Diana Read Online Free PDF Page B

Jerry said.
    "That's what 911 Dispatch is stating the caller said."
    "Let's see what we got.” Diana tilted her head toward the patrol officer, letting him know to lead the way through the crime scene. She wanted to be sure to enter using the same path as the responding officer had. Before they reached the cordoned-off area, she took out her digital camera to photograph the crime scene.
    She described the temperature and the appearance of the area while Jerry took notes in the notebook. Diana knew they were the first detectives on the scene, forensics was on their way and would take plenty of pictures, but her experience proved that the initial photographs taken by first detectives could be quite valuable.
    They started walking toward the body. She glanced back at the pathway, noting the arrival of the forensics team. The coroner's van pulled up.
    The officer led them to a heavily wooded area just off the main pathway. Diana described the initial appearance of the victim while Jerry took notes.
    "The body lay on its side, clothing remains on, blouse pushed up revealing the bruising and injuries on the spine and back muscles. Blue blouse, dark blue jeans, socks, one shoe, a white sneaker remains on. Dark hair, early twenties, medium, brown skin tone, petite. Strangulation marks visible. Maybe the cause of death. Rigor mortis has set in."
    The massive bruising on the spine and back gave her an uneasy feeling. The tanned skin and dark hair stood out. Perhaps she was of Indian or Ecuadorian descent? Diana recalled an apartment complex right around the corner, two blocks from the park, where many Ecuadorian and Indian families lived, along with other ethnic denominations. The run-down apartment complexes were melting pots for all races.
    She stood a few feet from the body, once again absorbing the scene. There was bruising on the victim's back and sides. Her face lay half down in the dirt. There was dirt embedded under the victim's fingernails, and Diana could see the trail marks on the ground around the body. She envisioned the young victim straining to crawl and free herself from her attacker.
    Jerry made notes, as she pulled on a pair of disposable rubber gloves and continued her evaluation of the crime scene. The body was cold. Her initial identification of rigor mortis was validated.
    She pushed up the victim's eyelids, noting the discoloration and redness around the white of her eyes.
    "It doesn't look like she was sexually assaulted,” Jerry said.
    "No. I don't think so, either. These rips and tears are from the struggle."
    "Maybe he got spooked before he could finish the job? A lot of people walk this way at night, especially in the summer months."
    "The two lights on the lamp posts were out. Most regulars see that and don't bother to cut through the park. They know better,” the patrol officer said
    "Were the bulbs out or were they busted?” Diana asked.
    "They were busted, Detective,” the officer said.
    Diana exchanged glances with Jerry.
    She rose from her position and removed the disposable gloves. She moved out of the way, along with Jerry and the patrol office, and they allowed the forensic team to do their job. They'd already begun taking pictures of the surrounding area.
    She walked along the paved walkway, toward the broken glass from the light post.
    "I guess this would indicate it was a planned attack. Maybe our killer knew the victim?” Jerry said.
    "Good possibility. Officer Guido, did you question the park security and find out what time they last passed this area of the park?” Diana said.
    "Yes, Detective. They said when they came by here the lights were working fine."
    "Are they on a routine schedule, or do they mix up the times they check each location of the park?"
    "I don't think they mix it up. The two security officers are over there.” Officer Guido pointed at two men wearing security uniforms.
    Diana noticed they were overweight and slovenly. She had a bad feeling, but before she assumed the