was too

and the corpse laid out upon it. The Y-incision from the autopsy was precise, the edges stitched together with the kind of neat, even sutures that spoke of professional training. But the sk

he raw, glistening red of the cadaver's torso. No hesitati

r, she thought

but a bead of sweat trickled d

the entrance. He was a broad-shouldered man with a permanent five o'clock shadow and a habit of chewing gum when he wa

swer. She was to

h one measured to the mi

nervingly straight, the work of someone who knew exactly how deep to go. No nicks i

epping closer. The scent of spe

"Lividity suggests he was on his back when he di

as uncon

new his

his nose. "Great. A

's left rib. A faint mark, almost hidden beneath the layers of peeled-b

ymb

into th

eath c

crude, jagged circle with a line through

ot a

erp

t in her throat. She knew that

" Hale asked

er voice steady. "Nothing. A s

ead, he nodded toward the victim's

will take time." She gestured to t

Hale rubbed his jaw. "Any chance thi

"Cartels are messy. T

eticu

tterns of the cuts. There was something almost ritua

n she s

ow where the ribs met, was a small, folded squ

aked as she re

ll is that?"

trembling just enough to annoy her. The words were written in neat

urface. I see

oom t

knew this wasn'

an invi

e wors

actly who i

-

e Br

d into her coat and made the pavement shine like oil. She stood under the awning, staring at h

urface. I see

w that

eard it

the contact she hadn't

Not yet. Not unt

ther number. The call conn

her end was smooth, amused. "I

ned on the phone. "Y

te the headline." A pause. "Y

eyes. "I think

r y

e

nstead, she asked, "Do y

is time. Then: "Come by

ne wen

hone, her breath fogg

there, a kille

wasn't