His words only made her angrier. “If you want to talk about a situation, Phil, we can talk about one.” She crossed her arms. “I finished the O’Rourke case.”

The muscles in Blythe’s face tensed and he drummed his interlocked fingers repeatedly. “And?”

“The wounds were in conical-shaped pairs. Most are located to the head and neck area. Death was by exsanguination. The carotid was lacerated and he bled out. This kid didn’t have a chance.” She paused. “The scratches are in lines of four and the bruises resemble a paw. Plus, there are six incisor marks between the conical punctures of the canines that are easily detected in the bites. I have no doubt it was a dog attack. Looks like you were right.”

“I know I am. This was that dog’s second assault.” His expression remained rigid. From the case file, Julia had learned that the same rottweiler was to be euthanized for attacking its seventy-year-old owner. The dog was so friendly at the pound that instead of putting it down, it was put up for adoption. The O’Rourkes were the unlucky recipients. Two-year-old Billy O’Rourke paid the price when he was left unattended with the dog.

She also found out that Dr. Blythe was the only person who claimed it was a dog attack. Two other pathologists stated it was a child abuse case. The wounds, the other doctors said, were created with various kitchen tools. The gash to the neck was made with a box cutter. The parents had spent the last year in jail, their other three children placed in foster homes.

Dr. Blythe’s career, which had once been a prestigious one, was now swirling around the toilet bowl. Several significant errors on other cases where he rendered wrong conclusions made the problem worse. Julia suspected he might be heading in the same direction with the Coleman case.

“Looks like you were right on that one, Phil,” she said, adding, “I’ve told Valentina Knight she’s hired. I know she can do the job.”

He stared at Julia. “I’ll give her one week. I’m only doing this because Oliver seemed to have had some confidence in her. There will be no special treatment. If she can’t do this job, she’s out.”

“Fair enough.” Julia couldn’t argue with that.

3

The next morning, Val stood outside Betty’s window, waiting to be let into Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office. First-day jitters were nothing compared to the anxiety she was feeling right now.

Julia had promised to keep the fact that Val had never met Oliver a secret. She was forced to take this guarantee at face value. The problem was what to say to everyone else who thought she knew him. Right now, that was Betty and anyone she might have told. Val stared through the glass. Betty wasn’t alone. There was a woman standing with her.