He wondered if Rowan had been working a training exercise for Thor or just been out for a random hike.
Our paths are crossing a lot lately.
Usually he saw her a few times a year. Now it’d been three times within a week.
She sat on a large rock in the shade, several yards from the crime scene tape, facing away from the water. A breeze moved some fir branches and the sunshine touched her, lighting up her hair in its long, wavy ponytail.
Evan liked her. He’d always thought she was the total package. Intelligence, personality, looks. He’d been tempted to ask her out in the past, but the situation had never been right. Like now. A crime scene wasn’t the place to suggest a date.
Inside the large taped-off area, pale limbs were draped over the rocks on the riverbank. Her legs were in the water. A forensic tech slowly circled just inside the tape, photographing every square foot of the scene. She wore tall rubber boots, shooting some of her photos while standing in the water. Evan knew she’d move closer and closer to the body, documenting everything.
“Rowan, Thor.” Evan greeted both of them, and Thor’s black, bushy tail wagged against the ground as he sat, clearing a triangle in the fir needles and small rocks.
“Why are you on this case?” asked Rowan as a greeting. “Isn’t your plate rather full?”
I knew it. She wants me focused on the Ken Steward murder.
“No more full than usual,” he said. “I’m not ignoring Ken’s case,” he added gently. “I always balance a few.” He turned to glance at the body near the river. “I was assigned this one because it’s similar to two others I have.” He met her brown gaze.
Her face cleared. “I read about those murdered young women. They’re connected?” She frowned. “And this one could be too?”
“Maybe.”
“This woman might not have been found for weeks,” said Rowan. “Only serious hikers come up here.”
“Like you,” said Evan. “What brought you here?”
Rowan looked away. “I hike around here occasionally. I don’t usually come this far up the river, but Thor led me to this spot. He knew.”
“You don’t have to stick around,” Evan told her. “I’ll take a statement and you can go.” He pulled out a tiny notepad and pen. “Did you notice anyone else in the area while you were hiking?”
“No. Nothing,” she said. “Besides . . . she’s been here for a while.”
Evan nodded. Even at this distance he could tell decomposition had started to take a toll. “The medical examiner shouldn’t be far behind me. She can give an estimate of how long she thinks she’s been dead.”
“I really have nothing to report except that we found her,” said Rowan. “But I’d like to stick around for a while.”
“No problem.” Evan put the pad and pen back in his pocket.
Voices sounded, and a group of the sheriff’s department’s teenage explorers headed their way. At a scene like this, Evan needed a dozen sets of eyes combing the surrounding area for evidence. One of the deputies who had been talking to the forensic tech immediately strode toward the new group. “I’ll get them organized, Detective,” he told Evan.
“Appreciate it.” Evan didn’t want them staring at the corpse.
“The ME’s with them,” added the deputy.
Evan spotted Dr. Natasha Lockhart bringing up the rear of the group.
“It’s Dr. Lockhart. Good,” said Rowan. “She knows her shit.”
Evan agreed. Dr. Lockhart was his favorite of the medical examiners who covered his territory. The ME was petite with long, dark hair. She looked like a college student, not a pathologist.
The explorers swarmed around the deputy, and Dr. Lockhart approached Evan and Rowan.
“Hey, Thor.” The doctor addressed the dog first. Thor stood and pushed his nose into her outstretched hand, his tail a blur with its rapid wagging. “How’s my favorite boy?” She squatted next to the dog and gave him a hug, making Thor squirm with joy.
Evan met Rowan’s gaze. She smiled, apparently used to people greeting her dog before her. Evan realized he sometimes did the same with other dogs and owners.
“Hello also to you two,” said Dr. Lockhart, standing back up. “Beautiful day. I appreciate working outdoors on days like these.”
Her words sounded a bit callous considering a dead woman was nearby, but Evan completely understood. When you worked with death every day, you acknowledged the good things wherever you found them.