Excerpt

“Good morning, chief.”

“It’s not so good, Arthur,” came the quick reply. “An early morning walker along the waterway near Victoria Station spotted a body floating next to one of the moored boats. Head down there as soon as you can….”

The body was that of a young, scantily clad, blonde Caucasian woman….

The ME, Tony Bottone, was hunched over the partially covered form, talking in an authoritative voice to Sergeant Winschel as Detective Arthur Lite approached…. We’ve got a messy one here, Arthur,” the ME said, as he struggled from his kneeling position to an upright stance. Arthur was about to help, but thought better of it, knowing the ME believed he was in good shape, always bragging whenever they met how much weight he had taken off. The ME was in his 70’s, with a full head of graying hair, twinkling blue eyes, ruddy, handsome face showing few aging lines, and a smile – when he used it – that was warm and welcoming. Today there was no smile. A young girl being murdered didn’t call for one….

Arthur’s cell phone chimed. He checked the display, smiled, and answered the call. “Hi Samantha. I was just about to call you…”

“Sure you were. What’s going on?”

“…a young… girl – I’d guess in her twenties – was found floating in the harbor. Her neck has been cut damn near ear to ear.”