Golden Bird

David's stomach churned as they walked down the long corridor to the morgue. The smell was nauseating, but he forced himself to ignore it. He glanced over at Joey who looked like a zombie, and he knew he had to be strong for the boy. They stood in silence as the attendant slid open the drawer, but when he pulled the sheet from the body, there were three audible sighs of relief. David didn't realize he had been holding his breath for so long and felt a little light headed. He stared, with morbid fascination at the dead girl, praying he would never see his lovely Sara so still and pale.

They met Sergeant Sanchez in the corridor on their way out. He could tell with one look that they now knew what he had just found out: the dead body did not belong to Sara Mathews.

David and Joey decided to go back to Vermont right away so they left for the airport while Ben Peterson stayed behind to talk to Sergeant Sanchez.

"If we had learned who she was just a bit sooner, we could have spared your clients this unpleasant experience."

"Yes, ... but there is more than a slight resemblance between the girls. Have there been any other murders like this in the past six months or so?"

"No, nothing like this, but we're not calling it murder. It looks more like a heart attack caused by an overdose of cocaine."

Ben was surprised. "But I saw those marks on her body, that girl was whipped."

"Yes, she was, but not enough to kill her. She worked as a secretary in New York trying to become an actress. She evidently turned a few tricks for a few extra bucks or a chance at a part. That's why we couldn't identify her right away, she's not one of the regular hookers that hang out in this town. Never been arrested before. It looks like she picked up a kinky John, they snorted some coke, then played at a little S & M. The coroner says some of her cuts had traces of cocaine in them. He says between the coke up her nose and what was put on the lacerations was enough to kill."

Ben shuddered. "Sick people."

"Yes." agreed Sanchez. "but get this, she must have died before the John got a hard on, because the coroner also says there was no evidence of sexual intercourse. Can you imagine how that guy felt? He certainly didn't get what he bargained for."