Dr. Hobson was knee deep in mud and a dead body. This was not unusual for a pathologist. The smell of smoke still hung in the damp air, but the fire brigade had already secured the area to make certain that the fire was out. The charred body had been found in a vacant lot that had grown over with weeds and brush. No attempt had been made to bury the body by whoever had set it on fire. Prior to having been burned, the arms had been removed from the body. This case was going to be a little different than most.
Dr. Hobson had been working on the body for a while. Eventually, a few familiar people showed up. Even for her, a seasoned pathologist, this was a gruesome case. She had done what she could here in the field, due to the charred nature of the body and the removal of the arms, there would be more lab work needed in this case, than in most cases. Finally, she heard familiar footsteps and the voices that went with them coming closer to where she was doing her assessment of the case.
DI Hathaway greeted the pathologist "Hello Dr. Hobson, isn't it a bit early for a roast or have you taken up smoking, again? " Dr. Hobson looked up at Hathaway and nodded telling him, "Not I who was smoking, but the victim. Male. Someone set the body on fire, after removing the arms."
"So the victim was unarmed at the time of being roasted?" Hathaway asked of Hobson.
"Yes Inspector, you could say that." Hobson told Hathaway with a rather disapproving glance.
Hobson continued informing Hathaway "From what I can tell it was not done by someone versed in the medical arts nor are there any ritualistic characteristics to the deed. "
"So the arms were simply hacked off and then the body lit on fire? " Hathaway asked.
Hobson responded "Correct, plus the arms do not appear to be near the body. The cadaver dogs will be searching the area, again, to look for the missing parts."
Sergeant Maddox had been taking statements from the firemen who had put out the fire, to see if they had made any observations that would help with the case. Their responses were routine.
Maddox came over to where Hobson and Hathaway had been discussing the case. Hobson filled in Maddox on the details she'd just given to Hathaway, while Hathaway walked around the area observing and looking for some type of evidence.
Dr. Hobson wondered where Acting Chief Superintendent Lewis was, but figured he was working on another case or that he was knee deep in paperwork. She decided that she did prefer her job. Mud and other things she could wash off. Paperwork, you had to do something with and there always seemed to be more of it.