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Co
“Can you estimate the time of death?”
At last, Dr. Jarrett took a break from his slicing and dicing. He drew himself up and squinted at O’Brien, as if he were having a hard time focusing. “Estimates are difficult, given the time that expired before the corpse was discovered. But based on an analysis of relative body temperatures, correlated with an analysis of the stomach contents, I’d say the victim died Tuesday night. Between ten and midnight.”
Co
“What was the cause of death?” O’Brien asked.
Dr. Jarrett didn’t look up. His reply was barely audible. “That is what I am endeavoring to discover.”
“C’mon, doctor. Give me a break.”
“Gladly,” he replied, holding up a ball-peen hammer. “Where would you like it?”
O’Brien smiled thinly. “I know the drill. You haven’t finished all your tests and the lab work isn’t in and you haven’t filed a report. When you do, I’ll read it and I’m sure I’ll be riveted by every word. But in the meantime… give me something to go on, okay?”
Dr. Jarrett’s lips pursed, considering. Co
At last, Jarrett spoke. “See this?”
He pulled down a goose-necked lamp and shone it directly on the side of John’s head. Co
“You going to be all right?” O’Brien asked.
“Yeah,” Co
“Close your eyes and think of Pebble Beach.” She turned back toward Jarrett. “All right, doctor. What’s the point?”
“Death was, in all likelihood, caused by a sharp blow by a metal object.”
“Like a golf club?”
“That would be consistent with all the external evidence.” He paused. “There may have been two or three blows, but no more than that, I think. And if there were multiple blows, they were delivered with considerable skill and accuracy to the same region of the head to such an extent that I can’t be certain. At least not yet.”
O’Brien arched an eyebrow. “Hear that, Cross? You got any suspects who are good with a golf club?”
“Yeah,” Co
“The blow or blows ruptured the meningeal artery,” Dr. Jarrett continued, “and caused an immediate brain hemorrhage. After that, death would have soon followed.”
“Would he-“ Co
For once, Dr. Jarrett’s face softened a bit. “It’s impossible to know with any certainty. Death would have come quickly. But how quickly… well, I just can’t say. I’m sorry.” He looked down abruptly and returned to his work.
O’Brien tried another question. “What can you tell us about the place of death, doctor? Are we dealing with a DRT? Or was the body moved?”
A state of extreme irritation blanketed the doctor’s face. “If you don’t mind, Lieutenant, I’m working.”
“So am I. What about it?”
Co
“Then John was already out on the course,” Co
“Maybe he was forced out there,” O’Brien offered. “Like at gunpoint.”
“I find that hard to believe. Too risky. John was strong and smart-he’d have figured a way out. And what if they’d been seen? No, he must’ve had a reason to go out there. Someone must’ve persuaded him to go.” Co
“What?” O’Brien said, staring at him. “What is it?”
“Don’t you see? Security has been at its peak since before the tournament began. I know at least one person who slipped in, sure, but the fact remains-security is tight. But someone still got to John. Someone lured him onto the eighteenth green and killed him.”
“So?”
“So,” Co
17
As soon as he could escape the morgue, Co
For once, Fitz didn’t appear to be in his attack-dog mode, perhaps because he knew where Co
“ ’Bout like you’d expect,” Co
“Learn anything?”
“Not really.” Co
Fitz nodded. “Stands to reason.” He laid a hand on Co
“Think I’d better.” Co
Fitz led Co
“Big crowd, isn’t it?” Harley said, gazing at the large collection of fans gathered behind the ropes beside the first tee.
“Yeah,” Co
Harley shrugged. “I don’t much like the razzmatazz. I usually try to stay away from the superstars. All this attention blows things out of proportion. You know what my daddy used to say?”
“I have a hunch I’m about to.”
“You can’t hang pumpkins on a morning glory.”
Co
“Beats me. Guess I should’ve asked daddy.”
Co
“Easy to say.” Harley wandered off toward his golf bag and took a few practice swings.
Ace emerged from the clubhouse, and the instant the crowd saw him, a tremendous cheer went up. Hats flew into the air, people pumped their fists, and a group in the rear began chanting: “Ace! Ace! Ace!”
“Is he ru
“As opposed to you,” Fitz replied, “who are usually ru
Ace waved to the gallery, bowing his head in feigned humility. The crowd cheered again. Ace flashed a perfect dentally-enhanced smile, then strolled over to Co
“We saw it,” Co
“Man, those people love me. They just… love me!”
Co