Chapter 0071
Why on earth did you want to touch the body?” he asks me
“I wanted to check for rigor mortis, I suspect she hasn’t been there very long but she has been dead a while,” I shrug.
“And what makes you suspect that?” he raises a brow.
“Because she has lividity along her back, which means she was laid on her back for some time after death before she was hung from that tree, there’s no lividity in her feet and the dried blood from her wound runs sideways, not down,” I explain.
“I have no idea what half of that is but you are so smart,” Theo praises and I smile at him, at least someone appreciates my brain.
“She took some pictures, I’m sending them to your email because I don’t want them on my phone,” Mason says, retrieving his phone from the floor where I’d dropped it.
“Miss Banks I believe you already hold a degree in forensic and criminal investigation, is that correct?” Collins asks, opening up his laptop.
“Yes, I have a BTEC level 3, not that it means anything in this realm,” I roll my eyes.
“I have the photos you can delete them,” Deacon nods to Mason.
“Wait, I wanted to look at them more closely,” I reach to grab Mason’s phone.
“Too late,” he smirks
Mrs
“Ass,” I huff and move around Mr Collins‘ desk to look at them there. I lean over and take control of his laptop, flicking through the pictures. I stop on the clearest one of her back. “Can you see this discolouration here,” I point to the lividity on the girl’s body, “that would have been the lowest point of her body where the blood pooled shortly after death, she was either laid on her back for over 12 hours after her death or she has only just been put there and the lividity hasn’t moved yet. That’s why I wanted to check for rigor mortis,” I explain.
“That’s very interesting, babe, but I think Mr Collins would rather have you explain it to him after your heat is done,” Theo says cautiously and holds out a hand to me.
“I’m fine,” I frown and look at the others, they all seem to be looking in the same place, I follow their gazes to my left hand, which is currently resting around Mr Collins‘ forearm. I yank my hand away like he’s suddenly too hot to touch.
“Shit, sorry,” I step back and see Mr Collins has his eyes closed, his nostrils flare as he takes deep calming breaths. Oops. “Anyway, we should probably be leaving now.” I dash to the only person I think may possibly be able to defend me against Deacon’s wrath and Axel accepts me into his arms without hesitation.
“Take, Miss Banks, to her room and do not let her out until her heat is over,” Deacon says in a low, controlled
tone.
“Yes, Sir,” Luke agrees and opens the office door.
“Wait,
aren’t we teleporting there?” I ask.
“We can’t, we have wards up that prevent it so no one can sneak up on us that way,” Luke explains.
“We can’t walk around campus in towels,” I protest.
“Here,” Mr Collins sighs. He pulls a bag from under his desk and throws a pair of gym shorts to Theo. Then he
Chapter 0071
6 BONUS
removes his belongings from his suit jacket that hangs over his chair and throws it to me. Axel helps me into it and I pull the front closed, covering as much of myself as possible. I have to fight the urge to inhale deeply at his scent on the jacket.
“Thanks,” I smile at him and he nods. It looks as if he’s forgiven me already.
“Yeah, thanks, this is slightly less embarrassing,” Theo grins and ties the shorts as tight as he can. “I’m glad we are all suitably dressed for our grand entrance back to school,”
Today’s Bonus Offer
