The Suspect

“How old was she?”

“Somewhere between twenty-five and thirty-five.”

“What makes you think she was a prostitute?”

“It’s been nearly two weeks and nobody has reported her missing. You know better than I do how prostitutes move around. They take off for days or weeks at a time and then turn up at a totally different red-light area. Some of them follow the conference trade; others work the truck stops. If this girl had a strong network of family or friends, somebody would have reported her missing by now. She could be foreign but we have nothing from Interpol.”

“I’m not sure how I can help.”

“What can you tell me about her?”

Without even thinking I know I’m collecting details, although I can’t bear to look at her swollen face. What can I say? Her fair hair is cut short in a practical style that’s easy to wash, quick to dry and doesn’t need constant brushing. Her ears aren’t pierced. Her fingernails are trimmed and well cared for. She has no rings on her fingers, or any sign that she normally wore them. She’s slim and fair-skinned, with larger hips than bust. Her eyebrows have been tidily shaped and her bikini line had been waxed recently, leaving a neat triangle of pubic hair.

“Was she wearing makeup?”

“A little lipstick and eyeliner.”

“I need to sit down for a while and read the postmortem report.”

“I’ll find you an empty office.”

Ten minutes later, alone at a desk, I stare at a stack of ring-bound photograph albums and folders bulging with statements. Among the pile is the postmortem report and results from blood and toxicology analysis.

CITY OF WESTMINSTER CORONER

Postmortem Report

Name: Unknown —— Postmortem No: DX-34 468

DOB:  Unknown —— Death D/T: Unknown

Age:   Unknown  —— Postmortem D/T: 12 December 2002, 0915

Sex: Female

Anatomical Summary

1. Fourteen lacerations and incised wounds to the chest, abdomen and thighs, penetrating to a depth of 1.2 inches. They range in width from 3 inches to half an inch.

2. Four lacerations to the upper left arm.

3. Three lacerations to the left side of the neck and shoulders.

4. The direction of the sharp-force injuries tends to be downward and are a mixture of stabbing and incised wounds.

5. The hesitation marks are generally straight and accompany the deeper incisions.

6. Heavy bruising and swelling to the left cheekbone and left eye socket.

7. Slight bruising to the right forearm and abrasions to the right tibia and right heel.

8. Oral, vaginal and rectal swabs are clear.

Preliminary Toxicology Study

Blood ethanol— none detected

Blood drug screen— no drugs detected

Cause of Death

Postmortem X-rays reveal air in the right ventricular chamber of the heart indicating a massive and fatal air embolism.

I scan the report quickly, looking for particular details. I’m not interested in the minutiae of how she died. Instead I look for clues that relate to her life. Did she have any old fractures? Was there any evidence of drug use or sexually transmitted diseases? What did she have for her last meal? How long since she’d eaten?

Ruiz doesn’t bother to knock.

“I figured you were milk no sugar.”

He puts a plastic cup of coffee on the desk and then pats his pockets, searching for cigarettes that exist only in his imagination. He grinds his teeth instead.

“So what can you tell me?”

“She wasn’t a prostitute.”

“Because?”

“The median age of girls becoming prostitutes is only sixteen. This woman was in her mid-twenties, possibly older. There are no signs of long-standing sexual activity or evidence of sexually transmitted diseases. Abortions are common among prostitutes, particularly as they’re often coerced into not using condoms, but this girl had never been pregnant.”

Ruiz taps the table three times as though typing three ellipsis dots. He wants me to go on.

“Prostitutes at the high-class end of the scale sell a fantasy. They take great care with their appearance and presentation. This woman had short fingernails, a boyish hairstyle and minimal makeup. She wore sensible shoes and very little jewelry. She didn’t use expensive moisturizers or paint her nails. She had her bikini line waxed modestly…”

Ruiz is moving around the room again, with his mouth slightly open and a puckered brow.

“She took care of herself. She exercised regularly and ate healthy food. She was probably concerned about putting on weight. I’d say she was of average or slightly above average intelligence. Her schooling would have been solid; her background most likely middle class.

“I don’t think she’s from London. Someone would have reported her missing by now. This sort of girl doesn’t go missing. She has friends and family. But if she came to London for a job interview, or for a holiday, people might not have expected to hear from her for a while. They’ll start to get worried soon.”

Pushing back my chair a little, I lack the conviction to stand. What else can I tell him?

“The medallion— it’s not St. Christopher. I think it’s probably St. Camillus. If you look closely the figure is holding a pitcher and towel.”