Seventeen years old Gail believed she had it all, or at least she had a lot. She had parents who were highly ranked in the police; she had an older brother that could take her to the parties and a boyfriend who loved her a lot. James was a good boy from a good family and he was one of few people who knew how to put up with Gail's mood and weird moments. She loved him for all the support and tenderness he was giving her and for two years, James was only person who knew her secrets. No one could understand what she was doing with him. He was a nerd, very feminine and he had glasses, but Gail didn't care. He made her laugh and made her feel safe. She knew him for a very long time before they started dating and she could feel that there was something bothering him and he didn't know how to tell her that. She loved that he didn't try to fix her, but he just listened and just loved her so much… but not enough to tell her what was bothering him. She was patient and she waited for him to open up, but he never did. After he graduated high school he got accepted to St James medical school in Montreal. She was happy for him. He got accepted into school of his dreams.
''You will go there now and I will follow you in a year…''
''Gail, a lot can change in a year…''
''But not us. I love you, you love me and we will be fine…''
''You don't know that…''
''I do…''
''I am sure you will not love me in a year…''
''I will…''
''No, you will not. You will find a better person for yourself and go on with your life. You don't need me to fuck up things for you…''
''Are you braking up with me?''
''Yes, I am sorry, but it's for the best.''
Few weeks after graduation, he packed his bag and never came back to Toronto. Gail was really heart broken and sad and it was the moment when she shut down and started being closed off and distant. She tried to find out where he was from his parents, but they never spoke about him. She noticed they removed all of his pictures from the house. One night she met them in the city and begged them to tell her where he was. His father looked angry…
''He is dead… Our son is dead! Are you happy now?''
And that broke her even more. They told her that he was not buried anywhere and that they don't want to talk about it anymore. Gal spent days at their place crying her eyes out. She was so sad and broken by the news of his death. After James, she didn't date much, but she slept around. She got into the academy and due to her mother's constant harassing; she ended it as a top rookie. She got all the awards and all the merits she could, but she still was the same broken girl James loved and left broken and alone. She moved out of the house and started living with two of her fellow officers. It was fun to live with them and she had fun not being under her mother's constant watch. Even now, twelve years later, she still had moments when she thought about him. She wondered what would have happened if he stayed alive. Would have he come back for her and taken her away from her mother's paws? Or was he really right that her life would be better without him. He was right about one thing, she was made for big things and she will not be a failure. And she kept her promise not to give up on herself. As soon as she became a homicide detective, she moved out from the place she lived with the boys and got her own apartment. It was nice, two bedroom place and she loved it. It was quiet and it gave her all the privacy she didn't have in years. Chris and Dove were good boys, but living alone was what she wanted. Mama Peck gave her some time to settle into her new life before she started working on getting her to date. Her friends and her mom were trying to set her up for dates with different people and it usually didn't work out that well. It often happened that in the middle of the dinner she had to go to the scene and not many man like to talk about murder cases over dinner.
It was late February when she got called in at six in the morning for the case. Body of a prostitute was found and it was mutilated pretty badly. Officers and Gail waited for someone from forensic to come before they took over the crime scene. While Gail was talking to the man who found the body, pathologist came. It was a woman she didn't know. She had long dark hair, glasses and beautiful dark eyes. She was somehow familiar to Gail. She felt something when doctor came.
''Detective Peck, this is Officer Monroe and the body is over there…''
Woman looked surprised to see her…
''Holly… I mean… Dr. Stewart…''
She escorted doctor to the body.
''What can you tell me before I see the body?''
''Oh, the victim was a prostitute. By the story of the homeless man who found her, that was her corner and she was regular for years. He said she had no problems with other girls and that she sometimes bought him or some other homeless man food.''
''Ok, let's see…''
Holly bent under the tape and came to the body. She lifted the sheet and put on the gloves.
''Victim is African- American biological male, in his thirties and body is covered with bruises and cuts. COD can't be determined at the moment, must wait for the autopsy… Nails are broken, possible fight… They were not victim's nails. There are small cuts on the arms, could be from the fight and there is some tissue under the nails… Time of death….''
She measured liver temperature and looked at Gail…
''She died between 2 and 4 AM…''
Holly got off the floor and started packing. Gail was looking at her in awe.
''Can I help you detective?''
''No… No…''
Holly's team packed the body and she went to the morgue. She started working on the victim right away. Gail came to find her few hours later. She found Holly bent over the body and checking every detail on the body.
''Hey, do you have something…''
''I am waiting on DNA. She did have a lot of surgery and no ID.''
''How did you know it was a man?''
Holly smiled…
''Adam's apple…''
''Put on the pair of gloves.''
Gail did what she was told and Holly told her to approach her. Holly took off her gloves and took a fresh pair. She took Gail's hand and got Gail to touch her own neck…
''You feel the texture of your neck?''
''Yes…''
''Now, touch the victim's.''
Gail let Holly guide her hand and she touched very small Adam's apple…
''Wow! It's barely there…''
''Some people don't have it that visible. It could be very small….''
''I didn't know any of that…''
Holly continued working on the body and discovered that she had breast implants, but didn't have genital surgery.
''I can't tell you if she was in the process of gender reassignment surgery, but I can tell you that she did have breast implants done, a lot of work on her face and she made sure she is unrecognizable.''
''Was she hiding?''
''It's not easy to know. There are people who have support and love of the family and there are people who must do it alone…''
''Do you know when you would have all the results?''
''I wouldn't bet on it before tomorrow. I want it to be well done so we can go on from there and not go back to things…''
''Ok… See you tomorrow then…''
Gail took off the gloves and threw them away. She was heading towards the door when she remembered something.
''My card… In case you get some idea where to go…and ask questions.''
''I'll call you when I have something.''
Holly spend almost entire day working on the body with a very unpleasant feeling in the stomach. After she was done, she called Gail.
''Detective, can we meet?''
''Sure, my shift is over in few minutes. I'll be in your office soon…''
''See you then…''
Gail showed up and found Holly at her desk looking at some papers intern brought her.
''I'm here…''
''Oh, take a seat…''
As soon as Gail took her seat, Holly started with explaining her findings.
'' DNA results say victim's name is Peter Carl. Thirty years old and he was taking hormones. It was a low dosage, so I am not sure if he was really in the process for the gender reassignment or just trying to keep feminine features and his penis. ''
''Doctor, this is new to me, can you tell me why he didn't want to get rid of ''it'' if he wanted to be a woman?''
''Hm… I have no idea. Maybe at the moment he didn't have money. Again, you have inside the community people who don't want to change their genitals. Some even end up with the trans* person of the opposite sex and have biological family with them…''
''I didn't know that…''
''It happens, but back to question about surgery… It's very expensive thing. Bills can pile up to couple tens of hundreds. And someone who is working the streets can't do it all at once…''
''Like in one procedure?''
''No, detective… It's few very complicated surgeries. But with money ready to do it, you have very tight timetable of what is done when. Our victim barely gathered money for the implants, since they are the most recent.''
''Shit! I have no idea about any of this. I feel like you are schooling me doctor.''
''That is my job detective. I am sure I would suck at your job…''
''What else?''
''Hm… On the outside, some of the cuts and bruises you saw were from a previous day. Not all of them were created last night. My guess is that maybe the homeless guy didn't see the fight that took place. Also, there is always possibility of a violent John…and the last set of cuts and bruises was created by the killer. She died from hitting her head on something. By the height of the body plus the heels she was wearing… My guess is she hit it on the dumpster. If the killer was stronger than her and pushing her from the front. It could have happened. Victim has a lot of broken bones that healed the wrong way. It was nothing visible on the surface but I would dare to say he was abused in the past…and it was something that lasted for years… Oh, and piece of the hair is missing.''
''Hair?''
''Someone ripped her hair piece…''
''Oh, that's weird… Like trophy? That is something for forensic psychologist, not pathologist…''
''Can you make a guess?''
''I don't guess, I am scientist…''
Gail smiled at doctor. That thing she said reminded her of James.
'' The blood work showed low concentration of female hormones and showed the high concentration of Oxycodone.''
''Was he taking it for the pain or using it as drug?''
''All is possible. There are some traces of cracked ribs….''
Gail stared at the findings Holly handed her and when she lifted her gaze to ask something, she noticed Holly looking at her.
''What?''
''You really care about your cases?''
''And you don't?''
''I do… But I am stack behind the microscope and the autopsy table. You get to solve it outside…''
''I was never science geek. I had a boyfriend for that… He was lord of the nerds. He loved to study and he was often just lost in the books and things like that. I would sometimes sneak out form my class and watch him mix things in his science class. He had such a contiguous smile when he succeeded… He died at the age of eighteen. I never learned what happened to him.''
Holly's smile disappeared…
''Oh, I am sorry doctor… I didn't mind to make you sad…''
''It's fine… So, is there anything else you need detective?''
''No, thank you for this. Now I know where to start my work tomorrow.''
''Glad I could help…''
Gail left and Holly changed to go home. It was a weird day for her. She hated cases like this. She changed out of her scrubs and put on her favorite lip gloss. She needed to get home and just…do nothing. Car ride home was like walking down the memory lane for her. She remembered all the bad moments she had with her family and these broken bones on the victim got her to remember all the beating she took as a child and later in life. She hated when cases hit close to home. After two big glasses of wine she was in bed waiting for the new day to start. Her work phone rung too soon.
''Dr. Stewart…''
''It's detective Peck… We have another one….''
''Text me address…''
She got dressed and went to the scene. It was in the gay district. Behind the club a woman was killed. She looked like she was in the club. There was some party inside and by the looks of it, she was at it. Holly put on the gloves to examine the body. Gail stood on the side and followed each move doctor made.
''Ok… Victim is biological male, late twenties, COD blunt trauma to the head. TOD less than an hour. No visible traces of struggle, but I will check in the morgue. She was checking out victim's hair. It's the same person… Piece of this girl's hair is missing.''
''Ok, this is becoming serial killing…''
'' Do you think she was a prostitute detective?''
''I honestly don't know…''
Gail was handed victim's purse. Some of the rookies found it by the dumpster. She opened it and found ID Jessie Quinn. Twenty nine years old, Caucasian and Ottawa native. Then she found some pills.
''Doc, you might want to take look at this and tell us what is this?''
Holly got off the pavement and took the pills. She took them one by one and told them what is that.
''This is for the cold, this is antibiotic and these are hormones. When you find the place victim was staying or lived, you will find more of these. And maybe the name of the doctor who was in charge of the treatments. That could help. Maybe you could connect the victims through that.''
Holly went with the body and Gail stayed with the troupes to canvas the airier some more. Unlike previous night when she was alone, tonight her partner came. Sam Swarek was a good detective, but at the bad place at the moment. He was in the middle of a divorce from his long term love and short term wife Andie McNally. She was at the academy with Gail and they didn't really like each other.
''Oh, Peck… I leave you for two days and you get us in trouble…''
''Hey, you came to the party just in time…''
She filled him in and told him about the new pathologist that just left. Apparently Sam also didn't like man who worked before Holly.
''I hope she is not that grumpy.''
''No, she is not, but she will get you distracted. She is really good looking.''
''Just as I like them…''
''Oh, get a divorce first and then hook up again…''
''Auch!''
''Come on old guy…''
They were questioning people for hours. Entire club was being questioned and when they finished, Gail took Swarek to meet the doctor. They found her working on the body and giving instructions to her interns what to test and do.
''Doctor…''
''Detective, I will start to think you like it down here how much you come and visit my underworld….''
''Some say I am devil's spawn… You have to meet my mother to know how much truth is in that statement.''
''I am sure she has her moments.''
''You must meet her first and then judge… I am detective Sam Swarek.''
''Holly Stewart… Now, let's talk about your body…''
''My body?''
''Victim Sam…''
''Oh…''
''Unlike the previous one, this one was not abused. This one was well nourished and loved as a child. Not a scratch or a bruise inconsistent with some typical childish mischiefs. She had two small cars on the knees that might be from falling in the childhood but nothing to point to abuse. My guess is that she comes from money. Her skin is flawless and hormones she uses are one of the best brands. It's not cheap therapy covered by the insurance. This girl had it pretty much all… make up was a good brand, clothing was expensive. Just her shoes are about 300 dollars.''
Gail whistled at that…
''Wow, she really was rich…''
''I would say soo… Either a high class escort or a trust fund baby. She had time to take care of her looks, so I am guessing she had some job she needed it for… Hair is hers... Natural so, who ever took the piece of it, ripped it from the scalp. I believe it was after she was dead. You have minimal bleeding…She was killed with something round… Could be a baseball bat.''
''Anything else doctor?''
''No, the rest is up to you….''
With that Gail and Sam left. They checked out the ID and found the place Jessie rented. It was a nice penthouse in the very center of Toronto. They got the warrant to search the place and when they got in Gail loved how this girl lived. Everything was high class. She took her phone and called Holly.
''Detective, long time…''
''We found the place… This chick really lived pretty big… But she was a rich kid, not an escort. Her daddy is owner of a big multimillion company…drug company…''
Gail told Holly about all the things they found and saw.
''Bad part is informing the parents. They are out of country at the time. Sam got their phone and we will call them soon…''
''Good luck with informing the parents of their child's death…''
''Yes, that is the news no one wants to hear…''
''I know… I know…''
''Talk to you later…''
''Sure… Maybe by then I could tell you about the blood work…''
''Ok.. We might need more pointers…''
Few hours later Gail showed up at Holly's office…
''A drink… I need a drink…A big one…''
''I can't help with that. Here I only have alcohol for medical purposes.''
''I can work with finding the one we can drink...''
''We?''
''Yes, join me for a drink. I owe you. I made you sad few minutes ago…''
''I am not sure…''
''Come on doctor. You are new here. Let me introduce you to the rest of us…''
''A small one detective. I have to get some sometime…''
''Are you married?''
''No….''
''Boyfriend?''
''No…''
''Girlfriend?''
''Not at the time…''
Gail smiled at doctor…
''Oh, than we need to change that…''
''We?''
''I can't find boyfriend for me, but I'll find a girl for you. I like you for some reason…''
''What did I get myself into?''
''Don't worry… You'll be fine…''
''And we both know that is a lie Peck…''
They went to Penny and got pretty drunk. Both of them had two days off and they knew that this hung over will have to be nursed pretty well. Gail talked about her family, her mom forcing her to be a cop, bad luck with men and all the carppy thing she did in her life.
''What?''
Gail noticed that Holly spent most of the evening silent, and studying her…
''Nothing… You are just the same as always…''
''We met?''
''Long time ago… But I will let you remember me Peck…''
And with that Holly left…