The Dying Breath: A Forensic Mystery

around his ankles, sparse. Concentrating hard, she began at the head and worked her way to the feet, then back to the head again, bending close to examine the bones of his fingers, pulling back to get an overview of his remains. What was she missing? Kyle was egging her on, she knew it. He’d left pieces for her. He wanted her to find something. But what?
    “You want me to roll him over, or will the photographs suffice?” Dr. Moore asked, tapping the file against his thigh. “I can tell you there’s nothing on his back except more livor and some skin slippage. What’s your pleasure?”
    “The photographs will be fine,” she said, disappointed that she’d found nothing, but eager to get away from the odor. “Let’s go.”
    With an expert motion, Dr. Moore unfurled the sheet so that it settled down against Leather Ed, adjusting it at the head and tugging it around his feet. Cameryn marveled that the doctor didn’t wear gloves. There was no way she wanted to touch what remained of that body with her own bare skin.
    “I suggest we adjourn to the histology lab. I’d like to show you microscopic pieces of his lung, and then show you lung samples from Safer and Stein. Perhaps we could go to Toxicology and see if the results are complete. Really, Miss Mahoney, there’s nothing here.”
    “Where are his clothes? And the book he was holding? I’d like to get a look at that book.”
    Dr. Moore escorted her back into the autopsy suite, saying, “I’ve got everything bagged in the cooler, but they won’t stay here. Since Silverton’s too small to have refrigerated storage, the items will be sent out to CBI tomorrow. That evidence is not my concern. A medical examiner looks only to the body. As to the rest, well, I’m afraid that’s not my department.”
    “You’re right,” said a voice. “It’s mine.”
    Cameryn’s heart leapt when she saw Justin’s tall, lanky frame standing by the large metal sinks. His face looked wary, as though he wasn’t sure what to expect from her.
    “You came!” she cried. “I wasn’t sure you would when I left you that message. How did you get here so fast?”
    “Because I’ve been tailing you. I’m the law, remember?” His lips curled more on one side in the way that she loved. “Listen, Cammie, I know we didn’t leave on the best of terms, and that was my fault. But even if you hate me I’m going to keep you safe.”
    “Don’t be stupid. I don’t hate you.”
    “Well, that’s something, anyway.” His eyes shifted to Dr. Moore. “So, was your luck any better than mine? Did you convince her?”
    “I’m sorry, Deputy. She’s a very obstinate girl. Woman,” Moore added, correcting himself.
    “Yeah,” Justin said, “there’s a lot of that going around. Stubbornness, I mean.”
    There was a pause. The large clock on the wall made little clicking sounds, louder than Cameryn would ever have imagined. Words that she wanted to say were jammed up in her throat, and Dr. Moore was still there, a silent witness.
    Crossing his arms over his chest, Dr. Moore directed his words to Justin. “I called Sheriff Jacobs earlier today. Did the sheriff tell you what I found in Leather Ed’s lungs?”
    “I got the memo. O’Neil killed them all. Why do you think I followed Cameryn down here?”
    Moore nodded, satisfied. “You should know that I showed Miss Mahoney everything. In the end I felt it . . . important . . . for her to understand O’Neil’s mind. It goes against protocol, but there it is.”
    “I’m glad you did.” Justin was saying the words to Dr. Moore but all the while looking at Cameryn. “I think I’ve underestimated her. Maybe we all have.”
    Her throat tightened, but she forced herself to get the words out. “The minute I found out, the person I wanted to call was you.”
    “Really?”
    “Really.”
    He was looking at her, low-lidded, and neither one of them said a word. Dr. Moore shifted uncomfortably.
    “Well, I am getting a sense that I should leave you two alone.” He cleared his throat as he stood waiting for one of them to say something in reply, but the pause turned awkward when neither she nor Justin corrected him; Dr. Moore was right, Cameryn did want him to leave. She stayed where she was, rooted to the floor, her nerves on high alert as she looked into Justin’s bottomless eyes. Justin stared back from twenty feet away.
    “Okay, then.” Dr. Moore set the file on one of the desks. “Here is the information you left me,