Intake photos were counted as evidence and taken of potential suspects in the early hours and days of an investigation. They were meant to document the presence of wounds, cuts, or bruises a person of interest may have had on their body that would suggest they had been in a recent struggle or altercation. The photos on the table showed Victoria in her bra and underwear. The first showed her standing with arms bent at ninety degrees, as if surrendering at gunpoint. Another captured her in a wide stance, feet shoulder length apart, and her arms straight out to the sides, crucifix style. Other photos were close-ups of her shoulders and neck. The photo Walt pointed to was of Victoria’s hands, posed with her fingers spread apart.

“I don’t see anything,” Avery said.

“Exactly. Your argument last night about the lack of blood on the rope got me thinking. How could Victoria have cut herself badly enough to drip so much blood on the carpeting, but leave no trace of blood on the rope?”

Avery slowly moved her gaze back to the photos of Victoria’s hands. “She didn’t cut herself.”

“It doesn’t look like it, and you’re looking at the proof. These photos were taken two days after the murder. There’s no way a wound would heal that quickly.”

“So where did the blood come from?”

“It’s a very good question,” Walt said. “One that I don’t have the answer to.”

CHAPTER 46 - Manhattan, NY Sunday, July 4, 2021

CHAPTER 46

Manhattan, NY Sunday, July 4, 2021

AVERY CONTINUED TO LOOK THROUGH THE PICTURES. “WHERE DID these photos come from? Why weren’t they in the original file?”

“That’s the other thing I wanted to talk to you about. Something’s been bothering me ever since I dove back into the Cameron Young case and stirred up the memories of that investigation.”

“What is it?” Avery said.

“When I was tapped to investigate this homicide, I was young. I wasn’t dumb, but I was inexperienced in running a homicide investigation. I was well trained and had been part of other homicides for the BCI, but never as the lead detective. The Cameron Young investigation was my first solo case. And, even looking back now, I don’t think I would change much. My job was to present the evidence I found to the district attorney’s office. I didn’t offer opinions or speculation. I just followed the evidence and then turned it over. I was good at procedure. Find the evidence, log the evidence; get the warrants, apply the warrants. I did everything by the book.