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“Not so sure this guy is homeless”
Deke clicked on a heavy-duty flashlight, and the two asoline and charred flesh hung heavy in the roolared over the blackened re human Fire could do that Melt away all traces of humanity
One forensic technician dressed in a jumpsuit and a jacket shot pictures of the body while another sketched the scene
Alex stared closely at the body In an intense fire, flames ate away the hands and feet first “Extremities burned by fire?”
“Dismembered Bone cuts are clean and precise”
Interesting “Cause of death?”
“Gunshot wound to the chest No large bloodstains, which makes me think murder and dismemberment happened at another location”
“Male or fe
“Appears to be asoline or diesel on him and then set him on fire The flames burned quickly and hot, ate up his skin before it fizzled out”
“Clothes?”
“Body was stripped”
“Any sign of the extremities or head?”
“No I’ve got an officer co to search the area”
“Who found the body?”
“A couple of hoive names but said where the body could be found Officer O’Connor responded and reported it”
“No identification on or near the body?”
“No”
“Time of death estimates?”
“Don’t know yet Cold is h call Could be a couple of days if not more”
“I’m surprised the fire wasn’t reported”
“We had that snowstor by the looks, the building contained the fire I expect the medical examiner will be able to tell us quite a bit more”
The facts processed, Alex uy who may or may not be homeless?”
A s face “Alarm and fuzzy”
S”
That jostled a laugh “Right” Deke shined the light toward a distant corner filled with rubble, where ’s patchwork roof and cast eerie slashes of light across the cement floor An animal scurried across the floor
“It’s what I found near the victi
“Looks like a tool kit,” Alex said
“Might be I’uy”
Alex knelt and studied the case’s weathered exterior Inside it looked as if it had once held wrenches, screwdrivers, and an assortment of other ite without reason “Has this been photographed?”
“And dusted for prints”
With a gloved hand, he reached inside the case and, in a side pocket, found a 9un in the corner”
“He wasn’t expecting trouble, or he had another gun on him that was taken”
Alex glanced back at the charred body “I’d say trouble found him”
Deke rubbed his chilled hands together, see to replay the crime in his head “Company shoots him Strips the body and cuts off head, hands, and feet Sets the torso on fire”
“Nothing to identify the victiuy