Page 10 of Death at a Scottish Halloween

“The next time I’m running around town with ghoulish makeup on, maybe, remind me to take it off.”

She laughed, and I smiled.

“We were so busy, I didn’t even notice.”

“Nor did I, until I scared myself in the mirror upstairs. I’m sure everyone at the pub last night thinks I’m a bit off.”

She shrugged. “Pots and kettles, and all that. Besides, lots of people were in costumes, and they will be for the rest of the week until All Hallow’s Eve next weekend.”

“I love how much Scotland enjoys their holidays, especially, here in Sea Isle.”

“They do. I’m sure it has to do with creating joy during the gloomy days ahead.”

“You might be on to something, there. I never thought of it that way.”

“When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait for All Hallows Eve and the December holidays.”

“When you were a kid?”

We laughed.

“Fine, I enjoy them even more now,” she said. “And I promise to remind you about the makeup. Hopefully, we don’t find any more bodies. I still can’t get over how alive he was earlier in the night. He’d seemed like such a nice fellow.”

“He did.”

“Was his sister able to give you any information?”

“Only that they didn’t see each other much. His friend Baird said there’d been a few things that happened on the rig, but nothing worth killing over.”

She shivered. “Makes me appreciate the fragility of life.”

“I think we are both more aware than most because of our professions.”

“Truth. I’m glad today we had scheduled off. Though, I’m sorry we have to do an autopsy,” she said quickly.

“Look at us thinking we’d have time off before the haunted house.” We only had to work it through Saturday evening. Then other teams would take over for the next week. They liked changing up the rooms so they could get visitors multiple times.

“Do you think they’ll bring someone new in for across the hall?”

“I don’t know. I can’t imagine Baird and Isobel will feel much like entertaining people. I’m sure Mara is on it, though.”

“I imagine she is.”

I grinned. I adored my friends.

We ate in silence for a few minutes, then we cleared everything away.

We suited up again for the autopsy and then entered the cooler that had been built off the kitchen. It was our autopsy suite and perfect for keeping the bodies at the right temperature.

“At least we have cause of death,” she said. “That usually takes ages. Though I did run toxicology reports. I can pull those for you, if you want.”

“Later. Let’s get this examination done. I was thinking last night that the angle of the knife was strange.” I used my light and magnifier to take a closer look at his chest.

“How so?” she asked.

“More of a downward thrust,” I said. “Maybe someone his height or taller, even though he was seated, they had to be around his size for the angle to work.”

“That would narrow down the suspects.”