Disclaimer: Profiler and all characters belongs to NBC, Sanders/Moses Productions, Cynthia Saunders, Stephen Kronish ... Not to me. No copyright infringement intended.
Part IV : The autopsy
Grace was examining Carol Johnson mutilated breast when Bailey entered the autopsy room.
" What does it look like ?" he asked.
" Dirty. I'm just starting. Did they find the rest of her breast ?
- No.
- There are things you never get used to. The cut is clean.
- A knife ?
- Then a long one. Could be a sword, or even a saber. Her breast was cut off at its base. The amount of blood found on the scene seems to indicate she was still alive before the mutilation.
- You think she was killed in her room ?
- Probably. Bail, could you help me a cup of coffee ?"
He poured hot coffee in two mugs and brought one to Grace. An agent entered the room and handed a big envelope to Bailey.
" The Atlanta PD sent these for you, sir." he said. " The pictures they took on the scene.
- Thanks Bobby.
- They said their report should be ready beginning of the afternoon.
- Good."
Bailey opened the brown envelope and pulled out about thirty photographs out of it. The police had done a good job. They would be able to work with it. He started going through the different views of the apartment, then stopped on a clear cliché of the girl's fingers arranged on the carpet.
" What else, Grace ?" he asked, still staring at the picture.
" The face has been stabbed four times. Result is a kind of star, which center is on the right cheek. Not the same blade. This one is smaller. Probably a penknife. I would say she was alive too. The cuts are not deep enough to have caused death.
- What did ?
- The bleeding. Must have taken a long time. None of the injuries were lethal. No vital organ was touched.
- Any trace of struggle on her ?
- No. She's probably been drugged. I'm gonna analyze what's left of her blood to confirm."
Bailey was still holding the pictures.
" What about the fingers ?" he asked.
" I'm coming to it."
Grace lifted the corpse right hand and started to look closer at the stumps. "Could you hand me the camera over there ?" she asked. Bailey laid the photographs on her desk and brought her the camera. "Let me help." he said. And he held the girl's arm while Grace took detailed pictures of the mutilated fingers.
Grace worked about half an hour on both hands without a word. Bailey was sitting in a chair besides. She finally turned to him.
" The fingers have been cut post-mortem." she started.
" No possible doubt about that ?
- No. I would say he operated something like four or five hours after the death.
- You mean he waited that much time in the apartment ? Pretty risky, isn't it ?
- He must have enjoyed the place.
- There were some dirty dishes in the kitchen when we got there. Did she eat before she died ?
- Her stomach is empty. She did not even have lunch."
They stayed silent for a few seconds.
" So, the bastard stabbed the girl and cook himself a steak while she was bleeding to death." Grace said. " How could a human being do such a thing ? Sometimes I really wish I became just a general practitioner, dealing with mumps and measles.
- And we did not find the victim's breast ..." Bailey added.
- You mean ... Jack never ate his victims so far ...
- I don't know, Grace. I really don't know."
Bailey rubbed his eyes. Grace took a chair and sat next to him.
" He must really have been mad at something to do that." she said hesitantly. Bailey looked at her.
" We all know what he's mad about." he answered.
" Bail, I can't talk for the rest of the team, but I've a little idea of what's in your mind ... And I'm not sure provoking him is such a good idea.
- I never said I wanted to provoke him.
- No, you did not say it. But don't try to make me believe you did not think about it."
Bailey smiled at her.
" I've got no particular plan, Grace. All I know is we may have a chance to get him. And I intend to convert the try.
- This is no football match.
- I know.
- He is a serial killer. And the worst we have ever dealt with. He's smart and dangerous."
Bailey didn't answer at once. He put his hands in his hair and looked down.
" I love Sam, Grace." he started without looking at her. " I love her more than I have loved any woman before, including Janet. All I want in my life is to make her happy.
- And you are.
- Sam will never be totally happy as long as Jack is around."
Bailey stood up. and headed for the door. " OK Grace, I'll be waiting for your report in the command center." He left the room.
George was alone in the command center, frantically punching on the keyboard of his computer when Bailey came in.
" Anything new ?" Bailey asked.
- Not yet. I'm still working on the victim's background. Carol Johnson apparently never had to cope with the justice or the police, if we except three parking tickets in the last six years. Well, nothing to get the FBI involved !
- Sam was right. Carol was probably too young to have anything to do with her past or mine. You should extend you research to her family and maybe ours.
- That's what I'm doing Bailey. But it may take time. You two did not exactly have a quiet life."
Bailey smiled.
" You look tired, Bail.
- I am tired. What kind of jobs did her parents have ?
- The father was a clerk in a law practice. The mother a house wife. Middle class people. Paying their bills on time, but not really rich."
The phone rang. Bailey answered quickly. "Malone ... Yeah ... No, take your time, there's no emergency here ... OK. I'll drop by ... As you want." He hung up. "Michael Johnson's flight is late. Sam will wait for him at the airport." he said. George nodded.
" How old would the father be now ?" Bailey asked.
" Forty eight.
- What was his name ?
- Charles Francis Johnson. Born and raised in Atlanta. No chance he was one of your schoolmates ?
- No. I arrived in Atlanta only ten years ago. Was he in the army ?
- Wait ... Here it is. He spent one year in Viet Nam. Does the name mean anything to you ?
- No. Which unit ?
- 31st Infantry. Never was a Marine.
- I was not always with the Marine.
- Your military records are classified, boss. Doesn't make my job easier !
- Could you print a history of his Viet Nam period for me ? I'll see if anything speaks to me.
- OK. You'll have it in ten minutes.
- I'll be in my office."
George nodded. Bailey went out of the command center and left him alone.
To be continued ... R&R, Thanks.
Absolut.
