DEADLY SECRETS
By Lacey Roberts
Excerpt: Flynn pushed through the glass doors into the Forensics Centre. A young woman at the front desk glanced up. He grinned as she licked her lips and gave him the once over. He was used to this from women but still hadn't figured out why they responded this way. Without vanity he knew his looks were better than average, but nothing special. Women obviously thought different.
"Can I help you?" she purred.
"I'm looking for where Doc Reid is performing an autopsy." He flashed his credentials.
"Room two, sir."
He nodded, thanked her and strode down the corridor. He stopped at a door where a plaque proclaimed it led to 'Examination Room 2'.
Flynn entered the airlock space and donned a pair of white coveralls, mask and white
paper cap. He then stepped into the examination room. It smelled of antiseptic, unidentifiable chemicals and death. Not his favourite place to be.
Lily was bent over the corpse. She appeared deep in thought and he cleared his throat
to make his presence known. She straightened and glanced up. "Detective, come in."
He moved closer. "Anything yet?"
"I'm really baffled and wondering whether your crack about vampires is very far from the mark."
Flynn raised his eyebrows.
"The two puncture marks in the neck had some sort of fluid in them that prevented the
blood from clotting. Poison of some sort but my initial tests don't recognize it. I've sent it to the lab for urgent analysis."
"That would explain the huge amount of blood loss."
"Yes it would, especially as no major veins or arteries were severed in the area. The
other puzzle is the puncture marks on his scrotum. The surrounding tissue is blistered, badly bruised and necrotic."
Lily lifted the sac and pointed out two large puncture marks under the balls. They were
identical to the holes in his neck. The skin was swollen, wrinkled and black.
"Christ, what did that?" Flynn's balls reacted to the gruesome sight by trying to climb up inside him.
"I don't know for sure but my guess is a snake."
Flynn's puzzled look questioned her sanity.
"A snake? We don't have snakes that leave bloody great holes like those."
"I know, which is why I'm baffled. It doesn't add up. The aligned puncture holes, the
poison which prevented the blood from clotting, and the tattoo on his chest."
"Tattoo?"
"Yes. Look closely. It's a cobra tattooed on his chest."
Flynn dropped his head to study the ink on the victim's chest. "I'll be, it is a cobra. I
assumed it was some sort of tribal thing when I first noticed it."
"You need to get close to see the snake head, but once you do it is very clear."
"Snake worship, doc?"
Lily held her hands up, palms out. "We don't have things like that here. Snake worship
only happens in Africa as far as I know, and we certainly don't have cobras."
"Give me some answers. All you've done so far is tell me what it isn't. Tell me what it is."
"I don't know. I've never seen it before. I'm going to need more time to figure this out.
I'm sorry but I have told you all I know at this point."
"Dinner?"
"Excuse me?"
"I asked if you would have dinner with me."
Lily glanced around the room as if expecting something.
"If you're too busy I understand."
"No, no. It's just I have a policy of not getting involved with colleagues."
"Jeez doc, I'm not asking you to marry me. I only want to have dinner with you."
Lily reconsidered. "Of course. Give me twenty minutes and I'll join you."
"Meet you out front?"
"Yes please."
"I have a couple of calls to make. I'll be waiting." With that, Flynn left the room.
Bio: Lacey Roberts is the pen name I chose when I began writing Erotic Romance.
I grew up in Sydney but now live in sunny Queensland where I spend my days walking my dogs, reading and writing. Married for almost 41 years, my husband and I also enjoy a great deal of travel.
My plans for the immediate future include travel to the US to meet some of my author friends.
I hope you enjoy my latest release which is set in Canberra, Australia – the Nation's Capital. This story is purely fictional but there are numerous real places and facts covered. I could not have made it as realistic without the advice of the A.C.T. Police Media Centre and the Forensic Medical Centre at Sydney University. I am grateful to both.
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Deadly Secrets
# Erotic Romance # Mystery #Australian
