"Are you sure this is the right place? Wouldn't the tech people have it secured by now?"
Detective Zuko Duchamps peered into the dark alley, attempting to make out the setting of a crime scene through the mixture of overturned trash cans, broken crates, cabbage leaves and rotting fruit. The stench of greasy cooking from the little diner next door assaulted his nostrils, making him grimace.
"They probably got gridlocked. The traffic's hellish at this time of day. I have to say the killer picked the perfect moment."
His partner reached out instinctively for his arm. "Zuko, wait! There may be rats in there. Also, we don't know how long he's been dead. Let's wait for the technicians to arrive!"
He brushed her hand away and set off into the debris, kicking a rotting cabbage head out of his path. "Better not let the rats get to him then, Suki! Besides, the call was anonymous. Whoever found him didn't stop to check for how long he'd been dead. They just stated that there was a corpse in there. Now let's find out if they were right, or just making a prank call."
Nodding reluctantly, his partner drew her service revolver and followed him into the alley. Having transferred from the Kyoshi District to Caldera a couple of months ago, Detective Suki Lamarr had connected with her new partner somewhat easier than she'd expected. Just three years out of Police Academy, Zuko Duchamps had risen quickly through the ranks, according to some because of his impressive lineage and connections. Others claimed it to be mere coincidence, and betted on the young man making Detective Inspector within the year due to his doggedness and courage. He'd even been decorated for bravery in the line of duty, and wore the scar to prove it. Though Suki would deny it fiercely if confronted, she'd occasionally imagine running her fingers softly over that scar, as if to soothe and heal it. As if to-
"Hey Suki! He's over here! And yep, he's as dead as a stone. I'd say the pathologist won't have too hard a job determining the cause."
Zuko was at the far end of the alley, kneeling amongst fruit peels and lettuce leaves surrounding something bright. Through the light drizzle, Suki made out baggy pants of saffron yellow. An orange hoodie, thrown back to reveal-
"Oh wow. That's an odd place to…"
Zuko nodded, examining the corpse in professional interest. "Yes. It certainly is. But also the logical place, in case you'd want to execute someone as swiftly as possible. Given the look of him, I'd say that it was drug related." He rose and dusted his trousers off. "Now, where in Agni's name are the… ah! Finally!"
Striding decisively towards the other end of the alley, he greeted the cadre of police officers and technicians with a sullen glare.
Suki was staring at the dead man's face, pushing her auburn bob out of the way. "But… But Zuko! He's just a kid! And what about that… that tattoo of his? I've never seen anything…"
The phone in her pocket picked that very moment to go off in a series of insistent beeps. Blushing furiously, Detective Lamarr answered the call, causing the phone to let loose a stream of bubbly enthusiasm.
"Yes… yes, but Ty… Yes… but… Listen, I'm at work right now and… yes… Oh, did they? Oh, wow…"
Police were running back and forth, cordoning the area off and bringing out technical gear to collect samples of Agni knew what from rotting fruit and vegetables. A stretcher had been brought to cart the victim's dead body away. Frowning, Zuko turned to his partner to say something, only to find her caught up in a heated phone discussion with her live-in lover. Shrugging, he turned and headed off to his car. He needed to get back to the office pronto. Determining the ID of the dead boy would have to wait until the pathologist and lab technicians had done their work. In the meantime, there were forms to fill out, reports to be turned in.