The medical examiner leaned forward, checked the tote bag against his chart, and started

his examination.

White female, weight, 120 pounds, height, 65 inches, naked except for one white sock on

the left foot.

Age?

Well, almost 20.

Superficial cuts to the throat and right shoulder, more than a dozen of them, plus four shallow

stab wounds.

Evidence of rug burn on the face, bruising to the left temple and a split lip, punched?

No visible signs of sexual assault, hemorrhaging in both eyes, yes, high-oate bone, broken,

medication choking, large cut at the base of the cranium, three inches long skull fracture

visible.

Yes, a medical examiner thought as he returned to his notes, that is the blow that separated

soul from body.

According to the chart, she was found about 6.30 in the evening.

The body, cold, rigor at setting, blood settled.

The medical examiner figured she'd likely been dead six, maybe seven hours by then.

So estimate a time of death between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.?

Evidence from the scene would likely give a more complete picture, but as the medical

examiner stepped away from the gurney and washed his hands, he could imagine how it probably

went down.

A four-phase attack, a punch, choking, a life-and-death struggle in which the attacker tried and

...