Chapter 1 Summary

The story begins with a phone call that wakes Dr. Kay Scarpetta from a sound sleep at 2:33 A.M. The person on the other end of the line is Sergeant Pete Marino, a career cop with the Richmond policed department. Marino informs Scarpetta that another murder has taken place and that she needs to be on the scene immediately.

Kay Scarpetta is the Chief Medical Examiner of Richmond, Virginia. As the Chief, Dr. Scarpetta is expected to handle to highest-level cases in the medical examiner's office. Normally, the medical examiner on call would take the case but the pattern suggests that this latest killing is the fourth in a series of sexually motivated crimes.

Scarpetta arrives on the scene to find Marino and a crew of police. Details are quickly relayed and Scarpetta meets Matt Petersen, the victim's husband. The victim, Lori Petersen...