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"Bag his hand, the hand holding the gun," I insisted "Bag Bloo when you transport the body and test it for gunshot residue"

The ME glared at Mallinger like he expected the Chief to do so Only the Chief was still too shaken to appreciate what I was telling her

"Listen to me," I said "The wound--it’s a doard path" I pressed a finger against er at un Usually, the path of the bullet is upward" I adjustedaround the wound, but no abrasion collar, which ainst the teun"

"What about it?"

"It was large caliber"

"So?"

"He shouldn’t be holding it The gun should have fallen from his hand"

"Ever hear of cadaveric spaso into spontaneous rigor ht you have to pry it froun It’s just resting in his hand like someone set it there"

The ME was looking at uage I’ve met a lot of half-smart people like him before It was always difficult for them to believe that there were other people in the world just as half-serprints, you’ll discover the gun has been wiped clean," I told hi Mallinger "He’s getting in the way"

"Maybe I’," I said "Maybe I am Will it kill you to find out for sure? If this were Raunshot residue kit Swab his hand and test it for gunpowder What would it hurt?"

"What would it hurt?" Mallinger asked weakly

"We don’t have the facilities," the ME said "I’d have to send it to a private lab and that’s gonna cost the county a thousand dollars"

"Is that e’re talking about?" Mallinger asked "A thousand dollars?"

"Chief--"

"Bag the hand"

"I’er shouted

The ME threw up his own hands in disgust

"Sooing to be even er’s eyes so she would better understand what I was telling her

"There are signs ofall over the place The odor of cat urine? That’s what it smells like Ephedrine from the cold medicine, lithium fro Josie Bloo meth?" the ME asked

"Yes In his bathroom You can see the stains on his bathtub"