Act of Remembrance
Chapter 7
Within a few minutes the two detectives had pulled up outside Steve's apartment in Union Street. Steve turned off the engine and turned to face his partner.
"I'll just be ten minutes. Do you wanna come up or are you going to wait in the car?"
The sun had burned off the last of the fog coming off the Bay and the day was in direct contrast to the day before. The midday sun was getting warm and despite having the windows open the car was hot and stifling. Mike fingered his collar and made his decision in that instant.
"No, it's getting too hot to wait in the car! I'll come up with you!"
"Ok." Steve answered smiling. He knew Mike disliked intense heat much preferring the salty sea breezes from the Bay keeping the temperatures bearable. As they exited the car Steve locked it and they made their way up the steps to Steve's apartment. As they reached his front door and Steve fumbled with the keys in the lock, a head appeared out a window of the building next door and a shrill voice shouted over to them.
"I see you found him!"
"Yes. Thank you!" Mike shouted back and then under his breath he muttered to Steve "Hurry up and open that door!"
As Steve opened the door he shouted "Afternoon Mrs Corcoran!" but he didn't get to say anything else as Mike shoved him forcibly inside.
"That infernal woman!" Mike spoke gruffly when they were inside and Steve couldn't help but laugh.
"Very funny wise guy! Just go and get ready! We have work to do remember?"
"Ok, ok. I won't be long." Steve said still chuckling as he headed for his bedroom.
Mike sat down on the couch and waited but he didn't have to wait long. True to his word Steve appeared within a few minutes looking back to normal. Dressed in his jacket and tie, his hair combed neatly in place, his gun and handcuffs attached to his belt and his wallet and badge tucked into his inside jacket pocket.
"Ok. Let's go!" he said to Mike as he entered the living room and standing up Mike joined him and they hurried back down the steps and into the car and were soon on their way back to Bryant Street.
As they entered the bullpen it was just approaching one o'clock and while Steve headed over to his desk, removed his jacket and placed it on the back of his chair Mike headed into his office and hung up his coat and fedora. Looking back out at Steve, Mike was pleased to see that his mood seemed to have improved but again wondered what it had all been about. Before he had a chance to ponder on it more, Steve had turned and headed into his office.
"Ok. What do you want to do first? Do you want me to start typing the second report or will I head down to forensics and see what they have come up with from last night?" Steve asked enthusiastically.
"No. Let's head down to Bernie first and get a lowdown on the victims first. See what we're dealing with. He should have made a start by now."
Steve's enthusiasm waned and making a face he whined.
"Aw Mike. Really? You know I hate the autopsy parts. Couldn't we just wait until he has the reports ready and read them?"
Mike grinned at Steve's squeamishness. It was true that as long as he had known him he despised having to attend the autopsies and always opted to stay as far away from them as possible. But on this occasion Mike wanted to get a head start on these cases so wasn't prepared to wait until the reports were typed up and ready.
"Sorry buddy boy! I want to get moving on these cases so waiting for reports is not an option. Come on! Besides you haven't had breakfast yet have you?"
"No, But what's that got to do with anything?"
"Well, then you won't have to worry about being sick with an empty stomach will you?" Mike said teasingly as he placed an arm around Steve's shoulders and steered him out of his office.
"Very funny!" Steve said knowing full well that Mike was enjoying his discomfort.
With Steve still protesting the two men started to head for the door to head down to the ME's office when the phone on Steve's desk rang. Grateful for the distraction and feeling as if he had literally been saved by the bell,Steve spoke to Mike.
"Hold up! I better get that. It could be something important relating to the cases." Steve said smiling as he raced back to his desk and picked up the receiver all the while still grinning in Mike's direction.
"Hello. Inspector Keller. Homicide ?"
As the voice on the other end replied the smile on Steve's face vanished and he quickly turned his back on Mike and spoke more sombrely and quietly into the phone.
"Oh hi! Yeah. No, don't worry, I haven't forgotten. No, I'll be there. Ok. Yeah, Tomorrow at three o'clock. I remember. Do you need me to pick you up? Ok. Are you sure? Alright. Yeah. Thanks for the call."
Then glancing over his shoulder at Mike and seeing his curious expression he turned back to the phone.
"Listen, I've got to go. Ok. I'll see you then. Take care. Bye"
Steve hung up and still with his back to Mike he took a few deep breaths. While he hadn't forgotten, the events of last night with Mary had distracted his thoughts away from what had been bugging him. But after that phone call his emotions were once again dragged firmly back to the past and for a split second he almost regretted picking up the phone. It had been nice to feel ok again even if it was just for a while. Now he was back feeling miserable and now on top of that he felt guilty for having been distracted from his misery so easily.
Heading back over to Mike and feeling slightly uncomfortable under Mike's scrutinizing gaze, Steve spoke.
"Come on, we better get to Bernie before he goes to lunch.'
Mike halted him for a split second with a firm grip on his arm alarmed at how one phone call seemed to send him spiralling back into his depression. The dark cloud again almost visible over his head.
"Was that case related buddy boy?"
"No, no it was personal. Look let's go ok? You know how stroppy Bernie gets if you make him miss his lunch. "
And easing out of Mike's grasp he headed out the door towards the ME'S office. Mike stood for a few seconds staring at the phone on Steve's desk wondering who it could have been to cause such a reaction. He vowed in that instant to look into that question later but for now he was going to have to keep a very close eye on his partner. A very close eye indeed.
Exiting from the bullpen Mike had to almost jog to catch up with Steve and when he finally caught up with him they were just outside the ME'S office. Entering the outer office, they greeted Bernie's secretary Susan and she informed them that Bernie was in the autopsy room working on the second victim from the previous evening, the first victim's autopsy having been completed earlier that morning.
Thanking her they entered the next door and passed through the Morgue where all the dead bodies were stored in cold storage drawers. The chill of the room and the knowledge of what lay behind the drawer doors always gave Steve the shivers and it was definitely his least favourite place to be. In the middle of the room was an empty morgue table and as Steve caught sight of it the memory of that fateful morning returned and he remembered in vivid detail the sight that met his eyes that day. His heart started to beat wildly at the memory and he felt his breath catch in his chest. He remembered how Mike had stood behind him quietly that day with his hand supportively on his shoulder and how eventually it had all become too much to bear and how Mike had steered him outside for a breath of fresh air. A hand on his shoulder again now made him jump and returning to the present he glanced over his shoulder to see Mike's worried face studying him closely.
"What's the matter buddy boy? You look like you've just seen a ghost! Are you ok?" Mike asked alarmed at the sight of Steve staring at the empty morgue table lost in his thoughts.
With Mike's words uncomfortably close to the truth Steve pulled himself together, forced a smile and answered as normally as his shaky voice would allow.
"Yeah, I'm fine. This place just gives me the creeps. That's all!"
Before Mike had a chance to continue the conversation Steve headed for the door on the other side of the room which was wide open. As he stepped into the Autopsy room, Steve instantly regretted the one quick glance he took to his right when he saw Bernie poised with his saw about to open the skull of the corpse on the examining table. Luckily Bernie was intent on his task and hadn't seen Steve entering so Steve ducked back out the door he had come through almost barreling into Mike in the process.
Embarrassed by his squeamishness and fighting a sudden wave of nausea that had washed over him at the sight he had just seen Steve didn't say anything but just avoided his partner's gaze. Extremely worried by his young partner's erratic behaviour and his pallor Mike poked his head through the door and saw Bernie engrossed in his current task and part of Steve's behaviour was clearly obvious to Mike. Looking back at his partner and placing an understanding hand on his shoulder Mike spoke sympathetically.
"Alright buddy boy. Why don't you wait here in your usual spot and I'll go talk to Bernie. Ok?"
Steve nodded gratefully to Mike.
Still not entirely happy by the green tinge in Steve's face Mike asked again.
"You sure you're ok now?"
"Yeah ... yeah I'm ok Mike. I'll wait here for you." Steve answered more shakily than he would have liked.
Accepting that Steve obviously needed a minute or two to pull himself together Mike patted his shoulder and headed into the Autopsy room to speak to Bernie leaving Steve sheepishly and restlessly standing outside the door.
Steve was glad when Mike left as he was finding it hard to pull himself together. Steve nearly always stood in this exact spot and waited for Mike to return when Bernie was in the Autopsy room and often thought that listening to the autopsy being performed was probably worse than witnessing it first hand. As he heard the sound of the saw cut through flesh and bone another wave of nausea washed over him and with the empty morgue table and his memories still haunting him to his left Steve prayed that Mike wouldn't be too long! Another crunch of bone and the searing sound of the saw and Steve fought back the bile that rose in his throat ! Pull yourself together Steve! he thought to himself. In the chill of the room, Steve's fast breathing was almost visible and as the sounds of the autopsy continued Steve broke out in a cold sweat and the room felt like it was closing in on him. In that instant, Steve realized that it was no use! He had to get out of there! Without a further thought Steve turned and left the ME's office at high-speed, not even stopping when Susan asked if he was alright but instead knowing he needed to get to the mensroom down the hall and fast!