“Maybe five minutes. I saw a lot of flies and figured there was a pile of dog shit that I needed to clean up. Not that I see a lot of dog shit inside the house, but I figured what else could be attracting so many flies?”

“Then what did you do?”

“I think I found a plastic bag or something to pick up the shit with. After that, things got fuzzy. I think I mighta screamed. Then I barfed. Then I called 911 on my cell.”

“You also called the contractor?”

“Yeah, I called him, too. He told me he was running late, and hopefully he’d make it before the inspector. But then I told him about the body and that I called the police and that he should cancel the inspection.”

“Then what did you do after you called the contractor?”

“I don’t really remember…the police showed up a couple of minutes later. Someone told me to wait in the car and that someone would be with me in a moment. I said I was feeling a little sick and someone got me a can of soda. And that’s that.”

Decker said, “Did you touch the body at all? Maybe feel for a pulse?”

Tinsley turned green. “I mighta. I don’t remember too well.”

“Did you get a good look at the face?”

“I just glanced at it…her. It didn’t even look human.”

“Did you recognize her as someone you know or have seen around the area?”

“Tell you the truth, I didn’t look that long.”

“Could you glance at the body another time, just to see if you can identify her?”

“I suppose so…”

Decker led him over to the corpse. Someone from the coroner’s office had given the go-ahead to cut her down. She laid her on a gurney with a sheet over her head. S.I.D. was printing her hands. Decker gently removed the blanket to expose the face. It was still red and puffy, but a bit less distorted.

The foreman stared at the face for a few seconds, and then averted his eyes. He appeared to be holding down his stomach. “I don’t know her at all.”

“Thank you for trying.” Decker guided him away from the scene, the two of them walking toward the cruiser.

Tinsley gave a sick smile. “At least I didn’t heave this time. When can I go?”

“We’re almost done,” Decker told him. “I’d like you to write down exactly what you told me, including that you don’t recognize the corpse.”

“Uh, sure. No problem.”

Decker handed him a tablet of yellow lined paper. “You can sit in the police car while you write. I’ll take the soda can if you’re through with it. Do you want another one?”

“Yeah, if you wouldn’t mind.” Tinsley handed the can to Decker.