Chapter 2

Darrell Darker was an experienced detective. He had seen a lot of things in his 25 years on the force, but he had a bad feeling when the call on this one came in. He just knew. Darrell grabbed two coffees at the local joint and went to pick up his new partner Gayle Adams. Gayle herself was no stranger to the Force. Fifteen years in the Organized Crimes Unit and she welcomed Homicide Division as a glorious change of pace.

Darrell pulled up to the house on the corner where Gayle lived and put the car in park. He had read her service record and knew that this was one tough lady. He looked up towards the house and was surprised to see that Gayle had almost made it down to the curb to meet him.

The door opened and Gayle got into the car.

“Morning, I’m Gayle.” She spoke with authority Darrell thought.

“Darrell.” He put out his hand for her to shake, “Shall we get to the scene?”

Gayle shook his hand and said “Yep, let’s get this started. I have a feeling that it’s not gonna be pretty!”

When the two detectives got to the scene, the Crime Scene Unit was just finishing up. Gayle asked one of the patrolmen who had found the body where to go. As she walked toward Patrolman Coffey she felt the hairs on the back of her neck go up. “Not pretty at all!” She whispered to herself. “You Coffey?” Gayle spoke to the woman leaning on the squad car.

“Yep”. Coffey answered.

“I’m Detective Adams, How did you find the body?” Gayle asked matter of factly.

“Well I was doing my usual route and noticed that there was a large orange flag here when it was not here the last time I drove by. It was odd so I stopped to take a look. That’s when I saw her; just lying there. I called it in right away and then I went over to the body and checked for a pulse. You know outta routine, but there wasn’t one.”

Gayle looked at the Officer and then looked towards the body lying near her partner.

“Okay, thanks”

Gayle shook the woman’s hand and then decided to go over to the body to get a better look.

Darrell watched as Gayle walked over to him and the Jane Doe he was waiting to observe. He noticed that Gayle was being careful and methodical about where she was walking; almost as if she was taking mental inventory of everything that was near the body. When she got to Darrell he asked

“You ready to see this?”

Gayle nodded and then Darrell looked at the Junior Medical Examiner to let them see the covered body. The Junior M.E. removed the cover from the body and waited for the detectives to proceed. When the two of them leaned in to get a close look, Darrell bowed his head and Gayle just stood beside him waiting for Darrell say something.

“What do you think?” Gayle asked, eager to get Darrell’s opinion.

“Well…”Darrell paused before he spoke again.

“I have some questions that I need to write down first before I get too carried away.”

“Write down?” Gayle asked “Don’t you have one of these?” Gayle pulled out a pocket digital recorder that she used on every case she had worked on since becoming a detective.

“Well, that would cut down on my carpal tunnel!” Darrell smirked.

“Here, we can share until you get your own.” Gayle tossed him the recorder and Darrell pressed the record button and started his questions.

“ Crime Scene Notes, Jane Doe #1, 2:03am, Industrial Park way. Where is her hair? There is no evidence that it was removed here, this is just a dump site. Where is the primary crime scene? Who is she? She looks athletic but there appears to be no defensive wounds, so did she fight? She could’ve been surprised. But where? Her nails are manicured and well taken care of, in my opinion that is an indication of middle class. But they aren’t too long, indicating she’s probably a career woman.” Darrell stood and stared at the Jane Doe and Gayle joined in with her questions. “She has no ligature marks on her wrists or her ankles. How was she held down? Was she unconscious the entire time or was she killed immediately? Did he take his time when he cut her breasts off and disemboweled her? Was she awake or alive through all of this? Was she targeted or was she just in the wrong place at the wrong time?”

Darrell looked at the woman a little closer, bending down to see her face.

“What do you think of this?” Darrell pointed at the woman’s face.

“No woman would put her makeup on this way. This is juvenile, almost like a beginner. Can we roll her over doc?” Gayle asked.

The Junior Medical Examiner nodded and both Darrell and Gayle rolled the body over so they could see her backside. When they turned her over they saw what they thought was an over sized straw. Darrell whistled to one of the CSIs and got the investigator to log the newly found evidence.

“What is the significance of the straw like thing? Was it placed there on purpose for us to find? Why? Why was it placed alongside her spine? And these cuts on her back are long and deep. Were these done first or last and why was she cut up this way?” Darrell shook his head and then looked at Gayle. She was deep in thought.

The Junior Medical Examiner asked if they were done and neither could think of anything else so they nodded their heads.

Then they looked at each other and both said at the same time,

“Why this site? ” Darrell and Gayle both smiled and said together: “You owe me a beer.” The two of them smiled again as they walked back to the car.

‘Back to the House?” Darrell asked.

“Sounds good.” Gayle said.