Burden of Truth: A British Murder Mystery (The Wild Fens Murder Mystery Series Book 14) by Jack Cartwright

Author:Jack Cartwright [Cartwright, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chestnut Press
Published: 2024-10-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

“For crying out loud,” Gillespie muttered to himself, but loud enough that Ben heard it.

They stared down at Cruz’s morbid find, and the warm breeze tickled the tips of the crops. It was a stain on an otherwise beautiful scene.

“Alright, let’s head back to the car. We need to preserve the scene,” Ben said. “Cruz, have a uniformed officer positioned out on the lane, will you? Gillespie, find out who owns this field and give them the bad news.”

“What bad news is that?” Gillespie asked. “That a woman’s body has been found amongst their crops? I’m not sure they’ll be too bothered.”

“The bad news is that their field is now off-limits and will be for the foreseeable,” Ben replied. “Cruz, what’s the ETA on the medical examiner?”

“An hour from when I called him,” he replied, then checked his watch. “So anytime now.”

“And CSI?”

“They’re here already,” Gillespie said, then nodded with his chin at the two white vans parked at the entrance to the field not far from the Major brothers’ house. The rear doors were open and Ben could see three people pulling on their white suits and boots. But before them, halfway across the field, were two other women. “Oh, Christ. And so is Nillson.”

“You didn’t think to call me sooner?” Ben asked, to which Cruz shuffled his feet a little.

“Well, you were busy. And I mean, it’s not like I don’t know who to call. Sorry, was that wrong?”

“No, not at all,” Ben told him. “I’m just surprised, that’s all. In a good way.” He checked his watch, then clapped once. “Right, it’s midday. And we have a lot to do.”

“Think it’s linked, Ben?” Gillespie asked.

He stared down at the hand protruding from the mud.

“That’s not my major concern right now,” he said quietly.

“Go on,” Gillespie said, and Ben turned away from the find.

“Well, put it this way, we’ve found a hand in the soil. I’m just hoping the rest of her is still attached.”

Gillespie’s eye widened and he puffed his cheeks. “Hadn’t thought of that.”

“Yeah, well. Call me cynical, but the way things are going, nothing would surprise me right now.”

“How’s it going?” Nillson called out as she and Anderson approached. She jabbed a thumb over her shoulder. “I see you’ve called your girlfriend in, Jim. What’s the matter, losing your stomach for dead bodies? Has she come to hold your hand?”

“For your information, it was Cruz who made the calls,” Gillespie replied. “And anyway, why don’t you take a look for yourself?”

With a sweep of his arm, he invited her to take a peek at the gruesome discovery.

“Oh, Jesus,” she said, turning away.

“He won’t help you,” Gillespie replied.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” she said.

“So, what were you expecting?” Ben asked.

“I don’t know. A body?” she said.

“Well, there’s a bit of one,” Gillespie replied.

“Yeah, I can see that. Makes you wonder what the rest of her is like, doesn’t it?”

“If the rest of her is even here,” Gillespie suggested.

“Well, it’s been here a while,” Nillson replied, dropping to a crouch to get a better view without disturbing the area.

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