POOR DEAD DAVE: CHAPTER ONE; Just Hangin' Around, No Where To Go
Detective Kevin Ryan was not a happy camper. He viewed the body of the deceased male that was currently on display, the rope still attached from around the neck of the victim to the upper rafter in the 1970's-era loft condominium unit. The body was still hanging, remaining in the same dropped position that it had originally fallen to. David Gonzalez Lopez was the name of the renter, according to the management company, that had faxed over the information to the 12th Precinct. The documents had been provided previously by the renter to SPR Management only four months ago. Mr. Lopez's New Jersey drivers license described him as Latino, 5'8", 270 pounds. Based on the fact that, in Ryan's best guesstimate, the body had stretched into a length of over six feet, not to mention that the blood had previously settled into the lower half of the body causing it to swell and discolor to a rather mottled bluish-purple, the corpse had been hanging undisturbed in that position for at least two or three weeks, if not longer. Moving the obese, bloated corpse was going to be unpleasant, to put it mildly.
Subconsciously, Ryan squeezed the metal clip on paper mask he wore over his nose and mouth even tighter. There was no way to successfully shut out the smell being omitted from the decomposing body. Indeed, it was the smell that had alerted the neighbors, and one of them finally called the police after a week of suffering with the unending and permeating odor. Having accepted the radio call in his squad car after dropping off his partner, Javier Esposito, to attend to some personal matters at his bank, Ryan was presently alone with the body. Although he had reported his finding to his Captain, under the mask the Detective was sadly smiling. Here was something that those criminal procedure television shows always omitted, the stench of rotting human flesh, and how easily live dermis attracted and retained that same repulsive odor. Paperwork aside, Ryan knew from experience that he wasn't headed home any time soon. Esposito would have to join him in about an hour so they could generate a joint report for the file that would be opened for the Homicide Division. This was no suicide. Ryan signed. He was going to have to scrub his own skin and hair for a long time in the precinct's shower with a few sliced lemons to remove the chemicals given off by the corpse that had already bonded with his own body. Jenny, his girl friend, might not understand the reason for his delay in getting home that evening, but she would accept it, as she did with almost all of his explanations to her regarding his line of work. She knew that he was protecting her from the unpleasant details, and he didn't try to call her attention to the fact that he knew that she knew. It was one of the best unwritten rules between the couple. Their own version of "don't ask; don't tell", and it was successful.
Ryan gave the mask's clip a second squeeze. He was glad that he didn't work for the Medical Examiner's Division, and offered a short prayer to thank the powers that be for exactly that fact.
The Detective was doing his best to complete his initial examination, taking care not to touch the remains of Mr. Lopez, fearing the body might either collapse under its own weight or that any external contact might rip the delicate skin open. Ryan noted both the collection of flies in the unit and the second or even the third or fourth generation of maggots crawling around the collar band of the t-shirt that the man had worn at the time of his death. Yes, he was glad that either Lanie or Purlmutter would be performing the honors. All he had to do was complete his preliminary findings and then release the scene to the M.E., and his on-site work would be done until the body had been removed. By that time, his partner should have arrived at the scene, and after they coordinated their observations, they would be able to leave.
Yes, a long shower would be highly enjoyable. But, for the time being, Ryan continued his preliminary tour of the premises, waiting for the knock on the door to indicate the arrival of the doctor.
TOO MUCH IN THE WAY OF GORY DETAILS? I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH AN ACTUAL MAJOR CITY'S M.E. OFFICE, AND I HATE THE WAY THE BODIES OF VIOLENT CRIMES ARE SANITIZED FOR TELEVISION, NOT TO MENTION THE NON-EXISTENT POLICE PROCEDURES. PLEASE REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS OVER THE TOP (TRUST ME, I'VE LEFT PLENTY OUT) BEFORE I CONTINUE. I WILL RATE THIS R+, TO GO TO T IF I GET THE GO-AHEAD. OH, YEAH, CASTLE & BECKETT APPEAR IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.
TIME-WISE, THIS SHOULD TAKE PLACE A FEW EPISODES BEFORE THE CONCLUSION OF SEASON II; NOT SURE IF I SHOULD DRAG IN A BRIEF APPEARANCE BY DEMMING OR NOT. LET ME KNOW.
HAD TO GET THIS STARTED BEFORE I COULD RETURN TO MY WHISPY ALTERNATIVE SEASON III OPENER/HAMPTONS PIECE. WRITERS BLOCK COMBINED WITH O.D. ON SEASON III LEAKS ON C/B NONEXISTENT ROMANCE STATUS, SO I DECIDED TO CHANNEL MY DISAPPOINTMENT INTO A "REAL" MURDER. AGAIN, REVIEWS GREATLY APPRECIATED, OR I WILL STOP HERE