Page 21 of Unnatural Death

When I was getting started in my career, she was a commonwealth’s attorney in Henrico County just outside of Richmond where I lived at the time. We were acquainted in those early years, often working cases together. I’m reminded that she can be a relentless prosecutor. The difference is now she’s the governor.

She persuaded me to move back to Virginia after long years away. I was to return the medical examiner system to its glory days. Roxane had confidence I was up for the challenge, and if she doesn’t like the job I’m doing, she can send me packing.

“You’re inside Buckingham Run right now, Kay,” she’s saying. “What are you seeing? Are there photographs or videos you could share that might better educate me on what’s going on?”

“I’ve not seen much yet.” No way I’m showing her anything.

“I’m wondering if this is a politically motivated stunt to create more conspiracy theories. Now would be an unfortunate time for that kind of distraction.”

“It doesn’t appear that the two victims are a stunt.” I return my briefcase to the helicopter’s back cabin, not worried about anybody stealing it out here.

“What was done to them?”

“At the moment I’m calling the deaths unnatural. That’s as much as I can say this early on.” It’s all I intend to tell her.

“Do we know who they are? And why they might have been targeted? And what were they doing inside Buckingham Run?”

“Their identities aren’t confirmed. It’s best you deal directly with the Secret Service, Roxane,” I again remind her, and she’s well acquainted with Benton. I suggest she try him.

“The timing is of great concern, and the more I’m thinking about it, I can’t help but suspect it’s deliberate,” she says with conviction. “Less than a week before our next general election, a very important one, especially in Northern Virginia. A sensational case like this will be an unfortunate diversion and deterrent. It could stop some people from getting out to vote for fear they might be targeted.”

“Whoever left the message at your office was making sure to create explosive publicity and fear,” I agree with her. “I think that much we can say with confidence.”

“The instant you find out anything, I want to be informed. I’ll expect to hear from you as soon as you have answers.” Roxane ends the call.

“She’s being manipulated, and is about to make things worse,” Lucy says. “That’s why the message was left on her office line. The goal was for the governor to create an uproar while using the situation to her political advantage. Because that’s what people like her do. They can’t help themselves. They’ve got to spin the situation, turn it into something that gives them a bump in the polls.”

“Imagine her reaction if she gets a load of this?” Marino sits down on the skid next to the banker’s box. He places it in his lap. “Doesn’t sound like she’s got a clue. And that’s a damn good thing. Pictures don’t do it justice. It might be my best so far, and I’ve done a lot of casts in my lifetime. Never a Sasquatch, though. Not until now.”

“I understand why you’re excited, but this isn’t a good thing for you or anyone,” I tell him. “I also realize what’s done is done. But it’s going to be difficult explaining why someone from the medical examiner’s office made a cast of a foot impression at what’s likely going to turn out to be the scene of a double homicide. If you’d talked to me about it in advance, I would have insisted that you were hands-off, Marino.”

But he didn’t ask, and probably for that very reason. I knew nothing about the footprint until he sent images of it. He didn’t mention making a cast until it was a fait accompli.

“What matters is protecting and preserving the evidence. I was the best one to do it.” He’s not going to back down. “You only get one shot at making a good cast, and I did. The details are crystal clear.”

“That’s probably because they were made by a fake foot,” Lucy tells him. “Probably 3-D printed with something firm but pliable like rubber or silicone, and it’s going to leave a realistic impression every time.”

“I’m not saying that’s impossible. But it sure seems real. When I first saw it, I felt this shock go through me and my hair stood on end.”

“If you had any hair,” Lucy says, and Marino smiles in spite of himself.

“Obviously, this is new for us,” I reply. “And from here on out we’re going to treat it like any other evidence.”

“We need an expert to look at the cast and photographs of the actual footprint.” He begins slicing through evidence tape on the banker’s box.

“I don’t think the Smithsonian has a forensic podiatrist on staff,” Lucy says cynically. “Or a cryptozoologist either.”

CHAPTER 9

THERE’S A PROFESSOR IN Charlottesville who’s in the news a lot.” He says this to me. “You may have heard of Cate Kingston?”

She teaches anthropology at the University of Virginia, and Marino met her at the Shenandoah Sasquatch Festival this past June. It was at Lydia Mountain in Luray, where he stayed in a cabin for the weekend, he explains. I remember him going there while Dorothy was visiting friends in Florida. But he never told me that he was attending a Bigfoot gathering.

“Cate Kingston was the keynote speaker and shared photographs and plaster casts with the audience, pointing out what made them authentic or not,” Marino is saying.

“None of this helps your cause.” Lucy roots around inside the baggage compartment, finds a can of eco-friendly insect repellent. “Especially if you might have had access to any of the plaster casts or photographs you saw at some festival.” She begins fogging the clearing around the helicopter to keep mosquitoes and other unwelcome pests away. “You’d better hope nothing matches the footprint you found.”

“Let’s take a peek at what you’ve got.” I sit down on the skid next to Marino, and he takes the lid off the box.

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