Chapter 5 Summary

Scarpetta arrives on the scene and immediately becomes aware that the bodies have been moved. Moving a body before the medical examiner arrives is against the golden rule. Scarpetta examines the bodies. One is clearly female, the other possibly male. They are badly decomposed with very little flesh remaining on their bones. They are both fully clothed, but there is evidence of small animal activity on the skeletons. Scarpetta asks the lead detective why the bodies were moved and is told they were searched for identification. Scarpetta is told that Deborah Harvey's purse was found. The detective tells Scarpetta that they are considering that it is possible the couple came to party at the clearing, which is just a few miles from the rest stop where their car was found. Scarpetta notes, however, that their shoes are missing, a detail common to the...