:O Thank you! You will not believe how surprised I am that there are people reading this, never mind reviewing!
To pinkswallowsun, Gevaudan, lilypad1, savingthestars, Lizziginne, dinabar and gem.S (hope your fingers are ok!) - I'm sending you all a virtual hug to say thank you! :D
I do have an idea for this promise... it just seems to be going slow at the moment :S
xXx
Chapter 3 – Muddy Puddles
Harry and Nikki squelched into the Lyell Centre, leaving muddy foot prints behind them. Leo looked up from his case notes in bewilderment at their entrance, and left his office curious as to why they were both in so early. He met them as they made their way to Harry's desk, and it was only then that he could see the amount of mud that they had left behind them.
"What-" he began, but Nikki cut him off.
"Don't ask," she sighed as she kicked her wellies off, causing more water to splash the floor. "Just don't."
"It's barely gone six, and already you two look like you've been mud wrestling," said Leo, amusement in his voice.
"Damn," smiled Harry. "He caught us."
Nikki glared at him and leant against his desk to steady herself as she took her socks off, the water dripping to the floor as she did so.
"Why are you in so early?" Leo asked her as she took her hairbrush from Harry's desk and started to work out the knots in her rain soaked and muddy hair.
"She decided to go for a swim before work," Harry grinned, and Nikki shot him another look.
"Oh you didn't call her out again did you?" Leo asked, turning to Harry.
Harry shrugged and shook off his coat.
"I might have suggested that I could possibly do with some help," he answered, trying to hide the grin that was threatening to reappear.
Leo shook his head, looking back at Nikki. "Did you actually sleep last night?"
Nikki nodded. "A little," she lied.
"Why do I find that hard to believe," he said to her, raising his eyebrows. "I know you were in here until after eleven last night."
"You were?" Harry asked, turning to Nikki. "Why didn't you say?"
"I went to bed as soon as I got in," Nikki lied again. "I'm fine."
"Hmmm," Leo mumbled, studying Nikki for signs of fatigue. "Anyway. I know it's raining, but why are you so soggy? And muddy…"
"Ask Harry," Nikki said, glancing in his direction. "I'm going for a shower before I start the PM."
"Me too," added Harry as he made to follow her. "Not the same shower of course," he added to Nikki, who rolled her eyes and continued towards the locker rooms.
"And what about the muddy footprints that you two have trailed through the building?" Leo called after them.
Nikki turned towards Leo. "Oh, I'm sure Harry will clean that up for you before his shower."
"I think I deserved that one," Harry sighed as he made his way back to the puddles of muddy water, watching Nikki walk away as she continued to brush her hair.
Harry met Nikki in the cutting room half an hour later, her now clean hair tied in a loose braid down her back, and dressed in a set of pristine white scubs. She smiled when she saw him enter.
"Any more muddy footprints?" she giggled as he made his way to the sink.
"Not any more," he said, "No thanks to some."
"Hey, it was your fault in the first place," she said trying to look serious, but she couldn't help but smile, before adding, "We have work to do," and making her way to the body that was on the slab waiting.
Leo's clear voice echoed through the cutting room, and looking up, both saw him standing at the balcony that overlooked the room, a tall, balding man standing next to him.
"Harry, Nikki," he spoke clearly, but they could see the irritated look in his eyes at the other man's presence. "This is DCI Maddox. He will be in charge of this investigation, and has asked to watch the post mortems."
"Of course," Nikki nodded, giving a quick smile to Leo. Maddox however didn't take his eyes off the bodies, his arms remaining tightly knitted across his chest.
Harry moved to the other body that had been prepped by Zak and looked at Nikki.
"Well, on you go then," he smiled. "Ladies first."
Nikki rolled her eyes as she began the initial study of the body.
"The body appears to be that of a white woman, estimated to be in her late twenties, and measuring-" she held out the measuring tape to Zak who moved towards the woman's toes. "One hundred and sixty five centimetres. Thanks Zak," she smiled at him as she lifted the woman's arm.
"There is a deep wound on the right wrist measuring four centimetres in length, and another on the left wrist measuring three and a half centimetres," she continued. "The wounds seem to have a jagged edge, consistent with the weapon that was found at the scene. The radial artery on both wrists seem to have been severed."
"There also appears to be bruising on both upper arms, that could have been a result of someone grabbing her," she said, tilting her head to the side and placing her hands on the bruises so that her fingers roughly lined up with the marks. "As well as considerate bruising to her face. Feels like the cheekbone is fractured," she added feeling the cheek slightly. "And a small wound on the left temple roughly two centimetres long is visible. She could have been struck with something."
"There are no other visible signs to the body on the front," Zak helped roll the woman on to her side so Nikki could see, "Or to the back," she added after thoroughly looking over the body.
"There does appear to be skin underneath the finger nails however, as well as other pigments. Again, this could be the result of a struggle, but I can not say for sure until it has been tested," Nikki held up a sample from under the fingernails to Zak, who handed her a container.
"The head wound seems to be fairly superficial. I don't think it would have been enough to knock her unconscious, but I'll have a closer look when we open her up," she stated. "From looking at the body I'd say the cause of death is massive blood loss due to the wounds on her wrists. But there is no way that she could have done this to herself. One wrist yes, but both? After severing the artery in one wrist, you'd be highly unlikely to manage the other one too."
Harry nodded to her as she stood back from the body, glancing up at the observatory balcony. Yet DCI Maddox still hadn't moved.
"The second body was found in the same location, roughly twenty yards apart. The body appears to be that of a white male, also estimated to be in his late twenties, or possibly early thirties, measuring," again Zak held the other end of the measuring tape, this time for Harry. "Roughly one hundred and eighty five centimetres."
"There are what appears to be two stab wounds on the front of the body, one measuring two centimetres, between the third and forth rib on the left hand side, approximately five centimetres from the arm. As well as another, also measuring two centimetres, at roughly the same height," Harry placed his gloved hand on the man's chest and bent his head lower. "This one appears to have entered the chest cavity, and is approximately four centimetres across, and one centimetre down from the other wound. Both wounds appear to have a jagged edge, again consistent with the weapon found at the scene."
"There appears to be a considerably amount of mud under the finger nails," Harry continued as he scraped a sample out with a small blade. "Could be skin cells too. We'll have it tested along with the other body's sample."
"Zak," Harry pointed to the body, and made a small circular motion with his fingers. Once they had turned the body over, Harry sighed heavily.
"There is also a stab wound to the back, between the T4 and T5 vertebrae," he stated. "Again, measuring two centimetres. I can't be sure until I've had a closer look, but I'm guessing that this would have severed the spinal chord."
Zak and Harry moved the body back on to it's back and Harry took a closer look at the man's hands. "There looks like there is the beginning of a bruise on his right knuckle," he said. "Could be nothing. Could indicate a struggle." Harry looked over at Nikki who was watching him closely, before adding "Could have caused the wound on her head. I'll send away some samples."
"My initial beliefs are that cause of death was massive internal bleeding, caused mainly by the chest wound. But again, I need to wait until I open him up before I can give a definite answer," Harry finished, stepping back from the body.
"Have they been identified yet?" Nikki asked Maddox who shook his head.
"Then I'd rather wait for the families to be informed before we begin the internal investigation," Harry added, and Nikki nodded in agreement.
Maddox simply nodded his head, and left the balcony.
"What a cheery individual," Harry muttered as soon as he knew Maddox wouldn't be able to hear him. "Zak, can you put the bodies back into the fridge. We'll carry on once they've been identified."
"Sure," Zak nodded.
Nikki pulled off her surgical gloves and made her way to the locker rooms, Harry closely behind her.
Grabbing her by the wrist, Harry stopped her just as they had stepped through the door.
"You smell of strawberries," he said, moving closer to Nikki, sniffing her hair slightly. "Why do you smell of strawberries?"
"Because I use something called shampoo Harry," she smiled at him before reaching up and running a hand through his still damp hair. "You should really try it some time."