A Guilty Mind by K.L. Murphy Page A

chart, a phone to her ear. She looked over her glasses and mouthed an apology.
    The chilly office made him regret leaving his leather blazer in the car. He tapped his foot in time with his fingers.
    â€œDetective Cancini.” Dr. Kate Stevenson spoke in a singsong tone that matched the cheery smile on her face. “How are you today?”
    â€œFine,” he said, stone-­faced. “I’m fine. What did you find out?”
    She picked up a file, and her smile faded. “Three separate stab wounds. They were deep wounds, each made with a large blade, all roughly in the center of the back. The primary cause of death here was the loss of blood combined with severe organ damage.”
    Nodding, Cancini said, “We found a knife at the scene. Looked like a regular butcher knife. Does that sound about right?”
    â€œAbsolutely. Actually, Detective, this was a straightforward autopsy. Not all of the tox reports are back, but so far, nothing unusual in the victim’s bloodstream—­no drugs, no alcohol.”
    â€œAnything under the nails? Scratches? Any sign of a struggle?” Cancini rattled off his usual trio of questions. He’d seen nothing at the scene, but he understood forensic evidence was not always visible with the naked eye.
    â€œNothing like that. It wouldn’t be crazy to assume the victim didn’t see the attack coming,” she said. “There are no wounds other than in the back and there’s no indication that he fought it off at all.”
    â€œI didn’t see anything at the crime scene, either. Nothing was out of place, only a few items knocked off the secretary’s desk. I’m figuring that happened after the stabbing.” Standing, the detective paced, hands thrust deep in his pockets, thinking aloud. “The perp could have cleaned up, but it looks like a surprise to me. And the way the vic’s eyes were open . . . it’s another indication of surprise. He was working late. He was alone. The secretary said she locked the door at six when she left.” He glanced up to see Kate watching him, hands folded across her desk. “But the perp either had a key or the doc let him in. Either way, I’m guessing he wasn’t expecting the knife in the back.” He paused and she remained quiet, waiting. Cancini stopped pacing. “So far, we don’t have much to go on. Is there anything you can tell me about our murderer? Any clue at all?”
    â€œIt appears likely the killer was right-­handed.”
    He’d been hoping for more. That detail covered the majority of the population. “Anything else?”
    She picked up a pencil and rolled it back and forth between her hands. “Maybe, but it could be nothing.”
    â€œGo on.”
    â€œThe placement of the stab wounds might be significant.”
    â€œSignificant how?”
    Kate put the pencil down. “There were three wounds, two close together at relatively the same spot on the victim’s back. The third wound, though, was higher by three to four inches. The angle of two cuts appears to be similar, but the other one is slightly different, as though it were made when the victim was in a different position.” She paused. He felt her watching him, trying to read his expression. “My best guess is the victim was standing for the first stab wound and had fallen forward, most likely onto the desk you mentioned, for the other two.”
    It made some sense to him, but he was curious. “Why do you think that?”
    â€œFor one thing, I saw the pattern of blood on the rug and spatters on the desk. Second, a lot of force was necessary to inflict wounds that deep. That’s easier if the murderer is standing over their victim. All that combined with the placement and angle of the wounds I already mentioned—­well, it supports my theory.”
    â€œLike this?” He bent forward in a quick motion, his body parallel to her desk.