Another Excerpt From My Newest: Death Lover
In advance of my flight, I notified the Charleston police of my visit. A senior detective, David Gilroy, took my call. I said I wanted to visit their evidence room and review the materials they removed from Annie Gambardella’s house.
“Why do you need that, Doctor?”
“She is the one victim we’ve identified from a serial killer who scatters body parts around the Everglades.”
“What do you need?”
“I’m searching for information on her final return visit to Miami before she was killed. Our detectives couldn’t locate where she was staying. I estimate that her murder occurred within three days of her departure from Charleston.”
“Damn, we didn’t know that. I figured her husband tracked her down and killed her.”
“Nothing in his background suggests that he could perform what our serial killer accomplished, precisely slicing off her thigh without damaging the bone. We’ve found ten more sets of bones from single limbs that indicate high-level necropsy skills.”
“You realize you’re doing detective work.”
“Our relationship with Miami PD is tenuous.”
“They should love a case like this.”
“We can work together. Cleaning out her home will make for a daunting task sorting through her things.”
“No telling what can turn up. You know plenty about this case. I’d love to help you search through the evidence.”
“I’ll be done with court tomorrow. See you in two days.”
“We’ll have an umarked car waiting for you and hold a hotel room if you need to stay overnight. It’s a challenging drive from North Charleston to our headquarters.”
“Thanks for your Southern hospitality.”
