Gift Wrapped Read Online Free

‘Can I ask you, Doctor D’Acre, how old do you think he is? I mean, how old was he at the time he died? That would be very useful in helping us to identify him.’
    â€˜Over twenty-five years is all I can say at the moment because the skull has fully knitted together, as you can see, but once I start the post-mortem I will be able to extract a tooth, which will enable me to make an accurate determination of his age at death to within twelve months.’ Dr D’Acre paused. ‘As you see, he has achieved the fifth stage of decomposition. That is to say that he is now almost totally skeletal. He’s certainly been down there a good number of years. This soil hereabouts is rich in beasties the human eye cannot see and the moisture ... but he has a few sinews left ... He’s been down there for less than seventy years ... much less.’
    â€˜So work for us?’ Hennessey smiled briefly. ‘No rest for the wicked.’
    â€˜Oh, yes, Chief Inspector.’ Louise D’Acre turned to Hennessey and smiled gently but briefly. ‘It is work for you, I fear. Have you taken all the photographs you need?’
    â€˜Almost.’
    â€˜Very well. I’ll begin to take soil samples, but other than that I have seen all I need to see here. I’ll supervise the lifting of the skeleton and its placing into a body bag, once you have confirmed that all photographs have been taken. Who will lift the skeleton? Do you know?’
    â€˜Whoever,’ Hennessey’s eye developed a wicked gleam, ‘or whichever two constables have the least experience. Whoever has the least years of service.’
    Dr D’Acre smiled. ‘Yes ... that is a good philosophy. The “deep end” approach.’
    â€˜I’ll talk to them first, of course.’ Hennessey grinned. ‘I’ll remind them that they did not join the police force to escort little old ladies across the road.’
    â€˜They certainly didn’t.’ Louise D’Acre nodded briefly. ‘So to confirm, I’ll remain here until the skeleton is in the body bag. Then I’d like to check the soil underneath the skeleton, because there is the possibility that there might be something of interest to us there. I assume you’ll dig down a little further until you are certain you have reached consolidated soil?’
    â€˜Of course, ma’am.’ Hennessey wiped a bead of sweat from his brow.
    â€˜I don’t see any non-degradable items like buttons or zip fasteners,’ Dr D’Acre observed.
    â€˜Nor do I,’ Hennessey replied.
    â€˜That will probably mean he was buried naked,’ Dr D’Acre commented. ‘That’s usually the case with young women, not men, because there is often a sexual component to the murder of women that isn’t present in the murder of men, but whatever.’ She paused briefly. ‘I assume you’ll be witnessing the post-mortem for the police, Chief Inspector?’
    â€˜Yes, ma’am,’ Hennessey replied. ‘I will.’
    â€˜Good.’ Dr D’Acre turned to leave the tent. ‘I can very easily start the post-mortem today; there is still plenty of time. I am not particularly constrained by time, but Eric is ... I have to bear that in mind.’
    â€˜Eric?’ Hennessey sounded puzzled. ‘Sorry ... Eric?’
    â€˜Eric Filey, one of the pathology laboratory assistants. He usually works with me. He’s a good man ... a good young man and we are very lucky to have him, very lucky indeed. He’ll willingly work overtime should I have to ask him to but I don’t want to put upon him. I want to keep him on side so I won’t risk antagonizing him. I must be careful not to exploit his good nature.’
    â€˜Oh, I fully understand, and Eric ... Of course, how could I forget about Eric?’ Hennessey stepped aside so as to allow Dr D’Acre to exit the tent. ‘Man management is all about