Piper"s natural reaction was to shudder and look away, but she fought those instincts and reached her hand out to search for a pulse, hoping for some sign of life.
"It"s too late, Piper."
Mooney grabbed her hand before she got any closer to the body. He"d seen that look too many times after serving in the Marines for twenty years. He knew death when he saw it.
Piper looked at him and, seeing the truth in his eyes, turned away. Daisy whined at her feet, and she bent down and picked the dog up to cuddle, more to comfort herself than the dog.
"Piper, why don"t you go back up to the boardwalk and wait for the police? And keep anybody else from coming down here."
Mooney took control of the situation, wanting to get his friend away from the gruesome sight in front of them.
"Are you sure? T
