Thomas Hayden also determined that while holding the gun upside down, she had plenty of room to pull the trigger, especially if she was sitting down on the floor with the nozzle in her chest. This information helped the jury render an innocent verdict in the retrial and the accused was set free. The show went to commercial as Val drove through the gates of the landfill site. She immediately wondered if she was in the right place. She was only supposed to collect some skeletal remains but the place looked like a disaster zone.

Several other vehicles were in front of her, each taking a long time before either going through or being turned away by the officer who was blocking the entrance. She waited anxiously, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel.

What is going on? All of the local news vans were here. Cameras were set up and reporters with microphones scurried around. The landfill was lit up by the red flashing lights of squad cars and in the distance she could see an area of bright white illumination making that section glow as if it were daytime.

Slowly, she pulled her car up to the uniformed officer. He put his hand up, signaling for her to stop. She rolled down the window.

“Sorry ma’am. No admittance.”

“I was sent from the Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office. I’m a death investigator. I’m here to collect the skeletal remains found today.”

The officer looked at her suspiciously for a moment, and then asked for ID.

Val’s hung around her neck and she pulled it up so the officer could see it.

He stared at the badge, and then at her, and after a few seconds finally became convinced she was qualified to be here. “Sorry. Just have to make sure that you’re not a reporter trying to sneak in. You’re new. Haven’t seen you around before.”

“No. This is my first week.”

“This is a hell of a way to start. It’s crazy back there. You won’t be able to drive much further. The cars are parking there.” He pointed to a row of squad cars about fifty feet in front of her. “I can radio someone to help you if you have a lot to carry.”

“Thanks, but I think that I can manage. What’s going on?” she questioned eagerly. Something big had obviously happened here. This wasn’t some simple collection of bones.

The officer seemed surprised that she didn’t know. “They think the remains belong to one of those women who had their teeth pulled out. Detective Gavin’s in charge. You’ll find him about a quarter mile up the road.”