November 13 3:00 p.m.
The nude body of what appears to be a post-pubescent female is curled into a tight fetal position with knees drawn up to chest and arms wrapped around its thorax. Hair is black, shoulder length, and appears to be natural color. There appear to be no puncture wounds consistent with gunshot or stabbing. The face is badly bruised. The upper lip is swollen and a three centimeter gash follows the upper left lip-line. A five-centimeter hematoma is clearly visible under the corpse’s right eye. Upper arms are covered with contusions and a hematoma six centimeters in diameter is evident on the left buttock. The upper thighs show evidence of bruising. The body was returned to a cooler kept at a constant temperature of 40 F.
November 13 4:00 P.M.
The victim’s eye lids could be retracted. Upon examination, the sclera was found to have numerous petechiae indicative of manual strangulation. The limbs are not able to be extended and the body is still in a curled fetal position.
Deidre continued to read the hourly recordings, many of them reiterating that the body remained too curled on itself to make further evaluation possible. The notation for the 1:00 a.m. observation said that the girl’s body was beginning to thaw to the point where the fingers and hands could be manipulated.
Judy noted that she was able to procure scrapings from under the corpse’s fingernails, but upon gross examination, she could see no signs of skin or other evidence.
As she read on, the report seemed to be a macabre script for a horror movie. The problem, Deidre was all too aware, was that she was reading about a real life incident and a human being whose life had been traumatically taken from her.
Finally, she reached the time that she and Melissa had joined Judy, and Deidre recognized the report of what had been observed by the three women.
Following the hourly log she compiled while the body thawed, Dr. Coster, Judy, attached several more findings to the report. Deidre read more.
A blood sample was tested, using the ABO system, and the subject is type O.
Deidre remembered the statistics Judy had quoted at the morgue: nearly eighty percent of indigenous people were of that type. One more miniscule clue for her to add to her meager list. The report continued.
After further review of the victim’s dental condition, it was found that her third molars (wisdom teeth) were nearing the point of eruption, indicating her probable age as between sixteen and eighteen. Her dental condition was excellent with no trace of having worn braces. The upper left first premolar has an amalgam filling, as does the lower right second molar. The most pronounced anomaly is that her permanent lateral incisors are missing and the gap they would have left is filled by a shift forward of the posterior teeth.
The epiphysial plates of the distal and proximal ends of her radii are not ossified. Neither is the medial end of the humerus. It was noted that the distal end of the humerus was in the late stages of ossification, a process that occurs at approximately sixteen years of age in females.
The victim has straight, naturally black hair. Her skin appears to be of a darker shade, as are her nipples, areolae, and peritoneal skin. She has ample eyelashes, also black, and shaped eyebrows with evidence, signs of eyebrow plucking, that at one time her brows nearly met over her nose.
X-ray analysis of her bone structure revealed the absence of superacondyloid processes, a boney growth found anterior on the humerus. Its presence would have indicated the bone of a Caucasian. X-rays taken from differing angles of that bone reveal that it is somewhat flattened in cross-section.
Taken individually, each factor is not definitive. However, taken collectively, indications are that the victim was a sixteen-year-old Native American female. From the data and from the geographical location of where the body was found, the tribe to which she belonged might theoretically be Cree.
Deidre used a yellow marker to highlight areas of the report she would return to for more thought. On a page, separate from the report was a note from Judy.
Deidre,
When I returned to the Twin Cities, I was so emotionally involved with this case that I couldn’t take the weekend off. An assistant and I stayed in the lab until we finished enough of the exam to enable me to make a preliminary report. More info will be coming as I discover more about this girl. Go catch whoever did this!
Judy
By the time Deidre had read the report and pondered some of its implications, straightened her desk, and filed the report for the day, it was nearly 3:30, close to quitting time. She heard the outer door to the station open and heard someone stamping snow off boots. She came around her desk to meet whoever would be opening the inner door.
“Dan,” she greeted the officer for whom she was filling in. “Good to see you, and no sling. That must be a good sign.”
Dan grinned from ear to ear. “All healed and ready to go. Actually, I’ve been going stir crazy having to stay inside with nothing to do. I wasn’t supposed to walk on slippery surfaces until I was healed up. They’re afraid I’d slip and fall and tear things up again. I’m sorry you got tangled up in such a mess, but on the other hand, I’m relieved I was away. You’ve got far better connections than I do to handle this sort of case.”
“Then you know of my recent hire by the BCA?” she asked.
He plopped into an office chair. “I’m more than happy. I’m just a small-town cop content doing what I do. I’ll be here to help you anyway I can, but, believe me, I know this is way out of my league. From what I hear, you have some pretty big guns backing you up. Go to it with my blessings.”
This was exactly what Deidre had hoped for, but she hadn’t been sure how Dan would react. She poured a cup of coffee for both of them and sat down in another chair, not the one behind Dan’s desk.
Dan spoke first. “I feel so good, Deidre, and restless. Is there anyway I can come in tomorrow? You could help me get up to speed on what else has happened while I’ve been out. Maybe we could even ride around in the patrol car a bit, just to let me get my feet wet.”
Deidre beamed. “That’s an offer I can hardly refuse. Seven tomorrow morning? Let me ask you this. If you feel comfortable being back, is there any chance I could take off at noon? I’ve got a couple of things I’d like to do tomorrow away from town.”
“I think I can manage that,” Dan said, his eyes sparkling at the thought of being back on the job, his job.
Chapter 8
Deidre could hear the rush of feet from inside when she rang the doorbell. “Deidre’s here. She’s here, Dad.”
She didn’t wait for them to answer the door. When she walked in, Megan and Maren threw themselves into her arms, smothering her with kisses.
“Are you staying with us tonight?” they asked in unison.
Deidre continued to hug them. “I sure am. Maybe we can play a game tonight before your bedtime. What would you think of that?” She placed them on the floor, and the girls ran upstairs to their room.
“I want to play checkers,” Maren announced. “No, let’s play Old Maid.” Deidre could hear them arguing even after they had cleared the top of the stairs.
She looked up to see Ben standing in the kitchen doorway, a smile on his face. “Well, it’s obvious who counts around this house,” he scolded, but with a laugh.
Deidre went over to him and gave him a hug. He was almost a foot taller than she and had to stoop to get his arms around her. “I’m glad you called this morning. It was good to hear your voice. Glad we can spend a few hours together before you have to leave for the Cities. Did you bring Pete along? I’m always happy to put him up for a day or two, and the girls love him. They treat him like a person, and he doesn’t complain a bit.”
The evening was what Deidre needed, providing her a diversion from the task ahead. The four of them played Old Maid and Chinese Checkers, laughing and teasing each other. At eight o’clock Ben announced t
hat it was bed time for little girls, and amid much whining and cajoling, he and Deidre ushered them off to bed. Deidre tucked in one, then the other, kissed them on their foreheads, and quietly closed their bedroom door. As she and Ben tiptoed down the stairs they heard, “Good night, Daddy. Good night, Deidre. See you in the morning,” followed by giggles and then silence.
When they were alone downstairs, Ben poured each of them a glass of wine, and they took their usual places at each end of his couch. Deidre took a sip of her wine before she said anything.
“I love those girls like they were my own. I find myself thinking about them so often, wondering what they’re doing, if they miss their mom, if they’ll remember her when they’re older.” She took another sip, and wiped away a tear that rolled down her cheek.
“They were so young when she died.” Ben rotated his wineglass in his hand. “They talk about her, but I don’t know how much they remember. Sometimes I think what they think they remember is actually coming from the pictures I have sitting around.”
“And you, Ben . . . what about you? Are you finding your way? Deidre looked at his face.
“It’s getting better, easier. This is a new normal. I . . . we are getting used to it. But I do miss Jenny.”
Ben and Deidre sat in silence, nursing what was left of their wine. Finally, Deidre took one last swallow and got up.
“We’d better get some sleep. You have work, and I have a trip to Minneapolis in the morning. Good night, Ben, and thanks for all you’re giving me.”
She rinsed out their glasses while Ben collected the games they had played. Together, they climbed the stairs, and he gave her a hug of thankfulness before going into his room.
*****
Deidre listened to the radio during her drive to the BCA. She made the same trip so often it was becoming routine, and by nine she was walking into the central office. She needed no introduction. The receptionist recognized her instantly and ushered her into Melissa’s office.
“Good to see you made the trip safe and sound,” the detective greeted her. “The director, Erin Goodman, is waiting for us next door. She’s a great boss. I’m sure you’ll enjoy meeting her.”
Melissa walked out of the room and motioned for Deidre to follow. She knocked on an office two doors down the hall from her own.
“Come on in,” Deidre heard the alto voice call out from inside the office. Melissa opened the door, and they were met by a burly figure. Erin grabbed Deidre’s hand and shook it.
“You must be Deidre. I’ve wanted to meet you for the longest time. Here, take a seat and let’s talk.” She swung a chair away from the wall with one hand and plunked it down for Deidre, who was rather awed by the larger-than-life presence of her new boss.
“I’ve read your report of finding the frozen body of a girl under a bridge in Silver Bay,” Erin began with no preamble. “I also read Dr. Coster’s report of her examination of the victim. This has the makings of something the media would consider sensational. It’d sell a lot of papers and airtime. Let’s try to get it wrapped up before that happens.
“Now, Deidre. I’ve already done some footwork from my end. Dr. Coster implied the victim may be of First Nation descent,” she expounded, using the preferred term of the indigenous Canadian people. “Specifically, she indicated Cree. Judy is seldom far off the course, so this is where I want you to begin.” Before Deidre could respond, Erin continued in her commanding voice. “We ran her fingerprints through our data base and drew a blank. DNA takes a little longer to work with, but in a few days we’ll have results on those tests as well. I suspect that won’t help us ID her either if she’s from Canada.
“So here’s where you will begin. I spoke with the Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Henry Musio. Here is the address of his office.”
She handed a piece of paper to Deidre, who noted the city was Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
“The Nishnawbi are Cree and have an excellent social organization. Their police system is second to none. Henry’s phone number is at the bottom of the page. Call him when you are ready, which I’m assuming will be day after tomorrow, and he’ll have the head of the force’s Guns and Gangs Unit present for your meeting.
“As of now, we’re going to concentrate on finding the identity of our victim, and you’re going to start by following Dr. Coster’s supposition that she’s Cree. If that turns up nothing in a few days, then we’ll get our heads together and find other threads to follow.
“Do you have any questions?” Before Deidre could even shake her head, Erin said, “Good. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting with the state Attorney General.”
Melissa took the cue and got up from her chair. Deidre followed suit, but as they were leaving, Erin’s parting shot was, “Oh, and Deidre, good to have you on our team.”
As soon as they were out of earshot, Deidre turned to Melissa. “Is she always like that?”
Melissa laughed and put her arm around her colleague’s shoulder. “Sometimes she is more abrupt. Don’t worry. I could tell she likes you. If you ever need someone in your corner, Erin’s the person you want there. She’ll defend you to the last man standing and still have the energy to make sure you’re okay. Believe me.”
Deidre shrugged, accepting what Melissa said. But she knew Erin would accept nothing but her best and would want results yesterday, if not sooner.
“Come on. It’s lunch time. Let’s collect Judy from her lab and grab a bite to eat. Seems the three of us do our best work over food,” and she grabbed Deidre’s elbow, leading her down the hall. “Something tells me we’re going to be seeing quite a bit of each other over the next several weeks. By the way, Erin gave me some directives to pass on to you. She spoke to the Lake County sheriff this morning before you arrived. Your office will be set up in the Lake County Law Enforcement Center next to the courthouse. By tomorrow morning a private phone line will have been installed. You’ll have a secretary, Jill Dobers I believe is her name, who starts work the day you do. Also, you’ll have your own fax machine, copy machine, and computer.
“As you can probably guess, Erin wants you on the job tomorrow morning at seven and wants a meeting set up with the Grand Chief for Friday. That shouldn’t be difficult to arrange. She’s already done the ground work, and he is expecting your call. An official SUV has been delivered to Two Harbors, and you have a designated parking spot. By the way, you do have a passport, don’t you?”
Deidre’s head was spinning because of the pace at which everything was happening, but she had enough sense left to nod an affirmative. By that time they had arrived at Judy’s office, she stepped out to greet them. “Hey, thanks for giving me a heads up. I have my desk cleared, at least temporarily, so let’s go.”
The three women made their way to a cafeteria that served several office buildings in close proximity. Deidre looked outside as they traversed a skywalk and was grateful they didn’t have to brave the mid-November cold. The temperature hovered around the ten-degree mark, and a stiff wind blew from the Canadian northwest. At this rate it was going to be a long winter.
They moved through the assembly-line cafeteria, selecting what suited their tastes, and after finding a table in a somewhat secluded spot, they settled in to fill their bellies.
“I have no other findings to give you,” Judy announced. “I wish I had better news, but we have a few things to go on. I’d bet my next paycheck I’m right about the girl’s ethnicity. Hope you get some results in your search.”
For the rest of the time, the three talked about non-forensic topics: how their jobs were going, if the legislature was going to come through with funding for their department, how their personal lives were playing out.
“Deidre,” Judy wanted to know, “Any man in your life since we last visited?” She laughed as Deidre’s face turned red.
“Even if there was, I don�
��t think I’d tell you two gossips.” She laughed and winked at Melissa.
Too soon their meal was over, and Deidre headed up I-35 toward Duluth. She was so lost in thought that before she realized it, she was at the crest of Thompson Hill, more than six-hundred feet above the fresh-water ports of Duluth/Superior.
The frigid November air was perfectly clear, and she took in the panorama of lights laid out in perfect squares of city streets. Red dots, taillights of cars, moved at what seemed a snail’s pace far below. The arch of the Blatnik Bridge was clearly visible with its span delineated by halogen lighting, and ships were lit up like Christmas trees as they sat in their berths, waiting to be loaded with iron ore pellets, grain, or containers destined for overseas cities. Deidre never ceased being surprised by the grandeur of the sight.
In little more than a mile, the road descended to lake level, and she made her way through Duluth in short order, stopping at Ben’s long enough to pick up Pete. Twenty miles later she was in Two Harbors, still forty minutes from her cabin in the woods.
It dawned on her this was never going to work. She’d have to move back to Two Harbors until her assignment was over, a thought that troubled her a great deal. By the time she reached home, it was ten-thirty at night, and she stood outside her cabin, looking at the stars and soaking in the magnitude of what she too often took for granted.
After a few moments, the chill of the night filtered through her winter jacket, and she was forced to go inside.
“Come on, Pete, time to get the place heated up. We’ve got a lot of work waiting for us.” Pete cocked his head to one side and looked at her as though he understood.
Chapter 9
Deidre’s alarm rang at 5:30 a.m. She pried her eyelids open, but when she threw the covers back, she found that the woodstove had not had time to burn itself out. The floor around it was still toasty against her feet. She didn’t bother to put another stick of wood in its firebox. She would be out the door by the time the cabin cooled off.
A River Through Two Harbors Page 6