Chapter 3
The Shane murder case was a long and dreadful one. It took many weeks, yet there was no clue despite the combined efforts of me and Luis. I headed down the morgue, wearing a plain brown shirt and a black skirt, holding the files for the case that I needed Luis's signature for. The blond was sipping a cup of tea in the morgue with a bone cutter in his hand as he cut through the body of the child on the metal bed. I looked at him with a deadpanned look on my face. He was the only person that could do such a thing without flinching. Even with my eight years of being well involved in medical expertise, since I was sixteen. I graduated from high school early, by the way. I never got used to opening people up and settled for a forensic chemist in the homicide department.
"Any new information, Doctor Taylor?"
He asked, taking his time with his tea without looking up from his work. His white coat and shirt were still clean, another mystery that has no answer.
"No, they are closing the case. No leads, no reason to continue."
"Ah, the typical."
He hummed, as he walked away from the table and dragged a seat, gently placing me down on it as he held onto my shoulders tightly and passed me a cup and a plate that was half filled with cupcakes.
"Coffee?" I asked him, receiving a scoff from him. He rolled his eyes at my words, while sitting down on the desk. "I know you and coffee don't mix well, you chocoholic." I smiled lightly, enjoying the steaming hot chocolate and a cupcake to the side.
"So how are you going to deliver the news to your ex-roomie?" He asked me, while he stared at me with an intense gaze. "Oh, right. Leah."
"And your forgetfulness over the poor girl is back again."
I quickly stood up from the seat, rushing out of the morgue. I glared at Luis, before I stepped out. I passed through the detectives with ease and headed to her place. Leah's place is currently inaccessible to everyone not in the force, including her. The redhead must have been staying with her boyfriend, Isaiah Lock.
Yeah, he originates from the bloodline that was responsible for the existence of Lock City and may or may not end up as the next mayor, if he doesn't decide to retire from being a firefighter and to undo the broken ties with his family. Never really liked him, he and the rest of his family have always been fishy to me. I don't have much of a say in her relationship. If she ends up heartbroken, she will be doing the healing and I will be doing the spending. I dreaded the thought of a sorrow-themed punch to the face from her and replacing my boxing gloves and bone surgery for my jaw.
Enough with my inner monologue, I was at Isaiah's doorsteps with my cup of hot chocolate in my hands. I stopped drinking it when I knocked on the door first. It's a common curtesy after all, but I didn't receive a single response. The brown door was moved slightly, an eye appeared from the gap between the door and the wall. It looked so lifeless, I quickly rushed towards the door and decided to confront the scene like the brave and reckless person I am by nature. Ready to fight and sacrifice myself to find out the truth, while making sure that Leah is okay.
Ha! You thought.
Like I would ever do something so stupid. This isn't one thousand ways to die foolishly. I don't have the spare life of a cat, just the energy of one. I called Leah, who told me that she was busy in a therapy session before I even got there. Merely approaching the apartment due to the rotting smell from the apartment and reports of loud noises prior to the silence. So, I was aware that she wasn't there and Luis had been behind me the entire time. He was the one who opened the door, while I called for backup. He tagged along, after he was done with the files, and he sensed something was wrong. I wasn't going to fight him verbally about this. He has saved my life on multiple occasions with his sixth sense.
There he was, Isaiah Lock. His bleached black hair with obvious blonde roots, his dark brown eyes were lifeless, and he looked at us. The goosebumps on my skin traveled through my entire body. Luis was unnerved as ever, the corpse looked dry. The olive skinned man that I had a frenemy status with was dead. Completely drained off everything liquid in its being and I didn't know if I should be amazed by the method due to morbid curiosity or disgusted by the sight, maybe both. Isaiah was still standing, that was the scary part. He was properly dressed, wearing blue flannel over cargo pants. No blood stains or weapons scattered, everywhere was completely fine and it was strange.
"This is new."
Detective Jones replied, as he watched them carry the body to the hospital in a body bag. Luis nodded his head in enthusiasm, receiving an immediate glare from our superior. "Would you stop acting suspicious to the civilians?" He asked, receiving a shrug from Luis.
"They are suspicious of everyone. This isn't exactly a safe city to live in."
Luis commented, as I was still searching around for anything useful. I rummaged through drawers, removed rugs and carpets to check if anything was hidden under them. I almost gave up, until I opened the freezer, with multiple syringes filled up with blood stored inside, and I got flooded with the smell of blood. I closed the freezer quickly, alerting Detective Jones and Luis. I took this time to rush to the kitchen counter and throw it up in the sink. There goes my lunch and free cupcakes down the drain.
"Things got a lot weirder."
Luis said with a gleam in his eyes, quickly taking pictures with his phone. Detective Jones didn't respond to his words, too shocked by the contents of the freezer.