conducted, with the intent Of plete external exam would be usable
evidence and as many noting and obtaining as much uld be taken and clues
as possible from the body. Fluids wo sent to toxicology for drug and
-alcohol screens and other oulder to shoultesting. A Y incision would
split her body sh der, chest to genitals. A horrific chasm for even the
veteran be analyzed and weighed, her observer. Every organ would urse or
damage.
genitalia checked for signs of sexual interco Every trace of semen,
blood or foreign hair would be sent for DNA typing.
Her head would be examined, wound patterns traced Then a saw would make
an intermastoid incision over the top of the skull, cutting through the
scalp and down to the bone. Next, the front quadrant of the skull would
be cut away and the brain removed through the frontal craniotomy and
examined. The one slug would be extracted, marked for chain-of-custody
purposes and held for ballistics.
Once that process was completed, Walter Sullivan would be given back his
wife.
Toxicology would verify the contents of her stomach and traces of
foreign substances in her blood and urine.
The autopsy protocol would be prepared, listing the cause and mechanism
of death and all relevant findings, and the official opinion of the
Medical Examiner.
The autopsy protocol, together with all photographs, X rays,
fingerprints, toxicology reports and any other inforTa tion constituting
the entire case file would be deposited with the detective in charge.
ns, of his Walter Sullivan finally rose, covered the remai deceased wife
and left.
mirror, the detective’s From behind yet another one-way as he left the
room.
ereaved husband eyes followed the b ietly exited.
on his hit and qu Then Seth Frank put CONFERENCE ROOM NUMBER ONE, THE
LARGE ‘ST IN THE FIRM, ter position right behind the reception held a
prominent cen eeting of the area. Now, behind the thick sliding doors, a
in entire partnership had just convened. nior partner sat Jack Between
Sandy Lord and another se ocol was not hip not yet official, but Prot
Graham; his partners insisted.
important today and Lord had staff, danishes Coffee was poured by the
housekeeping he help reand muffins were distributed around, and then t
treated, closing the doors behind them.
d his juice, – He sipped All heads turned to Dan Kirksen ed his mouth
affectedly with his napkin and rose.
tapp ve heard by now, a terrible tragedy has “As I’m sure you sen
glanced quickly at befallen one of our most”-Kirk Lord—@’or I should
say, our most significant client.” Jack looked around the sixty-foot
marble-top table. Most heads ere filled in on remained trained on
Kirksen, a few others w the events by whispers from their neighbors Jack
had seen the headlines. He had never worked on any of Sullivan’s matters
but he knew they were extensive enough to occupy forty attorneys at the
firm on almost a full-time basis. He was, by far, Patton, Shaw’s biggest
client.
Kirksen continued. “The POlice are investigating the matter thoroughly.
As yet there have been no developments in the case.” Kirksen paused,
glanced again at Lord, and then continued. “As one can imagine, this is
a very distressing time for Walter. To make matters as easy as possible
for him during this time, we are asking all attorneys to pay particular
attention to any Sullivan-related matters, and , hopefully, to nip any
potential problem in the bud before it escalates. Fur there, while we do
not believe that this is anything other than -routine burglary with a
very unfortunate result, and is in no a d to any of Walter’s business
affairs, we are way connected to be alert for any unusual signs in any of
asking each of you e engaged on Walter’s behalf.
the dealings in which you ar Any suspicious activity is to be reported
immediately to ei there myself or Sandy-”
toward Lord, who was looking A number of heads turned y fashion. Three
cigarette butts at the ceiling in his customar ins of a Bloody in he Ty
I si:htray in front of him, the rema b it.
tional law section, spoke up. His Ron Day, from the interna partially