Chapter Four
1185 Words
Chapter Four
“Interesting, Miss Grimm,” I stated, “but I still have to ask you to leave the premises while there is an active investigation going on.”
“I understand,” she sighed. “There isn't any more evidence I can recover at this moment anyhow. Seeing that your size 17 shoe is standing in the middle of the only decent paw print that could be analyzed.”
I look down at my feet. Yep, my foot is right where she says it is. “Oops, sorry.” And don't think I didn't notice that the print is that of a werewolf. So in reality, I'm not sorry that I stepped in it.
“Well, I'm impressed,” quipped Cass snickering. “She nailed your shoe size. I'm going to go see what I can help with at the scene. How about you escort her back to her vehicle?”
“Right. Let's go,” I muttered. “This area isn't a good place for a female to be wandering around alone.”
“Only a female?” Hanna questioned back. “Seems this area is just plain old creepy for anyone. It clearly gives off a non-exclusive creepy vibe.”
“Smartass.”
“It's better than being a dumb one.”
I rolled my eyes walking her back towards her car. She's definitely an odd one. At least the chance of me bumping into her again is slim to none, I only have to put up with her annoyance until we get to her vehicle. I can handle this. No problem.
Just then a breeze blows past the smelly dumpster and the stench hits both of our noses. Yuck. The stench is too much for Miss Grimm to handle apparently as she proceeds to empty her stomach away from my shoes, thankfully.
“Sorry about that,” she apologized clearly embarrassed.
“It happens.”
“There goes breakfast. Not literally. I still have it in my car.” And right on cue, my stomach growls. “Would you want it? It's not a bribe, honest. I just don't it to go to waste. I can get something else later when my stomach settles.”
“Sure. I could view it as a business giving discounts or free doughnuts,” I tell her as we reach her Corolla.
“Cops and doughnuts. Very cliche-ish,” she giggles.
She takes her envelope, with an official Wolfdale City University seal on it, filled with the evidence that she has collected, and places it in a cooler in her trunk. She has a collection of these envelopes. Her job is legit. In her passenger seat is a smaller cooler. She opens the door and grabs it. Inside is a bag with the food she purchased and a large cup of black coffee. The contents are surprisingly still warm. She hands them both to me.
She gets in her car, starts it, puts it in gear, and drives away from the active crime scene. Yeah, I'm jealous, her car is in much better shape than mine. Walking back I open the breakfast sandwich and notice that it is a steak and egg bagel with no cheese.
“What no cheese?!” I grumble but my stomach growls not caring. The coffee is exactly how I like it. I eat the sandwich and drink the coffee while a distance away from the scene. I don't want to be the one to contaminate everything over my own carelessness. That would be embarrassing. I decide to place the empty wrapper and bag inside the SUV by my seat so I don't litter. Upon opening the door to where I sat previously, I find an envelope letter-size sitting on the passenger seat.
“Great, just freaking great,” I mumble to myself. I grab it and stuff it into my pocket not caring if it gets destroyed. I really hate these things. I need to quickly get back to the crime scene to help out.
Crossing the police tape, I sign in and put on some examination gloves in the main field tent. I remember the rather large paw print that I “accidentally” stepped in and go take a photo of it with my phone. I quickly make my way over to the medical examiner. I should introduce you to him. His name is Dr. Gilbert Jacobson, M.D. He's a top graduate from Johns Hopkins Medical School—summa c*m laude. He has held his private practice for over 20 years with exceptional integrity. He has dark skin with short dark graying hair. He's clean-shaven as per the dress code. His eyes are hazel. He's a single father of two teenage boys. The eldest is, well how can I say this, adventurous with life. The doc is going to be a grandfather before either one of his sons graduates from high school. He doesn't handle this situation too well. But I don't blame him. The girl, the mother of his grandchild, is currently residing with his family. Okay, so enough gossiping.
“So, Doc, are we looking at a homicide or just an accident,” I inquire. I have to ask.
“Heavily leaning towards homicide. He, we can assume, was beaten to death. He visibly has contusions all over his body, apart from a couple of compound fractures in his left extremities. The gash in his head was clearly, pardon the pun, the final blow. I'll have a more thorough report after the autopsy of course.”
“According to his ID, his name is/was Peter Bryant,” stated Cass matter-a-factually. “Age 22 years. He lived in an apartment complex not too far from the University.” She handed me the victim's wallet so that I could verify her statement.
“How do you figure that, Cass?”
“Uh, cause we've been there before from other cases. I recognized the address.”
“So what else has been found on him?” I ask.
“Some drugs and dog hairs?”
“He probably has a pet? We'll find out more later. Bag and tag everything.” Thankfully the gathering of everything we believe to be evidence has gone smoothly. Everything will get sorted out back at the station. Dr. Jacobson with help from a deputy coroner loads the victim's body into the back of the city's hearse. He's going to have a long night. I don't envy him. Contacting the next of kin is the next step for Cass and me. No one likes this part, ever. This is where Cass shines. She's great at giving the right amount of concern and comfort to grieving family members.
During this time, Hanna Grimm has made her way across town to the University campus. She parks her Corolla in her assigned spot given by the Biology Department. It's located not too far from the building in which she works. Grabbing the cooler out of the trunk she lugs it into the forensic laboratory to begin her own investigation with the clues she has found.
- Writer
