Author's Note: I'd like to thank phnxgrl KenH/Ken_the_Trog and superlc529 for their reviews. Ken: I felt he had to go with an abbreviation of his history to get the facts out and not overwhelm her at the same time. I figured that they would get into greater detail as time went on instead of have his entire history laid out right at the start. This chapter starts right after the last one ended. Enjoy!
Chapter 2
Henry climbed into the car and Jo pulled away from the curb. She was quiet. She was probably still mulling things over in her mind, so Henry let her think. What he'd told her was hard to accept. It would take some time before she could believe him. Until she did, things were going to be tense between them. Henry would do his best not to push her though. He would act like the tension was entirely his fault and that he was trying to rectify the problem. Hopefully Jo was able to play along.
"Did you really go to Oxford?"
Henry nodded. "Yes. The first time I went to medical school. That was before I died in 1814."
Jo was quiet for a minute. "You say you died on board the Empress of Africa. Did you support the slave trade?"
"Far from it. The Morgan family had made our fortune in the shipping business, but my father had always spoken against the slave trade; refused to be engaged in it. Times became tough, however. He mortgaged everything he owned to save the business, but that wasn't enough to restore the wealth we'd had before and he compromised his personal morals to pay his debts."
"Why were you on that slave ship then? If you were against it, I mean."
"I was getting to that. For a while, I had no idea my father had changed his business practice. When I did find out, I swore to him I would end the Morgan involvement in the trade. The Empress was the last ship involved in the transport of Africans to the slave markets. I was on board the Empress to help the slaves escape the life that awaited them in the New World."
Jo's brow wrinkled. "But the ship sank."
"Not before the slaves were able to escape. For years, I did believe I'd failed. Then I got to speak with Isaac. It turns out that I did manage to get the key to the slaves."
"What key?"
"The key to their shackles and cells. I'd stolen it and was in the process of taking it to the slaves when the crew had me examine one who was ill. When I tried to prevent them from killing him because of his illness, I was shot." Henry tapped his chest. "That's how I got this scar. The crew carried me off the ship through the slave quarters and I must have dropped the key without the crew noticing."
"Isaac told you this?"
"In a way. I remembered up to the point where I got shot; he told me what happened after that point. It was a story that was handed down from his ancestors who were on the ship, as was the map he'd used to find the Empress. The slaves took over the ship and sailed it north until the damage to the ship caused it to sink. Fortunately, by that point they were in free territory."
Jo shook her head. "I'll give you this. You certainly include a lot of detail in your stories."
"I promise you, I'm not making this up. You'll see."
"Tonight, you mean?"
"I would never force you to watch me die, Jo. I couldn't do that to you. Abe is just tired of carrying the secret alone. He's known since he was twelve. When Abigail was with us, it was easier on him. But Abigail left us thirty years ago. Besides me, he's been alone ever since."
"He's been married," Jo glance at Henry, "hasn't he?"
"Yes, but he's never told his relationships about me or my condition. Recently, I was supposed to meet the woman who had been his wife twice. My kidnapping at the hands of Professor Daws' stalker prevented that. Apparently, Abe's ex thought I was his son."
"Why would you never meet Abe's relationships?"
"If they had meet me, as time got on they would have a lot of questions. It was better never to meet them so they couldn't ask any. Also, if I never got too attached to people, it would be a lot easier for me to leave when someone got too close to discovering my secret."
Jo pulled into a spot near the crime scene. "Have you thought about leaving since you met me?"
"Several times. Mostly because of Adam." Henry exited the car. "I stayed to protect the people I care about. You especially."
That took Jo by surprise. "Why me especially?"
They fell into step with each other. "He implied my leaving would have dire consequences to those closest to me. Abe was protected because he and Adam both survived the Holocaust, but everyone else was fair game. And if I were completely honest, besides Abe, I would have to say I'm closest to you."
"Thanks, I guess. I'm still not sure I believe you."
"As is your right." He turned to Jo's partner as they approached. "Detective Hanson, you're looking well."
"Thanks." He looked at Jo with a question in his eye. She cocked one eyebrow and shrugged. "Uh, no ID. The victim was found by a woman walking her dog through that alley. It looks like a mugging, but my gut says it wasn't. We found his wallet. No cards or driver's license, but the money was still there."
Henry nodded. "Let's take a look."
Hanson stayed back a bit with Jo. "Are you two good?"
"We'll see."
"No blood pooling. Says he wasn't killed here." Henry crouched next to the body. "Southern European ancestry judging by his coloring and hair type. His name may have an Italian or Croatian surname. His nose and eye shape indicate Italy as the more likely country."
Hanson shook his head. "How…?"
Henry kept going. "The scar above his eye along with his apparent age suggests he had a moderate childhood injury. Car crash or fight perhaps." He noticed the detectives' confusion. "The color of the scar. It blends with his skin except for the raised nature. Probably occurred fifteen or more years ago."
Hanson looked impressed. "What else you got?"
"He was probably a craftsman." Henry held up the victim's hands. "Note the contact and thermal burns. My guess is he worked with glass or metal." Henry waved his hand over the victim and took a sniff. "From the smell coming off his clothes, I'm leaning more toward metal."
Hanson pulled out his phone. "I'll start looking in Missing Persons."
Henry turned his attention to the wound. "Those are odd powder burns around this wound."
Jo leaned in for a look. "What made them?"
"I have no idea."
Lucas took care of transporting the body to the morgue and getting it set up on the table. Henry came in not long after that was done and changed into his autopsy clothes. He grabbed his tools and set them up to begin. The first step was a more detailed physical exam. Henry moved his eyes systemically over the victim. Anything that stood out was photographed by Lucas.
With the victim photographed, the two worked on taking the clothes off the victim's body. They started by emptying the pockets and documenting the contents. The coat came off first and Henry noticed adhesive residue on the shirt sleeves. The victim was restrained at some point before he was killed. Lucas was bundling the coat to put it in an evidence bag, so Henry grabbed the camera and photographed the adhesive residue on the sleeves. Lucas paused in bundling the coat. He un-bunched the coat and re-crumpled it a couple times.
Henry noticed and stood up straight. "Lucas, is there a problem?"
"The coat is making a crinkly sound. I think there's something in it still."
"Well then, let's find out, shall we?"
The neighboring autopsy table was empty at the moment, so they spread the victims coat out on it. Henry checked all the pockets again, but found nothing in them. He then ran his hands over the inside lining. Along the back, he found a spot that felt like a piece of paper or two was just beneath the surface. Henry leaned in for a closer look and noticed the seam across the inside back of the coat was actually concealing the top of a pocket.
"Here it is." Henry stuck his hand just inside the pocket. "Take a picture of that."
Lucas snapped the picture and Henry pulled out the pages as Jo came in. "You guys found something?"
"Yes." Henry was looking at the photos he'd extracted from the hidden pocket. "This is exquisite."
Lucas took a look. "It's a cross."
"A very old cross. I've seen it before."
Jo cocked an eyebrow. "You have?"
Henry paused and looked up. "Yes. Abe took me to a museum about six months ago. They had an exhibit of Eastern Orthodox relics on display. It was on loan from the State Historical Museum in Moscow. Five months ago, a few of the relics went missing. This cross was one of them."
Jo nodded. "I remember that. Someone snuck in while the pieces were being packed up to be sent back to Russia. Stole several small items. Major Crimes is trying to recover the pieces."
"I read about the theft in the paper. Abe has been keeping an eye out for the pieces in case someone tries to sell him one."
"Have any come in?"
Henry shook his head. "Not yet. Abe has also been in contact with a few of his antiquities friends. Nothing from them, either."
Jo turned to the victim. "What can you tell me about John Doe?"
"We're still in the process of removing his clothing. I did find adhesive residue on the forearms of his shirt."
"So he was restrained at some point. Are these the contents of his pockets?"
Henry nodded. "Yes, minus the photos from the hidden pocket."
"Hidden pocket?"
Lucas stuck his hand in it. "Henry found it after I told him something with crinkling in the coat."
Jo smirked. "I see." She looked at the tray of items. "Nothing here to give us his name."
"I found him." Detective Hanson walked in. "Our victim's name is Ezio Crocetti. That metalworking craftsman thing helped a lot, Doc."
"Always glad to be of assistance."
"His wife reported him missing this morning when she realized he didn't come home last night. She's on her way in now."
Jo nodded. "We should talk to her. Coming, Henry?"
"I think I will stay here, actually. You need more information on what killed Mr. Crocetti and I still don't know. I'll finish the autopsy and get back to you."
"Okay."
"I'll be right there, Jo." Hanson went over to Henry. "Can I talk to you real quick?"
"Certainly. Let's go in my office. Lucas, can you finish removing the victim's clothes?"
"You got it, boss."
Henry opened the door to his office. "How can I help, Detective?"
"You and Jo. What's going on between you guys?"
"You're referring to the tension. I'm afraid it was my fault. I was distracted during the course of the last investigation and didn't give it my best effort."
Hanson shook his head. "That's not it, Doc."
"No, not all of it, but it was the beginning. I was distracted and it made it seem like I was deliberately sabotaging the investigation. You don't need to worry about it. This is my fault and I'm working on making amends."
"That's it?"
Henry nodded. "Yes. I can fix my relationship with her. It'll take some time, but I'm willing to put in that effort."
Hanson nodded. "Okay. I hope you do. Working with the two of you like this isn't much fun."
"Understood. We may still be a little rocky, but I think things are already improving."
"Yeah, I guess." Hanson headed to the door. "Don't mess this up. I may not always say this, but I enjoy working with you."
"And I with you." Henry held open the door. "I'll try to get the COD to you as soon as possible."
"Thanks."
Hanson went to the elevator and Henry returned to the autopsy table. "Where were we?"
A/N: Stay tuned!
