what we’ve got so far, I’d theorize that we’re dealing with a serial offender.”
Barnes’s expletive was audible. And Cait found she much preferred his reaction to that flash again of unbridled excitement in the sheriff’s eyes.
She tried to give the woman the benefit of the doubt. The services of Raiker Forensics weren’t cheap. It was a sure bet that the county budget hadn’t been healthy enough to pay for bringing her in. More than likely the woman had tapped her rich daddy to ante up their fee. Couldn’t blame her for being glad the expense was justified.
But there was still something a little creepy about a law enforcement officer being so enthusiastic about the prospect of someone in her jurisdiction systematically murdering people and dumping their bodies.
She understood ambition. It had been just that quality that had led Cait to leave the Bureau’s labs behind without a backward glance to join Raiker Forensics. She was never going to get a shot from the feds to become an agent. But Andrews’s motivation still made her more than a little uneasy.
“We’re done with the bags.” She indicated the garbage bags the remains had been found in. “Do you want us to check them for prints, or will your department handle that?”
Barnes answered before his superior could. “We’ll take care of it.” His pale blue gaze was wary. “Sort of outside your area of expertise, isn’t it?”
Recognizing his territorial air she smiled easily, although she would have preferred to do the testing herself. “We’re equipped for it, but if you want, Kristy will box them up for you. In answer to your question, though, no. All Raiker’s employees receive thorough cross training.” At his curt nod, she sent her assistant a look, and the woman drew on gloves before picking up the folded bags to place in a plastic evidence container.
“The bags themselves are a useful lead,” Cait continued. “Black garbage bags have only been around a few decades. If testing shows the material is biodegradable, for instance, that narrows down the age of them considerably. They might even be able to discover the manufacturer. None of them have degraded much since being put in that cave.”
She saw the look exchanged between the two law enforcement officers, but Andrews said only, “We’ve been promised expedited assistance through the state police crime lab in Springfield.” The sheriff gave a small grim smile. “The criminal investigative division of the Oregon State Police has offered their help, as well. I’m hoping with you here, that won’t be necessary.”
More likely she was hoping that the investigation would be successfully concluded in a manner in which the woman could claim the credit, Cait thought cynically.
But she’d developed diplomacy early in life. It came in handy when dealing with her mother. She said only, “We also found traces of sediment in the bottom of some of the bags. When we tested it, we detected a high sulfur content. The scrapings I took from the cave walls and the chamber don’t match those findings.” Noting the look exchanged between Andrews and Barnes, she paused. “That obviously means something to you.”
“Oregon has several renowned examples of hot springs, many of which are tourist destinations,” Andrews explained. She started to prop her palms on the gurney at her side, before appearing to remember the bones at her fingertips. “There are several in the general area. Bagby’s one of them. Terwilliger at the Cougar Reservoir. Bigelow. But the closest one is probably Belknap Hot Springs, near McKenzie Bridge.”
The words had Cait’s pulse quickening. “How close to McKenzie Bridge?” The cave had been only a couple of miles.
“Six miles, give or take,” Barnes said, correctly interpreting his boss’s glance. “It’s sort of a summer resort community, with a lodge, hotel, and cabins. The guests come to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, but the springs are
Barnes’s expletive was audible. And Cait found she much preferred his reaction to that flash again of unbridled excitement in the sheriff’s eyes.
She tried to give the woman the benefit of the doubt. The services of Raiker Forensics weren’t cheap. It was a sure bet that the county budget hadn’t been healthy enough to pay for bringing her in. More than likely the woman had tapped her rich daddy to ante up their fee. Couldn’t blame her for being glad the expense was justified.
But there was still something a little creepy about a law enforcement officer being so enthusiastic about the prospect of someone in her jurisdiction systematically murdering people and dumping their bodies.
She understood ambition. It had been just that quality that had led Cait to leave the Bureau’s labs behind without a backward glance to join Raiker Forensics. She was never going to get a shot from the feds to become an agent. But Andrews’s motivation still made her more than a little uneasy.
“We’re done with the bags.” She indicated the garbage bags the remains had been found in. “Do you want us to check them for prints, or will your department handle that?”
Barnes answered before his superior could. “We’ll take care of it.” His pale blue gaze was wary. “Sort of outside your area of expertise, isn’t it?”
Recognizing his territorial air she smiled easily, although she would have preferred to do the testing herself. “We’re equipped for it, but if you want, Kristy will box them up for you. In answer to your question, though, no. All Raiker’s employees receive thorough cross training.” At his curt nod, she sent her assistant a look, and the woman drew on gloves before picking up the folded bags to place in a plastic evidence container.
“The bags themselves are a useful lead,” Cait continued. “Black garbage bags have only been around a few decades. If testing shows the material is biodegradable, for instance, that narrows down the age of them considerably. They might even be able to discover the manufacturer. None of them have degraded much since being put in that cave.”
She saw the look exchanged between the two law enforcement officers, but Andrews said only, “We’ve been promised expedited assistance through the state police crime lab in Springfield.” The sheriff gave a small grim smile. “The criminal investigative division of the Oregon State Police has offered their help, as well. I’m hoping with you here, that won’t be necessary.”
More likely she was hoping that the investigation would be successfully concluded in a manner in which the woman could claim the credit, Cait thought cynically.
But she’d developed diplomacy early in life. It came in handy when dealing with her mother. She said only, “We also found traces of sediment in the bottom of some of the bags. When we tested it, we detected a high sulfur content. The scrapings I took from the cave walls and the chamber don’t match those findings.” Noting the look exchanged between Andrews and Barnes, she paused. “That obviously means something to you.”
“Oregon has several renowned examples of hot springs, many of which are tourist destinations,” Andrews explained. She started to prop her palms on the gurney at her side, before appearing to remember the bones at her fingertips. “There are several in the general area. Bagby’s one of them. Terwilliger at the Cougar Reservoir. Bigelow. But the closest one is probably Belknap Hot Springs, near McKenzie Bridge.”
The words had Cait’s pulse quickening. “How close to McKenzie Bridge?” The cave had been only a couple of miles.
“Six miles, give or take,” Barnes said, correctly interpreting his boss’s glance. “It’s sort of a summer resort community, with a lodge, hotel, and cabins. The guests come to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, but the springs are
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