Disclaimer: CSI: NY and all the characters from the show are owned by CBS, Paramount, Jerry Bruckheimer, Anthony Zuiker, and other people who aren't me. Any other characters are my own and resemblance to any other person is a pure coincidence.
This is my first full-length story. Please read and review if you wish. I'll post chapter 2 in a few days.
Wherein a body appears in the extreme corner of the city and our heroes have very few clues, at least for now. Meanwhile, our villain savors his first triumph. It won't be the last.
RING! RING! RING! RING!
I roll over and groan. It's after midnight and I was just getting to sleep for the first time in days.
Muttering darkly, I almost decide to not answer it. Still, I figure someone wouldn't be calling me at 12:15 in the morning unless they had good reason.
My hand feels around on the nightstand for my phone. I find it after some searching.
"Taylor."
"Hey Mac, we have a scene on the extreme southern edge of Staten Island."
"Have you called anyone else Don?" I ask groggily.
"No I haven't."
"Okay, I'll get a hold of Stella."
"Thanks Mac."
He hangs up and I place a call to Stella.
"Bonasera." She sounds almost as tired as I am.
"Hey Stella, it's Mac, we have a scene on Staten Island."
"Are you at your apartment?"
"Yes."
"I'll pick you up in 15 minutes."
"Thanks Stella." Our conversation ends.
I start moving around my room still half-asleep, trying to get ready. With the light still out, I stumble and stub my toe against the wall. Swearing under my breath I manage to get the light on and get dressed.
After getting ready, I wait for Stella to arrive. It doesn't take long.
We are quiet for almost the entire ride, and then Stella tries to ask me something.
"Mac, were you busy tonight?"
"Why do ask?"
"I tried calling you, but your phone went straight to voicemail."
"I was at a classical music concert."
"Alone?"
"Yeah. We used to go."
"Oh." She knows who I mean.
That pretty much ends the conversation until we get to the crime scene. Flack wasn't lying; we are on the most extreme southern part of Staten Island, practically in New Jersey.
"What have we got Flack?"
"A woman taking her dog out spotted our vic about a half hour ago. She says she saw a body lying face-down in the alley and called us. I got to tell you Mac, I was kind of hoping that this one would just be across the river. That way the Jersey PD could be up and I could be asleep."
"Well, it's barely in our jurisdiction, but it is still our jurisdiction. Anyone else see our vic?"
"No, but some of my guys are canvassing the area, checking if anyone happened to see anything."
"Thanks Don." I turn to my partner "body or scene Stella?"
"I'll take scene."
"Right." I go to the body. Our vic is male, middle-aged, and it doesn't appear that there are any marks of violence. There are also no defensive wounds on him. He's dressed in a tuxedo. Looking more closely at his hands, I notice a small amount of skin under his fingernails. I quickly collect some. This could give us a vital DNA sample of our killer. Finding his wallet, I open it up to find the driver's license and a business card, but that's about it.
"Vic's name is Terry Ackman, 44; he's the Supervisor of the Richmond County Sewers. Rigor has just set in so he's been dead for only a little more than two hours. "
While I examine the body, Stella is processing the scene. I see the flashes of her camera out of the corner of my eye.
"Doesn't look like there is a lot to work with. Very little of the area has been disturbed. The lack of evidence suggests that this is our secondary crime scene. It looks like Mr. Ackman was dumped here." I continue focusing on the body but nod my head anyways.
After a while, I finish my examination and turn to the ME's. "Alright, take the body to Dr. Hammerback. He'll perform the autopsy in the morning."
They take him away and I go to help Stella with the scene. Although there isn't much to go on it still takes a while. You can never be too careful when it comes to processing a scene. Often times, it is the littlest detail that proves to be the most important.
While Stella and I work, a small crowd of people have gathered around. I always find it rather odd that people stare and gawk while we do our work, especially at this hour. They are curious onlookers to a rather macabre spectacle. I try to mostly ignore them. To me, they are just a group of faces, none familiar and none relevant.
Finally, we finish up. Stella drives me back to my place while I sit in the passenger seat. Watching the city go by, seeing its bright lights and somewhat busy streets even at this hour. I catch a reflection of my face in the window and I'm slightly surprised at how tired and haggard I look. It's proof I haven't slept well in days. I haven't failed to notice the looks that the others have been giving me; not to subtle hints to get some rest.
But, this is my problem, to be dealt with on my own time. Right now we have a job to do. Right now, a mother, or wife or friend just lost their son, husband, or friend. We owe it to them, and Mr. Ackman, to find out who did this to him.
Because that person is still out there too.
***
He walked back to the alley almost an hour after leaving it. The first movement was done, and it was a complete success. The Lord of the Underworld had been purified of his false ways. The good news was that he was just the first. With each one that was corrected from their waywardness, he came closer and closer to completing the work.
While he was back at scene, he didn't fail to notice something rather odd. One of the people who were in the area where he placed the Lord of the Underworld looked familiar. Could it be? He would have to check, and if it was, then his task became much simpler. In time, they too would be taught a proper lesson.
That person, if it is them, would need to be purified. Despite his most fervent desire, he would have to wait. Acting too quickly would arouse suspicion, and if he was going to complete the work, suspicion was the last thing he needed. If necessary, he would create a diversion, although he would loathe doing such a thing.
Before it came to that, there were several more to go, and the Mystic was next.
Hope you all like it so far. There is more to come.