I inspect the site around him, looking for any evidence left behind. We canvass the area and I have two officers go door to door on the few houses on the street, asking if anyone saw anything.
No one did.
Going back to the body, I look for defensive wounds, careful not to touch him until the crime scene photos have been taken. It’s hard to tell, since the poor guy’s flesh has been ripped open and pulled back, but I think there are bruises consistent with being tied up around his wrists.
“Hey, Ace,” Tiffany Woo says, standing at the top of the ditch. She’s one of the crime scene photographers I frequently work with, and the closest thing I have to a friend. She pulls her camera from her bag and attaches the lens. “How was your weekend?”
“It was pretty low-key. Better than his.” I motion to the body. “How about yours?”
“Good. We took Mavis to the zoo for the first time. She loved the monkeys.”
“Aw, I bet that was fun.” I look away from the body to smile at Tiffany. We’ve gone out for drinks a few times after work, but she has a family to keep her busy and I, well, don’t.
“Jesus,” she mutters, holding up her camera. “What the hell happened?”
I shake my head and lean in, covering my nose. Flies buzz around me, and I swat them away with my free hand. “It looks like the bones were broken first, then the skin was ripped open and the bones pulled out.”
“What the fuck?” Tiffany comes around me and takes more photos.
“My thoughts exactly.”
“Don’t get me wrong, all murders are grisly. But this…this looks like something straight from a horror movie. With demons or aliens.”
“I’m gonna catch the bastard who did this.”
“I know you will.” She takes more photos. “You always do. Sorry, don’t mean to jinx you or anything.”
“You know I don’t believe in that shit.”
“Well, I do. So knock on wood, or whatever you’re supposed to say to counteract it.”
“If that makes you feel better.” I stand, turning my head to take in a breath of fresh air. I do more investigating and question the joggers who found the body before it’s bagged and taken in for an autopsy.
“This whole thing is weird, right?” Tiffany asks quietly as we walk back to our cars.
“All murders are weird, in a sense.”
“Yeah, but this is different, which is why you’re here, I suppose.”
I give her a wry smile. “Different and weird are my areas of expertise.”
She zips her camera bag and pulls her blonde braid over her shoulder. “I smell like death, don’t I?”
“We all do. That scent clings to you.”
“I’m going to have to shower before I can even pick Mavis up.” She sighs. “And I was in the shower when my phone rang this morning. My hair is still wet.” She pulls her keys from her pocket. “You’re closing on that house today, right?”
Shit. I almost forgot about it. “More or less. I have an appointment with the bank this afternoon.” I take a look back at the body.
“No. Don’t even think about canceling,” Tiffany scolds. “You did that last week.”
“I know.” I take my work seriously and put it first. Always. I might not have any family, but this guy does. Or did. And they deserve to know what happened. “I don’t think I can put it off any longer, anyway. The government wants their taxes on the place and the bank certainly isn’t going to pay it.”
“I think it’s cool. Or at least it looks cool from the pictures you showed me. I’d love to inherit a huge house like that. Hell, I’d love to inherit a small house.” She laughs. “When is your appointment?”
“Two.”
“I’ll remind you at one-thirty.”
