Burn You Twice - Mary Burton Page 0,96

you can drop me at the station, I’ll grab an Uber and get out of your hair,” she said. “I know you have work to do.”

He shifted into drive. “Where are you going?”

“Thought I might pay a visit to Dan. I have a craving for one of his burgers.”

“Stay out of Elijah’s assault investigation.”

“I’m just getting a burger. Maybe a milkshake.”

His phone dinged with a text. It was from the medical examiner. The body from the cabin was ready for autopsy. “Or you can come with me to the medical examiner’s office.”

“For the autopsy?”

“Yes. Jessica Halpern was identified by her dental records an hour ago.”

She seemed to relax, as if forensics were a welcome respite from feelings. “You’re talking my language.”

“Good.” If Gideon kept to himself, he might come out of this intact. The last few years had had productive, satisfying moments. But he had not tasted the excitement he’d enjoyed while being with Joan these last few days.

But if he was really honest with himself, he would admit that his life was lackluster because he still missed Joan.

Joan and Gideon stood in front of the medical examiner’s computer screen and watched as Dr. Christopher opened a file. The digital image of the body appeared on screen, and a familiar sense of discomfort washed over her. When would she ever shake that damn College Fire?

The heat and fire had damaged the body, melting muscle and eating into bone. The carnage was more complete than it had been with Lana. Either the killer was wrapping up loose ends, or his destructive behavior was escalating. Either way, his quickened pace was putting him at risk of exposure. Good for the cops, if they could catch him before the next homicide and arson.

“As you can see, these are dental X-rays I took of the victim’s mouth,” Dr. Christopher said. “And on the left are Jessica Halpern’s records, which I obtained from her dentist. Both sets of teeth have the same patterns of fillings on the back molars, as well as both sets have caps on the front-right incisor. This is definitely Jessica Halpern.”

“Do you have a cause of death?” Gideon asked.

“Strangulation,” the doctor said. “Her killer all but crushed the hyoid bone in her neck.”

“No smoke in the lungs?”

“None. She was not alive when the fire was set.”

“Who knows that Lana died of smoke inhalation?” Joan asked.

“I told rescue and police crews that I saw Lana move before the fire reached her,” Gideon said.

“Overkill, with some pent-up rage, or fear of another mistake?” Joan asked.

“Fear of a mistake suggests a leak,” Gideon said.

“Cops gossip,” she said. “Good luck with that.”

Gideon frowned, as if wondering how many layers removed the killer was from the first responders. “Can you estimate the time of death?”

“Within the last couple of days, but the fire damage makes it nearly impossible to be more accurate,” Dr. Christopher cautioned.

“Her husband said he spoke to her yesterday,” Joan said. “Of course, that’s assuming he didn’t kill her earlier and is lying. Gideon, did she return any of your calls?”

“No. Detective Sullivan checked her phone records, and her last text was thirty-six hours ago,” Gideon said. “Assuming she sent the text.”

“Who did she text?” Joan asked.

“A travel agent. She was planning a trip to Mexico.”

“When?” Joan asked.

“Tomorrow.”

“Not sticking around for the investigation,” she said. “Was it a trip for one or two?”

“One.”

“She was worried. You should have your friend Bryce McCabe keep an eye on Mr. Pollock in Helena. He might also be spooked now.”

“Already took care of that,” Gideon said.

“What about Lana Long’s fetus?” Joan asked. “Do you have DNA results back?”

“I do, as a matter of fact,” Dr. Christopher said. “Just came in today.” The doctor adjusted his glasses and shifted his attention to a different set of files on the screen. He pressed several keys, and a series of DNA markers appeared. “These belong to the biological father. The other set belongs to Darren Halpern.”

Joan leaned in. She was no expert on DNA but knew enough to recognize a match. “Darren is not the daddy.”

“Correct,” the doctor said.

“If Lana was seeing Darren, she was also busy with someone else,” Gideon said.

“She would not have been the first woman to pass another man’s baby off as his own,” Joan said.

“Whatever game Lana was playing, she pissed off the wrong guy,” Gideon said. “Doc, could you compare these results to Elijah Weston’s DNA?”

“But you said yourself the two would not have been in physical contact,” Dr. Christopher said, looking puzzled.

“She was