Bynum
As is my routine I come to the station early. Julian greets me with that delightful cheerfulness that is so infectious. I hand him his cup of coffee and he tells me that he has turned on the lights.
As I walk downstairs I find myself humming songs from the disc DS Hathaway gave me. Entering the Medical Bay I find that the main lights are off. I don't think Julian is the type to forget so I just flip the switch myself. As I'm changing into my scrubs I hear a piece of metal hit the floor. My heart rate increases for I'm not alone. I move towards where the noise came from. I'm somewhat relieved that it's just Dr. Cook removing instruments from the Autoclave.
"Morning" I say softly.
He turns, "Oh, it's you. Well I thought I would come in early and get things up and running."
"I must admit you gave me a fright. I found the lights off, Julian turns them on for me, and then I heard something drop.
He swallows before taking the rib cutters from off of a tray and placing them in the non-sterile bin. It hits me that if I didn't say something he might have let a contaminated instrument remain on the tray. However, the way he acted yesterday I'm not going to bring it up. I merely stand next to him and help him get the instruments from the Autoclave.
Once were done we take the first of the two victims from the riverbank out of the freezer and begin the postmortem. Photos have already been taken and someone else has taken fingerprints and dental X-rays. Cook for his part is acting somewhat cordially so I count my blessings. During this time I hear the chime of one of the computers. I strip off my gloves and head to the computer. There's a match; the victim is Samantha Latham a known prostitute. I wonder if the other female victim is also a prostitute.
I move back into the autopsy suite, "Victim was a prostitute, we might get lucky with a Vitullo kit."
Dr. Cook peers at me, "A rape kit?"
"I prefer Vitullo kit myself, look she may have had sex before she was killed. Consensual or not it might shed light on who she was with. Was one already done when the dental X-rays were taken?"
"Shouldn't you know that is your job." He snaps back.
I grab the paper work, a quick glance reveals no. "Looks like we need to do one."
Cook removes his own gloves angrily, "You can do it."
He breezes past me and exits the bay. I scrub a hand over my face before snagging a new pair of gloves and beginning the task of getting the body into position to gather evidence. When I'm done I go in search for Simon and find him surfing the Internet on one of the computers. I signal him and he sighs before moving back into the autopsy suite.
Hobson
It feels strange to be taking my car to the station but I only have to look in my rearview mirror to see Robbie behind me. We take side-by-side parking spaces and I have to resist the urge to kiss him in the lot. I merely wink at him before entering the building and going downstairs.
The medical bay has strange atmosphere to it. I poke my head into one bay and see Genesis and Dr. Cook. So far neither of them has a black eye.
"This the one from the river?"
"One of them" Cook answers off hand.
"Samantha Latham a prostitute." Genesis informs me.
"Any evidence collected?" I direct the question at Cook. He narrows his eyes before saying, "Nurse?"
Genesis bites her lower lip before saying, "No signs of any sexual trauma in fact no signs of sex at all."
"None?"
Genesis shakes her head in the negative. I digest this information and leave to begin my own autopsy.
Bynum
After Dr. Hobson leaves, Simon makes a Y-incision and removes the ribs to gain access to the organs. After they are weighed and reviewed I take samples of the all them for various reports. At least this process I can do in the lab and away from Dr. Cook.
The centrifuge mesmerizes me, I watch it spin and spin. When a cup passes in front of my face I turn to see Dr. Hobson with a cup of tea.
"How is your day going?"
Genesis takes a healthy swig of tea, "Well I almost get scared to death by Cook, he was in early this morning and we had a disagreement over a sterile instrument…don't ask. However, I did my first Vitullo kit, I took samples from the organs and here I am."
I must admit I'm surprised that Genesis knows that Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence kits were named for Louis Vitullo and then I remember the fight Robbie and I had and feel shame that I just pre-judged Genesis. Robbie is right; the class system does still exist.
Lewis
My phone rings, preliminary reports have come in we have identification. Samantha Latham—prostitute and Janet Ford also a prostitute. Now we have to inform next of kin. I tap Hathaway on the shoulder and we head out to the car.
"You're quiet today sir" James says.
"Just thinking." I mutter.
"About the case?" My sergeant asks.
"No, Laura and me. We had a fight."
James turns in his seat and shoots me look filled with fear and concern.
"Oh, it's all right we worked it out." I say and he instantly relaxes.
"Good that's good" He says obviously relieved, I concentrate on the road but I hear him mumble, "I need a smoke."
We enter one of the unofficial red-light district of the South. Parking in a dingy lot I flash me warrant card to the attendant and he backs away I then hold out a tenner and he smiles, this way me car has a chance of being there when we get back.
I pull on me tie to loosen it. Hathaway catches on and lights up a cigarette. While we might scream Police we're not on the prowl for a bust, we're out for information and the street knows the difference.