Divine Evil

before, it was worse now with Biff's dead eyes staring up at him. Unlike the back, the front of the body was a nightmare vision of bruises and broken bones. The bull-like chest had been caved in, the manhood Biff had been so proud of was a jellied stump.
    He'd been right about the knees, Cam thought, as he turned away to take a breath and pick up the camera again. As the doctor spoke his technical and meaningless terms, he took more pictures.
    They both glanced up at the sound of an ambulance.
    “There was no need for the siren,” Loomis said, and all but clicked his tongue. “We'll be moving the body to the morgue, Sheriff, for a thorough examination. I believe it's safe to say that this man suffered a severe and prolonged beating. Death was probably caused by a strong blow to the head. From the progress of rigor, we can assume he died between ten and fifteen hours ago. I'll certainly be able to give you more precise details after the autopsy.”
    “Can you give me an idea when you'll be able to get back to me?”
    “Forty-eight hours, perhaps a little more. Will we need dental records?”
    “What?”
    “Dental records.” Loomis snapped off his gloves, rolledthem, and tucked them in his bag. “As the body is nude and without identification, will you need dental records?” “No, I know who it is.”
    “Well, then.” He looked up as his attendants started down the slope with a thick plastic bag and a stretcher. Before he could speak again, they all heard a car squeal to a halt on the road above. Cam ignored it, trusting Bud to hurry any curiosity-seekers along. Then he recognized the voice that rose up suddenly in panic and demand:
“What do you mean Cam's down there?”
    Clare's legs nearly buckled. Every ounce of color drained from her face as she stared at the ambulance. “Oh, God, oh, my God, what happened?” She rushed forward, only to have Bud grab her arms and block her way.
    “You can't go down there, Clare. You don't want to. Believe me.”
    “No.”
Horrible, merciless visions streaked through her mind. She saw her father, sprawled on the flagstone. And now Cam. “No, not Cam, too. I want to see him. Damn you, I want to see him now.” She fought her way clear, shoving Bud aside. Her blind rush forward took her skidding down the slope and into Cam's arms.
    “What the hell are you doing?”
    “You.” She lifted a shaking hand to his face, pressing her fingers in hard. There were bruises, old bruises, but he was solid and real. “I thought-You're okay? Are you okay?”
    “I'm dandy. Get the hell up on the road.” He turned her so that she didn't see the scene below, then pushed her in front of him up to the shoulder. “I thought I told you to keep people out,” he snapped at Bud.
    “It's not his fault.” She pressed a hand to her mouth and struggled for composure. “I got away from him.”
    “Now you can get away altogether. Get back in your car and go home.”
    “But, I-”
    His eyes flared at her, hard and bright. “This doesn't concern you, and I haven't got time to hold your hand.”
    “Fine.” She swung away, but the adrenaline drained quickly and had her leaning weakly against the hood of the car.
    “Damn it, Clare, I said I haven't got time for this.” All he could think of was getting her away, well away, before the body was brought up. He crossed over to take her arm and pull her to the driver's side.
    “Fuck off.” She jerked away, furious that she was near tears.
    “Hey.” He yanked up her head, frowning at the glitter in her eyes. “What's all this?”
    “I thought it was you.” After slapping his hand away, she fumbled for the latch of the door. “I don't know why it would have bothered me to think you were lying down there hurt or dead, but for some idiotic reason, it did.”
    His breath hissed out between his teeth. “I'm sorry.” When she managed to wrench the door open, he merely slammed it shut again. “Damn it, Clare, I'm sorry. Come here.” He pulled her against him, ignoring her struggle. “Give me a break, Slim. I've had a rough day.” As she softened a bit, he pressed his lips to her hair, breathing in the clean scent of it after the rancid smell of death. “I'm sorry.”
    She shrugged, knowing the movement was bad tempered. “Forget it.”
    “You were worried about me.”
    “It was a brief moment of insanity. It's passed.” But her arms went around him to give him one quick squeeze. She would think about her reaction later, she