First date
Summary: It was just another night's work, or so Reaper thought.
All characters are human in this story.
I don't know anything about coroners, investigative processes, etc, other than what I see on CSI, NCIS, and Criminal Minds, so I'm sorry if I'm too far off the mark.
CAUTION!!
Mention of vomiting, description of blood, injuries and deaths (including that of a child).
-So, what do we have?
-Hi, Reaps! A double homicide. – The first guard replied excitedly.
-It's not a pretty scene. - warned your partner in a conspiratorial tone.
-And when is it? – He spoke with good humor, passing the pair responsible for keeping reporters and onlookers away.
There were a lot of people gathered even though it was late at night. Most must have been neighbors, but he could make out at least a couple of reporters. Surely there would be more soon, after all, such a crime in a quiet residential neighborhood like this drew attention.
Passing under the yellow tape, he entered the house proper. The first thing he noticed was the metallic and chemical smell (blood and gunpowder), the second was the smell of burning meat and finally the smell of popcorn. Most people would only feel one or two, but he had a nose for such things (in his profession, it was nice to have one). Further ahead he heard the noise of the camera shutter and saw the flashes illuminating the first span on the left.
Before he could go any farther, a policeman staggered out of the span, eyes wide over his hand which was covering his mouth. Reaper pressed himself against the wall to let him through, and when he turned around, he saw Red staring at him with his patented shark smile (smile that didn't reach his eyes).
-At least he was smart enough to get out and not contaminate the crime scene. – He commented upon hearing the unmistakable sound of the guy vomiting behind him.
-Not that it would make much difference... It's already a mess inside. - Red indicated with his head the room that was still lit by the flashes.
Reaper approached and took a peek. He'd seen several crime scenes, this one wasn't the worst by far, but it was still shocking, especially for someone who wasn't used to it (as was the case with the rookie throwing up his guts in the garden).
There were two bodies lying on the floor in a huge pool of blood, which the cheap rug below was partially absorbing. Even from a distance he could see arcs of splashes on the walls and furniture surrounding the bodies.
Stepping inside for a closer look (stopping quickly to greet Lesser, who returned the greeting with a cheery "Hey Doc!" before getting back to work documenting the scene), he saw that there was even a splash on the ceiling.
Reaper let out a low whistle.
-Someone was angry. - He said looking around and registering the furniture overturned, the broken TV and the popcorn scattered like confetti on the floor.
-Lots! I thought I'd have to use a crowbar to get it off the kid.
Reaper didn't miss the tone or how Red referred to the killer. Preferring not to delve into the matter (after all, these problems were none of his concern), he approached the smaller body.
He estimated the child to be between 8 and 10 years old. They had brown hair and appeared to be healthy (when alive). Your torso was a mess of red. Reaper couldn't estimate how many stab wounds the child had taken, but they were enough to make the striped shirt them wore almost unrecognizable.
He bent down, fished a glove out of his coat pocket and pulled it on as he took a closer look at the body.
There were also cuts on the arms, hands, neck and face. The child had fought to defend themself. Despite this, they expression was serene, and along with them eyes closed, they looked almost asleep. (of course, if he could just ignore all the cuts and blood around them).
He gave Red a sidelong glance. People used to find the glassy gaze of death unnerving, and while Red wasn't stupid to interfere unnecessarily with the body at a crime scene, even he could be affected by the sight of a dead child (even though he's come across several such scenes before).
-I don't think this will be a big mystery, Doctor. - Red spoke when Reaper leaned over the body to open the child's eye - The cause of death is obvious.
-Yes, but who knows? It wouldn't be the first time appearances can be deceiving...
-I think in this case it's pretty obvious that the death was multiple stabbings. - Red spoke dryly.
-It could be... but which one was the fatal one?
The detective made a sound that was half contempt, half amused. He knew how much Reaper liked to know the details, the small, decisive details that led to the fateful point of no return.
Getting up and leaving the child for now, he headed for the other body (ah! That's where the smell of burning flesh came from!).
The second body was that of a man, around his age or younger. Light blonde hair with a few strands already gray and a little out of shape.
-That one shouldn't be too much trouble either. – Red commented when he saw Reaper studying the second victim.
-I don't know... From what I see he was also stabbed. - And he indicated the shirt soaked in blood and with a big rip in the front.
-Yes, but the head...
-Yeah... that was ugly... what did they hit him with?
-That's a good question. Hope you give us a clue as to what the hell the freak used to do this.
The right side of the men face had been hit by something, and whatever it was, it had done a lot of damage. The upper right part of his face was a shapeless mass of blood and burned flesh (it would take some work to make him presentable for the wake).
Curious, Reaper knelt, wondering what the killer had used to get the face into that state.
Just as he leaned over to get a better look at the wound, the man's left eye popped open and a hand flew out to grab his arm. For a “corpse” the man gripped his arm with surprising strength.
He heard Red gasp and Lesser howl in fear, but he didn't react, just stared at the staring eye.
His pupil was so dilated he couldn't tell what color the man's iris was. Despite the immobility, his eyes darted from side to side, still searching for the threat.
His mouth opened, but before he could say anything (even though he had no idea what he was going to say) the man's lips started moving and he focused on them.
The corpse (not so corpse like that) had thin, almost colorless lips (another sign that he must be dead, and not trying to talk) which made the blood bubble that appeared between it, contrast even more.
The victim's fingers tightened even more, pulling an involuntary grimace of pain from him, as the man's lips moved forming words without sound.
Dimly he heard Red cursing something that sounded like "Who the hell checked the pulse?", but he was too focused on the man to register.
There was a familiar sound (which his mind only registered without really identifying) and the man's face bathed in white before returning to normal. Red screamed again, this time demanding that someone stop and go get help.
Reaper leaned in more, fascinated by what was happening in front of him as his mind turned off what was happening around him. In all his years as a medical examiner in the criminal department, he had never been in such a situation.
(and look at that he will come LOTS of bizarre things)
-...refuse...
Reper leaned closer, trying to hear the wispy, watery voice. The man spoke some more words and then fingers loosened and his eye rolled up. Reaper stood completely still, waiting for what else would happen next.
-Do something, Reaper!
The demand snapped him out of his trance and he straightened up looking at a pale Red, as if he were the real corpse.
For a second Reaper didn't understand what Red wanted him to do. He was a coroner, and that guy wasn't dead yet (he couldn't start an autopsy. It was illegal to perform such a procedure on someone alive!). And then he realized that even though he hadn't dealt with a live patient in years, he had the knowledge to do so. Only he didn't have any equipment with him.
(unless he counted on the thermometer he was carrying, but he was pretty sure taking the guy's liver temperature wouldn't help him at all)
With relief he heard running footsteps and emergency personnel appear. He walked away as they began to examine the corpse/victim and try to stabilize him (for the first time, Reaper was sure Edge would be happy with the rescuers' laziness in leaving the scene of the crime).
As he watched the paramedics take him away, he thought about his last words.
“I refuse to die”
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