He pulled out a glossy photograph and laid it carefully on the tabletop. “Oh, my God,” Wright said, staring at the photograph. “Heaven help us.” “The right-hand wall of the stairwell was covered with splattered blood,” Pendergast said. “Here’s a photograph.” He handed it to Wright, who slid it quickly on top of the first. “It’s a simple matter to do a ballistics analysis on splattered blood,” Pendergast went on. “In this case, the evidence is consistent with a massive blow directed downward, instantaneously disemboweling the victim.”
