had been moved after death. It was simple science. Once the heart stopped, blood

ceased to flow and, due to gravity, settled in the lowest part of the body. If

you died on your back, the blood settled and concentrated there, mostly in your

back and buttocks, and some in your hamstrings and calves. If the body wasn’t

moved for a certain period of time, then even when it was transported elsewhere

and turned facedown, the blood would remain right where it was.

 

Such had been the case with Jane Renner. Her killer would have had to carry her

here. She was five-seven and weighed one hundred and forty pounds, so that would

not have been easy.

 

A strong man carrying the woman over his shoulder could easily manage it for the

distance involved. And a man who could crush spines was obviously strong enough

to tote his victims.

 

Puller got back into his car and was about to start it up when he noted a white

van passing by. It seemed to slow as it neared where he was. Then it regained

speed and kept going.

 

It looked like a van that a workman would use. The driver was probably heading

out to an early morning job.

 

He put the car in gear and drove to the next site. It was two miles away. The

streets were deserted, the moon full, the air crisp. He reached the site and

once more got out with his camera.