Tunnel Vision Read Online Free PDF Page B

discoloration on his skull, ulna and radius. Just a guess, but I’ll check on it. The body also has a peculiar odor about it, don’t you think?”
    “How the hell can you tell?” Nicholls wrinkled his nose. “Burnt skin’s not exactly Chanel Number Five.”
    “It’s not the skin. More like kerosene. Again I’ll test for it, but it looks like this poor fellow was the victim of two kinds of burns, chemical and combustible.”
    “Overkill, isn’t it?” she asked.
    Harrald shrugged. “Dead’s dead. He wasn’t alive when either kind of burn occurred.”
    “Want to hazard a cause of death?” she inquired.
    “Nope. Not ready to jump out on that limb yet. I haven’t found any evidence he was shot or stabbed, but I feel confident that this death was not the result of natural causes.”
    After an hour with the Medical Examiner, the two detectives headed back to Cedar Springs.
    “How about some lunch?” Nicholls asked as they entered the Cedar Springs city limits.
    “You can eat after seeing that mess in Austin?”
    “Sure,” he grinned, “as long as it’s not too well done.”
    She groaned as he slowed down to turn into a fast food joint. When their food arrived, they ate in silence for a few minutes.
    “Got big plans for the weekend, RB?” Nicholls asked.
    She wiped her mouth and shook her head.
    “Nothing special. You still after that jail bait I saw you with a couple of weeks ago?”
    “She’s legal,” Nicholls said with a grin. “I did a record search.”
    “Lucky you.”
    “Damn straight and you’re just jealous,” Nicholls chuckled.
    “I do okay.”
    Although she had been dating Dr. Camille Jacobs off-and-on for nearly six years, a lifetime in the lesbian scene around Austin, Brodie hadn’t spoken to her in several days. The last time they had been together Camille made no secret of the fact she wasn’t completely happy with the way their relationship was progressing. Or not progressing, as Camille had put it, none too subtly. Brodie enjoyed spending time with Camille, and God knew the sex was above average, but she wasn’t willing to risk full time with anyone no matter how good they were in the sack. She’d been burned the only time she’d had a permanent relationship. To set herself up for a repeat performance would be nothing short of plain old stupid. Better to go home alone at the end of an evening, leaving them smiling and satisfied. If they expected more than that, they would have to hunt elsewhere.
    “When will the report on John Doe’s vehicle be ready?” she asked, dragging her thoughts back to the business at hand.
    “Probably Monday after lunch, but Calvin said it was definitely a torch job. He was all worked up on the phone. Said he finally got a challenge to work on.”“How’s that?”
    “No plates and no VIN. Said he would try to track down the part numbers on the computer.”
    “When we get back to the office, check the stolen car list and missing person reports.”
    “Probably won’t be anything from missing
    persons unless the guy’s been missing for a couple of days. Hell, maybe his old lady whacked him and will never report it.”
    “At least we can say we’ve covered all the bases. Wouldn’t want Donaldson to think we’re doing halfass work.”
    “You gonna get your new trainee involved on this one?”
    “ Our trainee, partner. Why not? Anyone can do paperwork and unless we suddenly get lucky that may be all we ever have. We’re not even sure the vic is from Cedar Springs. Could’ve been driven here from Louisiana for all we know. That reminds me, let’s check the missing persons list for the surrounding states too.”
    Nicholls nodded as he pushed the remainder of his burger into his mouth.

Chapter Two
    BRODIE PULLED THE day’s mail from her
    mailbox, unlocked the front door to her house and kicked it shut behind her. Her house was small, but more than roomy enough for a single woman who didn’t own much and craved solitude. She wouldn’t