Grave Intent Read Free Page B

we know where and how he died, but how did the murderer get the body to the cemetery?” Chandu asked. “From the photos, I’m guessing this Bernhard Valburg was over two hundred pounds.”
    “Two hundred and twelve,” Zoe confirmed. “No one just heaves weight like that over a shoulder real quick.”
    “It’s a good first question,” Jan said. “The more intriguing one is why . The murderer went to great risk digging out a grave like that. It wasn’t enough just to simply murder his victim. He bashes in the man’s skull at home, gouges out his eyes, and transports the body to the grave. Even in the middle of the night, tons of people could have observed him doing it. He even creates a gravestone to warn his victim that his death will occur on June twenty-third. Now, the victim, Bernhard Valburg, could have locked himself inside his home out of fear or hired a security firm or flown to Hawaii, even. Why didn’t he?”
    “You’re saying the murderer knew his victim?”
    “Bingo,” Jan said.
    “What?” Zoe’s voice blared from the laptop speaker.
    “This murder’s got a lot of personal aspects,” Chandu told her. “First, the killer had to know where Valburg’s wife is buried. Then, he knew the guy’s birthday and where he lived.”
    “Another good indicator of a personal murder is all the extra effort made,” Jan continued. “Digging a grave a foot and a half deep takes time, especially when you don’t want to be seen doing it. Then there’s the cross, carrying in the body. This was long in planning.”
    “Did your guys question the cemetery staff?” Chandu asked.
    “Yes. No one saw a thing. The last one there called it a day at six in the evening. The cemetery is far too large for personnel to check all the graves every day.”
    “Surveillance cameras?”
    “They don’t even have power,” Zoe cut in. “Our spotlights fried the fuses. I had to wait till the crack of dawn before I could see anything.”
    “What about the cross?” Chandu asked. “Fingerprints on it?”
    “None,” Zoe replied. “We didn’t find DNA either. The murderer left no clues behind. My colleagues are testing a few other samples, but I’m not optimistic we’ll find anything. The rain didn’t make it any easier.”
    “Who did the grave site belong to?” Max asked. “Did the murderer dig out one that was already there?”
    “Bernhard Valburg had reserved that grave site for himself,” Jan replied. “He wanted to be buried next to his wife.”
    “So we got nothing,” Max said.
    “Apart from a mad killer who’s still on the loose,” Zoe added.
    “Where do we start?” Max asked.
    “I’ll head over to Bernhard Valburg’s office,” Jan said. “Maybe his staff can tell me something. I’ll get a list of patients too.”
    “I’ll hit the underworld,” Chandu said. “Valburg wouldn’t be the first doctor to deal prescription meds, take drugs, or get addicted to gambling.”
    “They’re looking at the computer from his house,” Max said, “but I’ll take a look. Before that, I’ll root around the police database to see if the doctor drove too fast or got in some other trouble.”
    “I’ll have a smoke first,” Zoe said. “Then order a pizza and hit the sack.”
    “Great,” Jan said. “So we all have important things to do. Let’s meet tomorrow afternoon again, right here?”
    “No can do,” Chandu protested. “Police stations creep me out. Besides, I have my reputation to keep up. Let’s do six p.m. at my place. I’ll cook us up something tasty.”
    “Nothing with insects, though,” Zoe said.
    “For you, sweetheart, I have a roll of Smarties lying around somewhere.”
    Zoe narrowed her eyes and was about to comment, but thinking quickly, Max shut the laptop.
    “Till tomorrow,” Jan said.
    Max raised one hand in salute as he yanked the cable from his laptop with the other.
    “Happy hunting,” Chandu said and left the room.
    Back out in the hall, he looked around warily. The