to the station, or—”

“No,”I interrupted him hastily. “I’ll be right there.”

***

“Y’know, itwouldnaebeen anyproblem to bring it over,” William said, standing from his desk with the filein hand.

“It’sfine. I washeadin’ out, anyway, thanks,” I muttered,snatching the file from his hand, before leaving in a hurry. When I reached thecar park, I opened the file and read the report.

Causeof death: Significant trauma to skull and blood on the brain.

AutopsyFindings: Fractured skull. Detached right foot, acquired after death.

Nomention of the marks around her neck. Not even a mention of the bruises orlacerations all over her limbs, probably caused by the fall they were sofocused on.

Withthe blood hot in my veins, I hurried back toward the building and threw thedoor open. William looked up from his mobile, eyes wide and surprised by myabrupt intrusion.

“Brodie,what—”

“Whydidnaeye mention the strangle marks around herneck?”

Heshook his head erratically. “Ididnaesee—”

“Oh,stuff it upyerarse,” Ishouted. “Whydidnaeye mention them?!”

“Be-becausetherewasnaeanythin’there,” he exclaimed in reply, standing to put himself more on my level. “Therewas a birthmark on the side of her throat, Brodie. Maybe that’s what ye thoughtye wereseein’. But I’mtellin’ye, there wasnothin’incriminatin’there when I performed the autopsy.”

Hewas nervous, but given the way I’d barged in, I supposed anybody would’ve been.And he was an honest man and good at his job, not one to meddle or botch areport.

Relenting,I nodded and let my guard down. “Sorry. I was just so sure about it.”

Henodded sympathetically. “I know. I know yewouldnaerun in here if yewerenaeserious. But it’s a goodthing, lad,” he said, offering a forced, friendly smile. “We’ve no killersrunnin’ loose.”

Inodded and clapped a hand against his shoulder. “All right, man. Good work,” Isaid, then turned and headed for the door.

Butbefore my hand could touch the knob, I stopped and remembered one very crucialpiece of this puzzle. The foot. The dismembered appendage found in the foliage.I turned abruptly, opened the file again, and pointed at the line in question.

“Yesaid it was her right foot.”

Williamblinked at me, wearing an expression of blank cluelessness. He opened hismouth, as if to speak, but then, closed it again, and slowly, I shook my head.

“Yenever saw the body.”

Heshook his head and said hurriedly, “No, I did, I swear it. I was just in ahurry and—”

“Ineed to stop that cremation,” I interrupted, speaking to myself, and withoutlistening to what else he had to say, I ran out of the building and to my car.