Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the reviews :D
I'm not as happy with this chapter, but I think it needs to be there before it moves on to the evidence bit :)
Thank you so much to lilypad1, savingthestars, gem.S, Ann1119, Gevaudan and pinkswallowsun. You all made me smile. Lots :D
xXx
Chapter 2 – Watch Your Step
The body that Nikki was now standing over was that of a young female who was positioned right next to the river bank, lying on her front with one hand hanging over the edge. The river didn't seem particularly deep, but the water crashed the side of the river bed, washing away what ever it came into contact with. It was about a three foot drop into the water, and the spray from the river felt even colder than the rain that was dripping off her nose.
"Have they been photographed?" Nikki asked the police officer who was nearest the body.
The police officer nodded. "The photographer's are in the van. They took the initial photos when Dr Cunningham first got here. If you need anything else photographed then just shout. They said something about keeping the rain off the cameras, but if we need to be in the rain then I don't see why they shouldn't be too."
Nikki nodded and bent down to start the examination of the body. Moving back the body's blonde hair she could see the woman's swollen features, the wound on the side of her head and her purple cheekbone. Nikki shivered, cursing Harry under her breath for getting her out of bed this early.
The woman's body was cold, but it was hard to tell at a glance how long she had been dead due to the weather conditions. From above, she looked intact. There was no blood visible apart from the small gash above her eyebrow, and when Nikki ran a hand over the woman's back there was no obvious signs of damage to her clothing. She started to check the woman's bare arms but it wasn't until she got to her wrists that the blood was visible. The rain had washed any evidence from the top of the body, but when she turned the woman's arm over, the deep gash on the wrist was apparent, and the blood covered the ground below.
Nikki was an experienced enough pathologist to not instantly jump to the 'suicide' conclusion. Nothing was ever as it first seemed. And looking at the crime scene, there was definitely something suspicious. Especially when there was another body involved.
"I think we might need the photographers back," Nikki informed the police officer who nodded and made his way through the mud towards the van at the top of the slope.
Frowning to herself, Nikki moved around to the other side of the body to check the wrist that was hanging over the river bank. The body was lying so close that she had to balance herself on her toes to get a proper look, and she was sure she could feel the soft earth move slightly under her feet. Reaching over the edge, Nikki managed to grasp the woman's wrist in her hand and could see the same deep cut running along that wrist too, the blood running off her fingers in the darkness.
"Nikki," came Harry's voice so close to her that Nikki startled, jumping back slightly. Yet this was all it took for her foot to slip off the edge of the river bank that she was leaning over.
Nikki threw her hands out instinctively in an attempt to balance herself, yet she knew instantly that there was no way to stop herself from sliding through the mud. She toppled off the edge of the bank, hitting the freezing water below. She could feel the icy water sting her eyes and taste the salt fill her nose and mouth.
Pushing herself above the surface of the water, Nikki spluttered and rubbed the water out off her face trying to catch her breath. The water reached above her shoulders, and she could feel the force of the current crashing against her body, threatening to push her back under the surface.
Shivering uncontrollably in the freezing water, Nikki looked round in search of the voice that she could just make out above the crashing of the water against the side of the river bank. Yet the darkness seemed to blend her surroundings in to a blanket of nothingness, and it took most of her concentration to stay on her feet.
Out of nowhere, a beam of light from slightly further down the river shone into her eyes and she blinked against the contrast.
"Nikki," she heard Harry shout clearer than he had sounded before. "Grab my hand, quick."
She could see Harry's hand in the torch light and was about to reach for it when something else on the edge of the river bank caught her eye. As the beam of light hit the object it shone back brightly, reflecting off the light. Nikki managed to move closer and could see the sharp edge of a blade visible through the mud. Pulling out an evidence bag from her pocket she carefully lifted the blade and dropped it in before putting the bag back into her pocket.
"Nikki!" he heard Harry shout again, and looking towards the sound of his voice she could see him lying on his front, his arms over the side of the bank. "Quick, grab hold."
Blinking against the rain and the spray from the water, Nikki stretched up and felt Harry's gloved hands grip hers. Before she could work out what was happening, Harry had pulled her from the water, and they were both lying by the side of the river breathing heavily. Coughing, Nikki pushed herself onto her knees and closed her eyes, shivering involuntarily once again. Her soaking hair was stuck to the side of her face, and she could feel the mud on her skin.
She felt a warm hand on her shoulder, and a quiet voice just inches from her ear as he softly moved back her hair from her face.
"You ok?" Harry asked.
Nikki turned to Harry and nodded.
"I'm fine," she coughed. "Never better. First you call me out in the rain at stupid o'clock in the morning, and then you nearly drown me!"
"Didn't I just save your life?" Harry smirked.
"You're the reason I fell in," Nikki said, shoving Harry in the shoulder.
"Hey, it's not my fault you're clumsy," laughed Harry. "You sure you're ok though?"
Nikki smiled at the look of concern on Harry's face.
"I'm fine," she said, sitting back on her knees and pulling the evidence bag out of her pocket. "And I think I've just found your murder weapon."
Harry held Nikki's arm as she stepped out of her protective overalls that were no longer white. Everything that she was wearing was soaked from the river, and she continued to shiver in the cold. Harry let go of her as she began to put her wellies back on, and started back towards his car that was parked in front of Nikki's. He had already stepped out of his mud covered overalls, and had managed to find a clear pair of shoes in his car.
Just as he got to his car he heard a small squeak from behind him, and when he looked round again, Nikki was sitting in the mud, her boot beside her. Harry couldn't help but laugh at the sight of her covered in mud again, and made his way back, holding out his hand to pull her to her feet. She sighed and closed her eyes against the rain that was still falling.
"This is not my morning," she said, mainly to herself, glaring at Harry as he laughed at her again.
"That one wasn't my fault," he smiled, before adding, "The overalls worked well then."
Nikki shot him a look that told him to 'shut up,' but he has enjoying himself far too much.
"You see Nikki," he continued. "The overalls are there to protect your nice clean clothes underneath. That's why I'm no longer covered in mud."
"Really?" asked Nikki. "And nothing to do with reducing contamination at the crime scene?"
"Hmm… yeah that probably has something to do with it too," Harry laughed. "Sorry, but you really do look a mess."
Nikki scowled at him again before flicking her hand in his direction, splattering Harry's face in wet mud that covered her hands.
"Oops," she smiled as Harry rubbed the mud out of his eyes. "Not completely clear form mud then."
Harry looked Nikki over as she shivered, her hair dripping from the cold water and mud covering most of her skin.
"Please tell me you're ok to drive," he smiled. "Because I'd rather not give you a lift in my car like that."