Chapter 12: Precautions
"Is this gonna hurt, Doc?" asked Fern as she looked over her shoulder.
"It's intense, but the pain subsides in a few seconds," replied Doctor Walker. Fern was sitting on an examination table at the hospital. She had her shirt off and was waiting for the doctor to implant a tracker in between her shoulder blades. Buster and Petrofus were in the room too. Petrofus was next in line for the precaution.
"Alright, Fern, here we go, on three," said Doctor Walker, "One, two, three." CLICK. A needle containing the tracker shot throw several layers of skin on Fern's back. "Arrghh, that hurts like a bitch!" groaned Fern as she winced from the pain. Doctor Walker pulled the needle out and examined the exposed end.
"It's empty, so the tracker is in there now," he commented. He placed a bandage over the bleeding hole, then tossed the needle in a sharps container.
"Alright, Kaylie, you're up now," said Doctor Walker as he grabbed another implant needle. Petrofus, as expected, had little emotion on her face. She took off her shirt and switched places with Fern on the examination table. Fern put her shirt back on and sat down next to her partner.
"On three, Kaylie," said the doctor, "One, two, three." CLICK. Petrofus' face didn't even flinch. "Man, DCI, you're almost too tough," crackled Buster as he munched on some fruit snacks.
"After spending two decades in the homicide division, you get pretty tough," replied Petrofus. Doctor Walker patched up the DCI, then the DCI slipped her shirt back on.
"Anything else I can help you detectives with?" asked Doctor Walker.
"No thanks, Doc. We'll see ourselves out," said Petrofus.
The three detectives started heading out of the hospital. "Just a reminder, you two: this is just in case the Chalice Killers get bold and go after one of us females," stated the DCI. Fern and Buster nodded in comprehension.
"What's the range of the trackers?" asked Fern. Petrofus took a swig from her flask and cleared her throat. "It's about 300 miles, so unless the Chalice Killers drag us to Canada, we should be okay."
"How the hell are you gonna get those things out of your backs?" asked Buster with a hint of humor.
"Simple: a little anesthetic, and cut the shit right out with a scalpel," said the DCI nonchalantly.
"Maybe your wife would always like to know where you go at night, DCI," joked Buster.
Petrofus kept a straight face. "She's already worried enough with all the victims. And keep my wife outta this, Baxter."
Buster threw his hands up in surrender, then let out a laugh. Fern wasn't really paying attention to her associates' conversation. She found it unsettling that trackers are necessary at this point in the case. Still…the poem on Prunella's body indicated the Chalice Killers would target her or Petrofus. They couldn't take any chances.
"Oh, and before I forget: these trackers can be mapped on our phones, so all three of us know each other's whereabouts until those bastards are caught," said Petrofus.
"Thank God I didn't need to get implanted," breathed Buster. Fern looked at her good-natured partner. "Consider that a blessing, Baxter," she said in a serious tone.
The detectives reached the exit doors and stepped outside. It was a sunny day, though the temperature was just above freezing. The naked trees were blowing around in the late autumn breeze. Fern pulled out a cigarette and lit up.
"Now we gotta see if Powers got anything on that chainsaw fragment," commented Fern. "It's the only lead we got, so let's hope for the best," replied the DCI solemnly.
"Well, we still got to figure out how to investigate Powers without drawing his suspicion," said Buster.
"Let's head back to the station and figure out a plan," suggested Fern. Petrofus nodded. "Let's go, and make it quick: we still have the whole day ahead of us to make some progress on the Chalice Killers."