DEAD INNOCENT by Winter Norah

Author:Winter, Norah
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-08-26T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 28

We were getting ready to begin the first autopsy of the day, and by way of friendly conversation, I asked Newton how he had enjoyed his day off.

“I took the family for a Sunday drive,” he said. “No kidding, it’s a sad world out there. We didn’t get far out of town because the roads were blocked with dirt hills as big as snow drifts. You don’t dare go anywhere without a shovel. But the worst part was that my boy spotted a cow not far from the road. It was on its back, bloated, with its feet straight up. A horrible sight. Those animals are dying from starvation.”

“Not just starvation,” I said. “The poor beasts are so desperately hungry they eat that Russian thistle that’s blowing across the prairies. It tears up their insides and they die a horrible death.”

Newton let out a sigh. “We get used to death in here, but I have to say that sight made me sick. What do you say to a child? You can’t hide the facts.”

I glanced at him. Usually, Newton’s the positive one and I wanted to introduce a glimmer of optimism. “It’s really hard right now but it will get better,” I said. “The northern part of the province has more trees and a few hills, so everything isn’t buried in dirt there. At least the farmers can grow a garden and keep a few chickens and maybe a hog.”

Newton nodded. “It’s the south that’s been hit the hardest and the plains of America.”

“We better get started on this one.” I removed the sheet that covered the body of a young woman, then turned to Newton. “This weather has to change and surely the economy will too. Droughts don’t last more than a year or two and this year is almost over. It has to be better next year.”

Newton nodded but I sensed a feeling of helplessness; we were all helpless when it came to the world out there. We turned our attention to the body. At least we had a small degree of control in the mortuary, with our autopsies and diagnostic conclusions.

“I did the external examination earlier,” he said. “The girl’s parents brought her to the city hospital in a horse-drawn buggy. She was dead before they arrived. The doctor at the hospital had the body sent here. Apparently, the girl had complained of a belly ache the day before. Her mother thought it was something she ate and gave her soda and water. By morning, the girl was screaming in pain and vomiting violently. That’s when they bundled her up to take her to the hospital.”

“What do you think? Anything suspicious?”

Newton shook his head. “She has a few bruises and bumps, but more the kind anyone would get doing chores on a farm, or even playing. Her belly is swollen on the lower right and that’s where the severe pain was before she died. In my opinion, it’s a burst appendix.”

“Good deduction,” I said. “Here’s what I think.

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