Steve hadn't dared say a word on the drive back, letting his partner stew on the latest piece of evidence and the certainty of death that was filling the cab of the Galaxy like a numbing fog.
Little had been said over the radio since he called in Dan and Norm to help out, relaying the situation the best he could, expressing his concerns about the potential findings and quickly falling quiet when Mike came back within earshot after staying behind to share a few moments of prayer with Father Delgado.
It had been an unusual, yet ingenious offer that seemed to help soothe the Lieutenant's troubled soul in the privacy of a judgment-free zone inside the church, where he could release some of the angst, fear and frustration this case had caused.
And Steve was ever so eager to cordially deny the request to join them and head outside for some pressing police business.
As they rolled into the underground parking garage of the Hall of Justice building, Mike excused himself, heading directly to the Forensics Lab in hopes of looking for the slightest of clues on the two wallets they retrieved.
Somewhat happy about the temporary separation and a reprieve from the tension growing between them in light of the situation, Steve took the elevator to the fourth floor, taking a 10-second powernap against the back of the cart until the doors to his grim reality opened up again.
Carrying the beige coat over his shoulder, he entered the glass-walled vestibule of Office 450 in time to hear his phone ring. The bullpen was nearly empty with all the detectives out and about, Tanner still on sick leave and only Sekulovich and a Patrol Sergeant he didn't recognize around to keep watch.
As he crossed the office in a hurry, Steve cocked his head at Art, then tossed his coat onto the back of his chair and reached for the phone, hoping to make it in time.
"This is Inspector Keller?"
"Steve. Norm here."
The voice.
He knew what the call was about just from the tone in Haseejian's voice.
With his shoulders slumped, head tucked down to his chest, he drew in a deep breath, rubbing his eyebrows with his free hand before daring to speak up again.
"What's the verdict?"
"We thought we'd call you instead of the Lieutenant so you can…break it to him in the best way you know how…", the Armenian Detective said, as approaching sirens could be heard in the background, "He was right. We found two bodies down here. African American, both of them. One male, one female. Mid-twenties, I'd guess. Cause of death seems to be single gunshot wound to the head, but we're not sure yet. Also seems like they've been down here for several days. Bernie's on his way to make a better determination."
Releasing a forced breath and holding on to the last bit of sanity to stop his frustration from taking the upper hand, Steve ran a hand through his sandy hair, shaking his head even though he knew he was being watched.
"What do you mean, you're not sure they were shot, Norm?"
"Because they're wrapped up in some netting, I'd say the ones they use on soccer goals. And tied up to the ceiling joists like some giant cocoon. I am not sure what the killer was trying to tell us here. We didn't want to disturb the scene till Bernie gets here. Just verified that there were bodies and that they were indeed dead. I should have more for you in a couple of hours, if you can let the Lieutenant know in the meantime."
With that, Haseejian hung up the phone, leaving the young Inspector in a renewed stage of apprehension on how to pass on the latest news.
"Sure…", Steve breathed and straightened back out, his active mind envisioning the appallingly bizarre crime scene Norm and Dan had stumbled upon, "I know exactly what he was trying to tell us…it's all about what tangled webs we weave."