Bouncer Read Online Free PDF Page B

Please keep in mind that Roger will be on his feet in no time, so make sure you take careful notes so he can jump right back in. Right now, the details are sketchy at best and will remain so until the coroner’s report comes back. If you’ll follow me, Mr. Thayne?”
    “Nick. You can call me Nick.” Nick took an instant dislike to the chief, whose agenda was clear. He was to serve as an interim investigator and no more. To top it off, the asshole was probably a closet bigot to boot. Nick’s notorious temper nearly flared, but he managed to keep himself in check.
    The coroner’s office consisted of two rooms filled with the inevitable stainless steel tables, an office, and a tiny lab. No wonder he’d been called in. This was Amateurville. The puffy, decomposing body had been dead for days; it didn’t take the stench or grayish-white tint of the body to tell him that. The coroner was a tall thin Asian-American with pleasant features and opaque eyes named Dr. Koh. After two seconds, Nick had to eat his words about Amateurville.
    “Fourth digit, left hand surgically removed. Finger not found with body. Been dead 72-96 hours, since no rigor mortis is apparent. Appendages are starting to appear mottled, and you can see the veins of his hands are very conspicuous. Cause of death was a blow to the throat with a narrow, blunt instrument. He likely died of massive blood loss, since the thoracic artery was severed. Bled out within a couple minutes. See here. Weapon wasn’t a knife—a screwdriver I’d say—likely a Phillips. I’ll investigate the circumference of the entrance wound to determine the exact shape of the instrument. You can see the weapon was thrust so forcefully it exited through the rear of the mayor’s throat at an upwards angle. The killer was shorter than the victim, but strong and probably right-handed, since the wound is on the left.”
    Dr. Koh changed subjects abruptly after noticing the chief’s pallid face. “This ring was found on the left pinky finger.” He pointed to the braided silver ring already bagged and tagged. “Roger indicated before his surgery that Thad Fisher never owned such a ring.”
    “So his name was Thad Fisher?” asked Nick.
    Richard broke in. “The ex-mayor, of all things. Been missing for quite a while. Everyone thought he’d taken off with his mistress, Connie.”
    “Has this Connie been found?”
    “No. I’ll supply you with all the details I know about her once we finish our examination.” Chief Rollins took out his handkerchief and wiped his pale forehead.
    Pansy, thought Nick. “So, the finger was surgically removed?”
    “Perhaps. I can’t be certain except that no bone or skin fragments were left hanging. Very clean. Removed after death.”
    Nick thrust his hands into his trouser pockets. “A good chop of a cleaver could do the trick I’d imagine. Did the mayor wear a wedding band?”
    “Yes. He had a designer ring,” supplied Chief Rollins. “A thick gold nugget band with a full carat diamond in the center. It was a real beaute. Probably set him back eight to ten thousand dollars.”
    “You’ve seen it?”
    “Couldn’t miss it, being so big. Must have had that ring for seven or eight years. Really stood out. Maybe he refused to hand it over and a robber retaliated.”
    “Hmm, Murder itself is not interesting . It’s the reasons for it that are interesting, gentlemen.”
    “What?” said Chief Rollins, clearly annoyed.
    “Just a quote from a book I read once; it discussed why people murder. A must read for any detective, by Ruth Rendall.”
    “Well, glad you’ve read it,” stated the Chief crossly. He didn’t particularly care for smart aleck pseudo-intellectual women who told men how to do their jobs. His Nancy had been quite content staying at home these past thirty years and knew her place.
    Dr. Koh handed Nick a Polaroid. “I took the liberty of taking a candid of the ring. It’s important we discover the real owner, I take