CHAPTER THREE
The CSI Tahoe pulled down an alley behind the Tangiers. Other police cars were on hand as well as David from the ME's team. Brass met them as they exited the Tahoe.
"The victim is a young woman, blonde hair, attractive," Brass related, "approximate age twenty, still clothed, thrown here by the dumpster as if she were piece of trash." Brass had an unusual expression on his face, a pained and anguished look. The victim strongly resembled his daughter, Ellie.
Iris gazed down at the body. "Your life should not have ended so," she said softly. Brass looked toward her and nodded in agreement. Somewhere there would soon be grieving family upon receiving a phone call or knock at the door. "Sara, what do you need me to help with?" Iris asked.
"Stick by me. Nick will walk the perimeter," Sara replied. She and Iris began to inspect the body more closely once David had finished his initial check over including liver temperature. "Tell me what you see," Sara asked Iris.
"There are ligature marks around the neck suggestive of strangulation as well as bruising around the wrists and ankles from being tied with heavy white nylon-type rope material that remains present with knots intact. Facial abrasions to the right side of the face as well as right lower arm, the victim may have been dragged or dropped roughly from the vehicle - perhaps a truck or SUV with higher flooring. There's dried blood beneath her nose and the upper lip is split. The fingernails are jagged and torn with potential skin debris beneath the nail edges. No immediate sign of drug abuse such as needle tracks on her arms. There are no other signs of external trauma while she is clothed, but sexual assault remains a possibility. She put up a struggle; she didn't go quietly; she fought to stay alive," Iris finished her assessment.
"Observation to detail - good," Sara said. "We'll let David finish up while we continue to process the rest of the scene."
Iris shook her head sadly again. She noted Brass standing nearby, his face still greatly troubled. Reaching out, she gently gripped his coat sleeve, "Detective Brass, are you okay? Can I get you anything?"
"Yeah, being able to rewind your life back so you could do some things different," he replied abruptly. He looked directly to her, his blue eyes vivid where she saw sorrow and deep pain. Without another word, he turned away quickly and strode toward his car. Iris slowly shook her head and gave a soft sigh as she got ready to leave with Sara and Nick.
Brass slammed his car door in frustration. Pulling out his cell phone, he speed-dialed the number he had for Ellie. It went again to voicemail, just like all of his prior calls. "Ellie, this is dad, just call me, collect even, I don't care what time, just call." Reluctantly, he punched in another number, one he used only as a last resort, that of his ex-wife Nancy.
Since returning to work after he'd been shot months ago by Willie Cutler, he and Ellie had been in contact yet things between them remained distant at best. She'd visited him on occasion at the hospital and while he was in outpatient rehab before returning to full duty. She might still be staying in Las Vegas, but all he had now was her cell phone. He heard the voice of his ex-wife in his ear. "Uh, this is Jim…"
"Sara, when we get back to the lab, I need to ask you something…in private," Iris said.
"Sure, no problem," Sara replied. She glanced at Iris curiously, wondering what she was asking for in confidence. Iris had been an open book to rest of the team when she came on board. They were aware she was widowed, her husband being murdered in a convenience store robbery nearly ten years ago, causing her to pursue a career as a CSI. Her demeanor was quiet and thoughtful. She was not one to gossip, showed genuine concern for her coworkers, was well liked and respected in the department at large. She enjoyed cooking and bringing meals in to her shift mates. They had been surprised though to hear of some of her hobbies: horseback riding, sword fencing in particular, taking dancing lessons with waltz or Texas two-step dancing her favorites, and even sang in her church choir.