box and stuffed more plastic inside to hold it still and labeled it. She repeated the step with the second loop around the neck.
‘‘You have to do that procedure with each loop of the rope, don’t you?’’ said Lynn.
‘‘I have to keep the rope as intact as I can. For tight rope arrangements like these on the hands, I made a plastic-covered, log-shaped form to slip
to keep them from becoming through the loops
tangled.’’
‘‘I didn’t realize
Raymond.
ropes were so involved,’’ said
‘‘There’s a lot you can learn about the perp from them. This one is going to be more complicated,’’ said Diane as she examined the ropes. ‘‘This guy knew his knots.’’ She grinned up at Lynn and Raymond. ‘‘I love it when they know how to tie knots.'
Chapter 6
‘‘You really like analyzing knots, don’t you?’’ said Lynn, her eyes widened in a puzzled stare.
Diane saw that reaction a lot—a knot is just a knot to most people. ‘‘Yeah, I do. They’ve saved my life more than once.’’
‘‘How’s that?’’ asked Raymond.
‘‘I’m a caver. We rely on ropes and knots.’’ ‘‘Really?’’ said Lynn. ‘‘Have you explored many
caves?’’
‘‘Quite a few. Not many in Georgia, even though I
grew up here. But one of my employees at the mu
seum is introducing me to some of the Georgia caves.’’ ‘‘I’ve always wanted to see the one in Mexico with
all the crystals,’’ Lynn said.
‘‘The one on the Discovery Channel, right?’’ said
Raymond. ‘‘It didn’t look real, all those white
crystals.’’
‘‘The cave is called Lechuguilla,’’ said Diane. ‘‘The
formation you’re talking about is the Crystal
Ballroom.’’
‘‘Yeah, that’s it.’’
‘‘Those are gypsum crystals. They’re even more im
pressive in person.’’
‘‘You’ve been there?’’ asked Lynn.
‘‘Yes, I have. A couple of microbiologist friends in
vited me to go on an expedition with them. It’s a
protected cave. I was lucky to get the chance.’’ ‘‘It appears to be very beautiful,’’ said Lynn. ‘‘Stunning.’’ Diane looked down at the decayed
husk that used to house a young woman. ‘‘The line of
work I’m in, it’s very rejuvenating to be able to look
at something so breathtakingly beautiful.’’
‘‘What about this knot?’’ asked Raymond. ‘‘Is it
something special?’’
‘‘It’s a handcuff knot.’’
‘‘Handcuff knot? I don’t like the sound of that,’’
he said.
‘‘It’s good as a handcuff and for hobbling horses.
Our perp added a little twist. He took the working
line and wrapped it around the vic’s hands, tucking
the end through the loops. I guess he didn’t want her
wiggling her fingers.’’
‘‘Easier to cut them off,’’ said Raymond. ‘‘Did he
do that while they were alive?’’
‘‘I don’t know,’’ said Lynn. ‘‘I’m not sure I’ll be
able to tell.’’
