Bones of the Lost(69)

“This shows bullet damage on a segment of that same rib, the seventh, at a point close to its articulation with the spinal column.”

Hawthorn: “Where it curves around to form the back of the rib cage?”

“Yes. This is an anterior view. Note the clean edges on the defect.”

Next image.

“This is a posterior view of that same segment of rib. Note the beveling.”

Hawthorn: “So a bullet entered the front of the rib cage at the level of the seventh rib, then exited that same rib in back, near the spine.”

“Yes.” Next image. “This is a view of the anterior surface of Mr. Aqsaee’s sternum, after rearticulation of the broken pieces.”

“His breast bone.”

“Yes.”

Hawthorn: “You reconstructed it yourself?”

“Yes. Note the clean-edged circular defect at the middle right. This is a bullet entrance point.”

Next image.

“This shows the posterior aspect of the sternal defect. Note its significantly larger size, irregular shape, and the fragmentation that exposes the underlying spongy bone. This is a bullet exit point. The fracture patterning demonstrated on these two images indicates that a bullet traveled through Mr. Aqsaee’s sternum on a trajectory of front to back.”

Hawthorn: “So. You are saying that three bullets entered Mr. Aqsaee’s chest and exited his back.”

“A minimum of three. There could have been more. I can only observe trauma evident on the skeleton.”

Hawthorn: “Do the flight paths of these bullets suggest anything concerning Mr. Aqsaee’s position relative to that of Lieutenant Gross at the time of the shooting?”

I projected a photograph to which I’d added graphics to illustrate this point. The reconstructed sternum, rib fragments, and vertebral fragments were placed in anatomically appropriate positions in a schematic of a skeleton. A red line connected each entrance wound with its associated exit wound, then extended forward and backward from the rib cage and spinal column. Each line ran roughly parallel to the skeleton’s feet.

“The bullet trajectories suggest that Mr. Aqsaee was upright and facing Lieutenant Gross when he was shot.”

Gross’s lips tightened. His chin hitched up a millimeter, leveled.

“I can also project the X-rays.”

I moved to an image in which brilliant white dots peppered a partial rib and two vertebral fragments.

“When a gun is fired, metal particulates can travel with the bullet as it moves through the body. These particulates appear here as white specks due to their greater density in comparison to bone.”

I advanced to an image superimposing the X-ray over a schematic of a rib cage, and drew the cursor along a path from the rib to the vertebrae.

“Note how the metallic trace is more densely packed in the rib, less so in the vertebrae. Particles were lost as the bullet advanced along its path.”

Hawthorn: “Its path being from the chest toward the spine.”

“Yes. In addition to metallic trace, bone fragments can be displaced forward as a bullet moves through tissue.”

I placed the cursor beside a minute sliver, not as intensely white as the metallic trace, but brighter than the vertebral bone in which it was embedded. Then I moved it to another sliver, and another.

“These bone fragments came from the blowout zone at the back of the sternum, from the area of bone loss we observed earlier. The orientation of the fragments suggests they were traveling from front to back with the bullet.”

“So, in summary, this evidence substantiates your conclusion that Mr. Aqsaee was upright and facing Lieutenant Gross when shot in the chest.”

“Yes.”

“Did you prepare a report of your procedures, findings, and conclusions?”

“I did.”

Hawthorn: “Let me show you defense exhibit one. Is that your report?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Sir, the defense moves to admit exhibit one into evidence. A copy was previously provided to Major Nelson.”

Nelson did not object to the report and had no questions for me. Keever advised that he would submit his conclusions and recommendations within a week, then adjourned the hearing.

Even while the flow of testimony was running decidedly in his favor, Gross never relaxed or smiled. He’d remained taut and erect throughout, battling his twitch.

As I passed the defense table, he disengaged from Hawthorn and strode toward me. His face revealed nothing, but his step and carriage radiated confidence.

“Thank you, ma’am.”

Gross’s hand shot out. Without thinking I responded.

Gross’s cuff hiked up as we shook, revealing the lower part of a tattoo. I saw the bottom of the Marine Corps globe and anchor, the letters RIP circling below.