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‘And some people will themselves here?’
    ‘Not necessarily to this exact location but to the benefit of research. Texas State has some one hundred bodies donated each year and over 1300 people have registered to be donated there specifically upon their demise.’
    ‘It has a waiting list?’ Kim asked incredulously.
    Professor Wright smiled and nodded.
    ‘Are the bodies in varying states of decay?’ Stacey asked.
    ‘Yes, my dear, I think you’ll get a good idea of what we do from the two residents I’m heading towards.’
    Kim caught Stacey’s slight stiffening at the endearment, but she smiled through her irritation.
    They all followed as the morning sun finally broke through the white cloud and changed the face of the day completely.
    Kim matched the professor’s stride. ‘It must be quite a unique funding system you have here?’
    He nodded. ‘We are fortunate indeed that the majority of institutions we approached had an interest in our research and yet no one wants it on their doorstep. So we share our findings with all parties and offer assistance where we can.’
    ‘To current investigations?’
    He nodded as he walked. ‘Of course. We intend to replicate as many scenarios as we can that will not only aid our research aims but assist the police with both current and historic investigations.’
    And had already helped West Mercia solve two cold cases. Damn, Woody. Now she was bloody interested. Kim would not scoff at any additional police resource. Cold cases were frustrating to any officer on the force. They stayed in the back of your mind like a conversation that had ended before you’d had your say. They embedded themselves into your subconscious until you could put it to bed. And that was if you were lucky.
    Sometimes they didn’t even make it to the back of your mind to be machinated over while you continued with the current workload. Now and again they remained at the forefront of your thoughts, doubts constantly gnawing and shredding your brain. Did I interview the correct witnesses? Did I miss a vital clue? Could I have done more? It was Kim’s opinion that it was cold cases that were responsible for much of the alcohol abuse within the police force.
    ‘So here we are,’ Professor Wright said, regaining her attention.
    Kim noted two perfectly cut rectangles in the grass. As she got closer, she saw that they were makeshift graves.
    ‘Please meet Jack and Vera,’ Professor Wright said, pointing like a proud father.
    ‘Their real names?’ Stacey asked while Dawson rolled his eyes.
    The professor shook his head. ‘No, they come to us with unique reference numbers, which remain their official identification, but we prefer a more personal approach out here in the field.’
    Kim glanced to the foot of a nearby tree. Two bouquets were in their last throes of life. Roses and lilies.
    ‘Flowers?’ she asked.
    His eyes followed her gaze. ‘Yes, just a mark of respect from us.’
    Kim liked the small touch.
    He stood at the head of the graves and peered down. They all followed suit.
    The grave to the right held Vera, whose body displayed the incision of a post-mortem. The flesh was immersed in water and Kim noticed the grave was angled towards them.
    She looked towards Jack who was also immersed in water but there was no post-mortem incision and no angle to the grave.
    ‘We have much to learn about insect activity in the water,’ Professor Wright explained. ‘Vera is immersed in water being fed from the brook. We’ve cut a channel and angled her grave away from the stream.’
    Kim swatted a fly away from her ear and looked to the small slip of moving water five feet away from the tip of the graves. Now she understood the angle. It was so the stream water would drain away from the water source, ensuring that no contaminants from the body re-entered the slow-moving brook.
    ‘We take any opportunity to use the elements around us,’ he stated and then raised an eyebrow. ‘The decision to site