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She swept her weapon over a short corridor Two doors, both open In one she could see a sink, a toilet, the edge of a tub, all in glea her back to the wall, she slid toward the second door, where the music played on and on

She s the door all the way open, she found it

She ht, then left, eyes sharp, ears alert But she knew she was alone hat had been Marianna Hawley Still she checked the closet, behind the drapes, then left the roouard

Only then did she approach the bed

2A had been right, she thought The wo, not an eye-popper, but a pretty woreen eyes Death hadn't robbed her of that, not yet

Her eyes ide and startled, as the dead's often were Against the dull pallor of her cheeks careful and subtle color had been applied Her lashes were darkened, her lips painted a festive cherry red An ornaht ear -- a silded bird on one of its silver branches

She was naked but for that and the sparkling silver garland that had been artistically wrapped around her body Eve wondered, as she studied the raw bruising around the neck, if that hat had been used to strangle her

There wasthe victile

On the entertainested she have herself a merry little Christmas

Sighing, Eve pulled out her communicator "Dispatch, this is Dallas, Lieutenant Eve I have a homicide"

"Heck of a way to start the day" Officer Peabody stifled a yawn and studied the victim with dark cop's eyes Despite the atrociously early hour, Peabody's uniform was crisp and pressed, her dark brol-cut hair ruthlessly tamed

The only thing that indicated she'd been rudely roused out of bed was the sleep crease lining her left cheek

"Heck of a way to end one," Eve muttered "Prelim on scene indicates death occurred at twenty-four hundred hours, almost to the minute" She shifted aside to let the teas "Indications are cause of death was strangulation The lack of defensive wounds further indicate the victile until after she was bound"

Gently, Eve lifted the dead woinal and anal bruising indicate she was sexually molested before she was killed The unit's soundproofed She could have screas out"

"I didn't see any signs of forced entry, no signs of struggle in the living area except for the Christmas tree That looked deliberate to me"