The Violet Crow Read Online Free Page B

looked closely at Bruno. “Are you ready to meet the victim?”

Chapter 6
    The body was small and delicate. She must have been about 10 years old. Dark hair. No marks, scars, tattoos. No fillings. No braces. No signs of sexual abuse.
    Why would someone kill a 10-year-old girl? They must’ve walked up behind her, put her in some kind of headlock, and then given a single violent twist.
    â€œThe mob?” Bruno asked the Chief.
    â€”“That’s what the newspaper said, but it’s not what I said.” Dr. Cronkite was about Bruno’s height, but thicker. He had a barrel chest and muscular hands with flashy, expensive-looking rings on several fingers. His dark brown hair was close-cropped, and his eyes, also dark brown, had a world-weary quality that only partially masked a mulishly focused sensibility. “ I did not call it a ‘gangland slaying,’” said the doctor. “I merely observed that the cause and manner of death were painfully obvious.” He turned to address Chief Black. “Did you know we were the violent-crime capital of the U.S., two years running? Of course you did. Everyone around here knows that …” Now he seemed to be addressing Bruno, though he wasn’t actually looking at him. “But they don’t think through all of the implications: Since Camden’s the crime capital, that makes me the number-one medical examiner in the country.”
    Bruno didn’t know how to respond. Fortunately, Dr. Cronkite switched to a different topic. “Say, you look familiar. Your family from Camden?”
    â€œMy mother grew up in Parkside.”
    â€œNo kidding. Mine did too. Never mind, it’s all changed now. Look at this poor kid.” He lowered his voice a notch. “ I didn’t name her Ginnie Doe. To me she was always ‘the faceless girl.’ It was the Pest that started calling her Ginnie Doe. And they were the ones who jumped to conclusions about mob involvement. I try to stick to the facts.”
    The Chief saw his opening. “I agree. The mob wouldn’t do this kind of thing—to a kid. My staff says this doesn’t square with mob ‘family values.’ In fact, the people we talked to were pretty upset when they heard about it. They said they’d never do something like this to a child.”
    â€œYeah, they’ve sure got principles.” Dr. Cronkite was distracted by an electronic beep coming from the front room. He looked toward it anxiously, then forced his attention back to the business at hand. “I didn’t think you had much wise-guy action over in Gardenfield.”
    â€œSome of them live there, but they make it a point not to bring business home with them.”
    An awkward pause ensued as Dr. Cronkite started to move away, his attention obviously fading. Then a thought struck him. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you, Chief.” He seemed more substantial, suddenly, as he turned to face them. “Ginnie Doe, here, is practically a cold case already. Why the sudden interest?”
    Chief Black explained, “My associate, here, is a psychic. He wants to examine the girl for … evidence.”
    Dr. Cronkite shrugged. “You stay in this business long enough, you see everything.” He tossed Bruno a pair of latex gloves.
    Bruno put them aside. “I can’t use these. I have to make direct contact.”
    â€œIt’s your life,” said Cronkite. And he left the room.
    Bruno turned away from Chief Black and placed his hands carefully above the dead girl’s heart. He shut his eyes. He breathed deeply with palpable emotion.
    â€œShe didn’t see it coming,” he announced.
    â€œNo? How do you know?” asked the Chief.
    â€œNo fear. In fact, there’s not much of anything.”
    â€œWhat’re you telling me?” The Chief’s voice was rising in frustration.
    â€œThis is unusual,” said Bruno, opening his