Unnatural Acts: A Stone Barrington Novel by Stuart Woods

Author:Stuart Woods
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery & Detective
ISBN: 9781101580394
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2012-04-17T04:00:00+00:00

31

DETECTIVE THIRD GRADE Vivian DeCarlo walked into the emergency room at Lenox Hill Hospital and looked around for her partner, Rose Mahon, who was supposed to meet her there to interview a hit-and-run victim. No sign of Rosie.

“Hey, Viv,” a young female resident in green scrubs said to her.

“Hey, Liz,” Viv replied. “How’s it going?”

“Now that you mention it, I’ve just examined a rape victim, and you might want to talk to her. She’s behind the curtain, there, in exam one.”

“What’s her story?”

“She says some guy got her drunk and raped her. She wasn’t wearing any panties, but there was no bruising, either internal or external, and she didn’t seem all that drunk, either.”

“You think she’s lying?”

“I’ve seen a couple of dozen rape victims in here, and she doesn’t fit the mold. She’s not crying, not even looking upset, and, like I said, not a mark on her. Her first name is Carson.”

“Did you do a rape kit?”

“Yep. I found no semen in her vagina, but there was some on what pubic hair she has left after a major wax job. I’ll get you the kit.”

Viv walked over and pulled the curtain back a few inches. “Carson?”

The girl was stretched out on the exam table, and she lifted her head a bit. “Yes?”

Viv walked into the cubicle and pulled the curtain closed behind her. “I’m Detective DeCarlo. Dr. Edwards tells me you’ve been hurt.”

Carson put her head back onto the table. “I’m not hurt, just raped, that’s all.”

Viv pulled up a chair, sat down, and got out her notebook. “Tell me what happened.”

“I went over to this guy’s apartment for a drink and had a martini. He was doing coke and drinking brandy. He made a move, but I wasn’t into it and I told him so. He slapped me across the mouth, pulled up my dress, and ripped off my panties, and he raped me.”

Viv looked at the woman’s mouth—no sign of swelling. “What’s the man’s name?”

“Herbert Fisher. He’s a lawyer at some big-time firm.”

“Address?”

She rattled off the address. “The penthouse.”

“Did anyone see you go to his apartment?”

“Just the doorman.”

“What’s your last name and your address and phone number?” She jotted down the information. “Do you want to make a formal complaint?”

“Maybe. Or maybe I’ll just go to the newspapers and TV. If I sign a complaint, what are the chances of anything being done about it?”

“Frankly, based on what you’ve told me, not very good. It’s a he-said-she-said situation. He’ll likely maintain that the sex was consensual, and since you have no injuries, the DA would probably not go forward with the case.”

“Let me think about it,” Carson said.

Viv gave her a business card. “You can reach me at both of those numbers.”

Carson suddenly sat up and hopped off the table. She was at least four inches taller than Viv. “I’m going home,” she said.

“You should speak to the doctor first.”

The curtain was pulled back and Dr. Edwards entered and handed Viv a paper bag. “Here’s the kit. Where are you going, sweetheart?” she asked Carson.

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