Chapter Two: Anger control issues reloaded

This is one tiny apartment near Codman Square. There is chaos everywhere. Uniformed cops and civilians surround the confined area. Two little boys are crying on a couch. Two more boys, slightly older than the first ones, are very quietly standing with a woman near the entrance door. Somebody is taking pictures in the small kitchen, where the events which led to this gathering may have taken place. The afternoon sun is coming through the window and illuminates the scene in an almost surreal way. A woman is lying on the floor, blood far and wide in sight. A girl, around ten, is standing in a corner with a man that is trying to comfort her. Woody enters the kitchen and stands in front of the woman. His jaw is tight and there is anger in his eyes. One would think that after many gruesome deaths he has seen as a police officer, he is used to be in situations like this… but he is not. How could he be? There are children all over the place and a young mother is lying still, lifeless, in a dark red pool on the floor.

- What is she doing here? – Woody questions, pointing at the girl – Take her outside – he says to the man by her side. The man tries to lead the girl to the exit, as he's been told, but the girl doesn't want to leave, so he has to push her with a little force, while she's resisting to walk.

- Nigel, why did you let this girl watch her mother all this time? – says Woody to the man that is taking pictures. His anger is growing by the second.

- Why, mate? I'm not the police; I can't do anything like that- replies his friend, hurt in his voice.

- Who's the responding ME? - asks Woody, trying to control himself. He has a history of anger control issues, and this time is not an easy one.

- Oh, you don't want to know- says Nigel, a little alarmed and throwing a glance at the door- your answer is just arriving.-

- Jordan? What are you doing here? - Now the anger is out of control, his voice is loud and forceful.

- Calm down, OK? I was the only one available at the Morgue, Bug called in sick, for the first time in his entire career, I think; and Kate is stuck with a new intern. It hasn't been the same since Garret resigned…- Jordan is thoughtful and calm for a moment, which is rather odd since Woody's attitude is very unnerving, but that doesn't last long.

- This is not a case you should be working…- Woody tenses his jaws even more, if that is possible.

- What?! Why is this a case I shouldn't be working on? And, most importantly, who do you think you are, telling me which case I should and which case I shouldn't work on?- Now, Jordan's anger is even with Woody's, and Nigel is looking from one to another like in a tennis match, not a little alarmed, but frightened by the situation. He would rather be anywhere else but here.

- Uhhh, kids… Calm down, both of you. You're drawing everybody's attention and I don't think those little kids over there could stand more violence… please? - Says Nigel, pointing at the crying boys on the couch that is behind the kitchen door. Both Jordan and Woody are taken aback by the observation and are looking at the children, the realization of the inappropriateness of their behavior sinking in. Being a couple at home is not the same as being one at work, and this kind of things has to be avoided by all means.

- OK, OK… We'll discuss this later…- Woody is the first to speak, in a softer way but with determination in his voice.

"There's nothing to be discussed," thinks Jordan, not allowing this thought to be voiced, "this is my work and you have nothing to say, this is not one of those cop – coroner situations. This is indeed my work." Jordan crouches by the woman and, acting as if nothing happened, proceeds to her examination. Nigel's back to taking pictures and Woody leaves, looking for the girl.


- Why, Jordan, do you have to make my work more difficult than it already is? - Woody is frustrated and combs his hair with his fingers once and again.

- I'm not doing anything like that. I told you I'm all right with this case. It does hit too close to home but I've learned to manage this kind of things. You, on the other hand...- Jordan is calm, in her autopsy custom, absorbed in her work. – Now, if you would leave me to do my work, I could be able to tell you all you want to know about Miranda Jaime's death. – Jordan looks up to examine Woody's reaction, but all she can tell is that tension is all over his body. Since he doesn't reply, she continues her speech. – The first thing to know is that it seems the knife wound in her chest was the COD… We should know more about the knife when Nigel finishes the tests on it. If we are lucky, the bastard that did this to Miranda left some evidence on it… It may have taken half an hour for her to bleed to death. Considering all the blood on the floor… that little girl couldn't do a thing to save her…

- That's exactly my point, Jo. You say you're all right with this and all, but next thing to happen is you in a crusade for this girl. Not sleeping, not eating, I know the symptoms… It couldn't do any good to our child…- Now Jordan is beginning to lose her temper. Suddenly, the autopsy doors swing and Kate enters the room. She looks at Woody in a not so pleasant way.

- Detective, I seem to remember that I said to you that Jordan is the ME assigned to this case and that it is not your jurisdiction, but mine. So, if you don't mind, could you leave her to do her work, meanwhile you do whatever you cops do? – Woody is on edge and, a little too forcefully, turns to leave, looking at both women, daggers coming from his eyes. 'Overreacting' is a mild way to describe his attitude.

- Thanks, Kate, I don't know if I would have been able to stand him one more minute. – Jordan relaxes and shakes her head.

- Well, Jordan, if you want me to keep supporting you on this, you have to fix this situation with Woody at home. These kinds of things are very dangerous and that is why couples wouldn't be allowed to work together…-

- What? I thought you, of all people, would understand…-

- And I do, that's why I'm here, holding Woody's tantrums; but this can't keep going like this.-

- I know, I know. I'll fix it, I promise. - Jordan reassures. "The only thing is, I don't know how". That's a thought Kate would not want to be aware of.