The House on Timber Lane, Robert F. Clifton [books to read as a couple TXT] 📗

her in that position?”, he asked.

“I’m going to start with her kidney’s. The kidney’s clean the blood. If she has any glucose at all it should show up there. Before I start, examine her buttocks for any signs of a needle mark. Insulin is usually injected in the part of the body having fatty tissue.”

Wallace looked carefully but found nothing that indicated an injection had been made in that area. “Nothing there.”, he said.

“Alright…Take a seat at my desk. I’m going to start slicing and you’ll start trying to keep your coffee down. Just as soon as Moss gets here we’ll start.”

“Where is Moss? I brought him a coffee and donut.”

“He’s always late, but he’ll be here soon. I only need him to turn over the body when I’m ready. Of course if he isn’t here in time you can help.”

“Like Hell.”

“Well if you’re not going to help sit over there out-of-the-way and keep quiet.”

“Tell you what. While you’re cutting and slicing I’ll be outside having a smoke. How long will you be removing the kidneys?”

“I don’t know. I never timed myself. Come back in thirty minutes.”

Wallace stood near the entrance to the morgue. It was going to be a nice day. Even now, at eight o’clock in the morning the sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. He turned to see Moss Jacobs, Doctor Edwards Morgue Assistant coming towards him.

“You’re late!”, said Wallace.

“That’s because the doctor scheduled this autopsy too early in the morning. By rights I shouldn’t be here until nine. Is he mad?”

“Well, I can’t say he’s happy.” “He’ll just have to get happy again”

Wallace followed Jacobs into the morgue. Doctor Edwards turned and looked at both men. “If either of you two would like to get to work, I’d appreciate it.”, he said.

“Be with you just as soon as I change boss”, said Jacobs.”

“What do you want me to do?”, Wallace asked. “I’ll be recording my procedure as I do the examination. Usually, you record at the same time. If you’re recording this is the time to set up.”

“Normally, I record when I don’t have the evidence or identity of the body. In this case I’m counting on you to give me the evidence. Besides, when it comes to the pathology report, you’ll be the one testifying on the witness stand. What I’m here for is to find the injection mark on her body.”

“And, you’re sure that there is such a place?”

“Just as sure as I know you cheated the last time we played chess.”

“As bad as you play I don’t have to cheat. Now shut up so I can do my work.”

Doctor Edwards placed one of Grace Hodges Gray’s kidneys on the white metal scale that hung from a pole. Using his foot he stepped on the pedal that started the tape recorder. “The subject, a white female, approximately fifty years old case number 7615072 and a body held in evidence for the County of Atlantic the result of a warrant for autopsy in compliance with the laws of the State of New Jersey said autopsy performed by Doctor Manfred Edwards, pathologist and Medical Examiner for the city of Nautilus Beach, New Jersey. On this date, October 12, 1973, both kidneys were removed from the subject with each kidney being four inches long, two and one half inches wide and one and one half inch thick. Each kidney weighed one hundred and fifteen grams. A visual inspection of the kidneys does not reveal any signs of chronic renal disease. However, microscopic examination to follow. In addition testing will be done to determine the amount of glucose in said kidneys.”

Doctor Edwards then placed each kidney in a stainless steel bowl. Turning to Moss Jacobs the doctor said, “Moss, roll the body on to its back. And you Captain, start looking for your injection mark. If and when you find it show it to me.”

Wallace waited until the morgue attendant had the body ready for his inspection, then he started walking to where the body of Grace Gray lay on the steel table.

“Wait a minute Robert!…Put on rubber gloves. There’s a box of them hanging on the wall over there”, Doctor Edwards ordered.

Embarrassed for being too much in a hurry to examine the dead body Wallace walked meekly to where the box full of rubber gloves were hung on the wall. Reaching into the box he removed a pair and began to put one of the gloves on his hand. He found it difficult.

“Powder your hands. When you do that the gloves slides on easily”, said Edwards.

Finally, after following directions Wallace now with his hands covered with latex walked to the body. He stood in front of the feet of the corpse. Then, very carefully, slowly separated all ten toes, looking for a mark that might be between them. Not finding what he was looking for he said, “I want you to examine her vagina. I once had a stripper who was hooked on heroin. That’s where she took the needle.”

“Only someone badly hooked on narcotics would do such a thing”, Doctor Edwards replied.

Moving along the table Wallace checked each one of the woman’s breast’s Lifting each one looking at flesh on the under side. He found nothing. Next, he checked each arm with the same result, nothing. Finally, he took a grip on the woman’s wrist and with some difficulty, due to rigomortis raised an arm. There in her arm pit was a minute pink mark. “I think I found something”, he said loudly.

Doctor Edwards walked over, stood next to Wallace and said, “Where?”

“Right there”, he said almost touching the mark.

“Moss, bring me the magnifying glass on my desk. If that’s a needle mark then you are damn lucky the victim is a woman that kept her axilla shaved. You would have missed if there was a hairy armpit.”, said Edwards. Doctor Edwards took the magnifying glass from the attendant and made a visual examination. “You are one lucky, son of a bitch Robert. That’s where he injected her. Notice anything else?”

"No.”

“There’s a slight bruising on the same wrist. He probably held her wrist tight as she struggled. Then, he more than likely injected her with insulin. The question is, if he did, how much? Was it enough to cause hypoglycemia and was it enough to put her in a coma?”

“When will you know?”

“These test will take some time. I have to examine other organs, blood and urine. On top of that I will do a toxicology study to try and see what drugs she might have been given. My advice to you is go back to headquarters and wait for my final examination and findings.”

“Alright…I’ll talk to you later.”

Arriving back at headquarters he entered his office. Taking a seat he checked the small pile of pink memo slips that has been placed on his desk. Most of them had to do with the time of the autopsy at the hospital. None of them were important now so he placed them in the wastepaper basket. Anxious to hear from Sheldon Hamilton Wallace fought the urge to call him in Philadelphia. Aggravated,, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair. His thoughts then went to the autopsy. Doctor Edwards findings were the essential elements of the case at the moment. Without scientific evidence of insulin being used as a murder weapon and administered by Doctor Gray he had no legal reason to make an arrest. His limited study of insulin in criminal cases resulted in his knowledge that in the entire world only sixty six cases of homicide caused by insulin have resulted in an arrest. Of those sixty-six cases only thirty three resulted in a conviction. At that rate it appeared that the odds of a jury convicting Doctor Gray were not very good. That meant that Vernon Gray even if arrested could walk free. Yet, Manfred Edwards was an excellent pathologist. He had testified in over a hundred cases and of those at least twenty five homicides. His only draw back was the fact that he was meticulous in his work. When other pathologist would render an opinion in hours, Edwards would render an opinion in days much to the frustration of both police and prosecutors.

Wallace was beginning to feel that frustration set in as he stared at the telephone hoping that doctor Edwards would call telling him would he needed to know as evidence in order to make an arrest. Nonetheless, the telephone on the desk remained silent.

Four o’clock came at last. Still, Wallace resisted the temptation to call the morgue and ask Doctor Edwards if he had any findings that indicated large amounts of insulin in Grace Hodges Gray’s body. However, just as he was getting ready to leave for the day the telephone rang. “Major Crime Squad, Captain Wallace”, he said speaking into the receiver.

“Robert?.. Doctor Edwards here.”

“Did you find anything?”, asked Wallace.

“It’s what I didn’t find that’s important to you at this time.”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t find insulin in her system.” “I wasn’t looking for insulin. I was looking for glucose.”

“Listen Doc, you’re driving me nuts. I’m tired, hungry, and frustrated and all you are doing is confusing me.”

“Tell you what…Stop at the Golden Dragon. Get two dinners to go. I want the Kung pao chicken…then come to my place and over a nice Chinese supper I’ll explain what I found.”

“Sounds good…I’m on my way.”

“And, don’t forget the egg rolls.”

Later, the two men sat at the kitchen table of Manfred Edwards, both eating out of cardboard containers. Edwards ate with chop sticks. As he ate he watched Wallace using a fork. “You would think by now you would know how to use chop sticks”, said Edwards.

“Oh, I know how to use them. I don’t use them just to aggravate you.”

“That right?…Well, you’re doing a good job of it right now.”

“Good, now what did you find in the autopsy so far?”

“So far I have examined the kidneys, and the heart for signs of glucose.”

“And?”

“I didn’t find any.”

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning there was a lack of glucose before death.”

“That means he used insulin”, said Wallace.

“Not so fast Robert. We’re presuming that he did, but we want positive proof that insulin was used.”

“So that means more testing.”

“Certainly. I have to examine the brain. However, in order to conduct the test required I first have to prepare an antiserum.”

“Another delay?”

“Why in hell are you in such a hurry? Gray isn’t going anywhere. Right now he’s home thinking of how he out smarted the legal system. If he’s concerned about anything it’s about how soon he will receive the insurance money and we’re only assuming that was his motive.”

“Yeah?…Well I’m assuming that’s right. Enough about him. What did you find in her heart?”

“In analyzing the blood from the left ventricle I found no signs of glucose.”

“That’s good, right?”

“Maybe. Blood taken from the right ventricle revealed an elevated reading of glucose.”

“Why the difference?”

“Normally this occurs with death and the breakdown of liver glycogen. Usually that produces an artificial elevation of glucose.”

“Why?”

“Because glucogen is a part of the body that is a storage form for glucose. Let’s say you are exercising. As you do the muscles in your body need energy. Glucose gives energy and the glucogen sends the glucose to where it is needed in the body.”

“Wonderful…I still need evidence that Gray killed his wife with an injection of insulin.”

“I can only give you what medical science, examination and tests give me.”

“When will you examine her brain?”

“After I formulate the antiserum, I should be able to examine brain tissue several hours later…Tomorrow, say about two or three in the afternoon should prove your case one way or another.”

“Good, your findings will either make or break my case. You give me the probable cause and I’ll make the arrest. Knowing his type he’ll have a lawyer within an hour. So. I’m going to take him nice and legal like, with a warrant. I’ve had the affidavit written for the last week. All I