The Seat of Magic by J. Kathleen Cheney

Author:J. Kathleen Cheney
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2014-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

Monteiro agreed to accompany them to the house of the dead girl’s parents. He did, however, demand to look at the body first, to assure that no mistake had been made. It seemed a reasonable request, so once again Duilio visited that quiet back room of the morgue. Gonzalo guarded the door while Joaquim drew back the sheets to expose only the girl’s face.

“Damnation,” Monteiro said, and then made the sign of the cross. “It is Felipa Reyna. What happened to her?”

“Her throat was torn out, sir,” Joaquim said.

Monteiro turned his dark eyes on Joaquim. “When?”

“Gonzalo guessed yesterday, sometime during the evening. He didn’t have a doctor come look at her because he knew it would be reported. He’s fairly knowledgeable himself, though.”

Monteiro turned his eyes on Duilio. “After the attack on Marina. If you’d warned me yesterday about the murders, I still couldn’t have gotten the word out in time to save her.”

Duilio felt a wave of relief. Although he hadn’t intended to point out that fact, he hadn’t wanted Oriana’s father blaming him either. “No, sir.”

Monteiro gazed down at the body. “Will you show me what they did?”

Duilio pulled back the sheet. The girl’s throat had been sliced away, not much more than the spine and the bloody flesh around the back of the neck remaining to hold her head to her body. The cuts were clean, so the killer had used a sharp blade. Surely her death had come quickly, some small consolation.

“They took her gills,” Monteiro said.

“Is there any significance to that?” Duilio asked.

“I don’t know.” Monteiro grabbed the edge of the sheet and yanked it back over the girl’s waxy face. “She’ll be safe here?”

Joaquim nodded. “Gonzalo said he’d stay on duty until someone comes to take the body. He’ll keep everyone out of here.”

“Then let’s get moving,” Monteiro said.

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