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She began with a Y incision in the chest cavity and began a step-by-step analysis of the internal organs She declared all healthy and of norers brushed the heart As she lifted the enlarged organ from the body, even a layman could see the fatal bullet had shredded the heart She laid the heart down and carefully dissected it until she exposed the bullet She grabbed it with a pair of forceps and dropped it in a metal pan

“This is a male subject who appears to be anywhere from late twenties to late forties Cause of death was a bullet wound to the heart, which sliced through his left coronary artery Other than the dae from the bullet, I do notice that several arteries are blocked, which leads e I’d say the victis indicate he was a heavy sans complete, she moved to his arms She noted the hands had been severed, but the cuts had not been clean Disht and then the left hand The scenario mirrored the removal of the feet and the head

“Was there a lot of blood at the scene?” Dr Heller asked

“No,” Deke said

“So he was killed and dismembered elsewhere?” she asked

“Yes,” Deke said “Where is the million-dollar question”

With the help of her assistant, Dr Heller rotated the body on its side and photographed the back, which was covered with tattoos The fire had so danizable

“He liked the ink,” Dr Heller said “We ht be able to analyze the photos and come up with a tattoo that can be identified, but that will take time”

Deke frowned “Whatever you can give us will help” He glanced at Alex “See any connections yet?”

Alex thought again about Deidre’s visit today She’d played it cool, but he’d sensed her nerves ju “Not yet But I will Do what you can to reclaiht help identify the victim”

When Deidre arrived at holass of wine and an evening with David A good roll in the sack would take the edge off the nerves banding her neck and shoulders But sex and ould have to wait The nerves hu in her body needed to remain sharp

As she fished her keys out of her purse, she stepped inside her darkened town house and flipped on an entry light She dumped her purse and keys on the table and then carefully stepped out of her shoes, avoiding a glance in the hallway mirror that would toss back too many recriain

On the table sat a frairls The picture of Deidre and her younger sister had been taken over twenty years earlier When she’d left Tyler, this photograph, along with her computer and clothes, had been the one personal iteht from the office, sat next to the first It featured her surrounded by a half-dozen guys They were all grinning and standing in front of three million dollars of seized cocaine That had been one hell of a day

The pictures reminded her of her priorities Family and the job

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Moving into the kitchen, she reached for a bottle of wine and then stopped herself Instead, she filled a glass with tap water and took a liberal sip Wished it were stronger, but kneasn’t about what she wanted but what she needed

Pressing the glass to her tean’s face if she were to explain her plan He would not approve of the methods, but he would like the end result Maybe after it was all said and done, she’d tell hih from her Likely not

She’d learned the hard way to keep her own counsel No exceptions, ever

Glass in hand, she backtracked into the entryway and reached in her purse for her cell She dialed Leah’s number David would have to wait

Leah answered on the third ring “Leah, this is Deidre Wondering if you’d like to grab soht?”

“That sounds so nice But I’ on empty That run today plus iped me out”

Deidre glanced at her short fingernails “You’re not getting soft on me, are you?”

“Ha! I’ soft I am soft”

A chuckle ruether this week to talk I kind of touched on ot the sense that you understand”

A heavy silence crackled “Better than I wish What’s going on?”

Deidre didn’t have to dig deep on this one “My soon-to-be ex-husband n the divorce papers I know I’ll never live there again, but it hurts to have it taken away”

“You don’t want to fight for it?” Irritation edged Leah’s voice

“I want n the final papers in two and a half days” She dangled the bait, hating it as she reminded herself that the end justified the means