"Good afternoon, gentlemen."
"Afternoon, Doc." Danny nodded at the M.E.
"And who is this?" Flack smiled at the doctor, a fresh faced red head with the classic lilting voice of the Irish bred.
The doctor stuck out her hand. "We haven't met. Dr Shannon Day. And you are?"
"Don Flack, Homicide." Flack grinned broadly as he shook the young woman's hand. "Pleasure to meet you."
Danny grabbed Flack's arm as he moved to follow the doctor to the autopsy table where Hawkes was already waiting. "Forget it, man."
"Forget what?"
"Trying. She won't bite."
"Just because she didn't succumb to your charms only means she has taste."
"She doesn't bat for our team."
Flack looked at him perplexed.
"Monroe might have some luck, but neither of us will." Danny waited for the information to sink in. Then he turned and headed for the body. "So what are we dealing with, Shan."
"A real mess." Shannon pulled back the sheet. "The only plus is that I had little actual work to do to get to the good stuff. Rather took out the fun.
"Our victim is male, I would guess early to mid 20s. He is in fairly good shape considering."
"Considering what?" Flack asked hesistantly.
"Considering that someone cut out both eyes, his liver, kidneys, heart and then flayed him." Hawkes piped up.
"A bit much don't you think?"
"Perhaps. Then again, if you really are dealing with a psychopathic serial killer, perhaps it's not quite enough."
"Let's stick with what we know." Danny grimaced.
"Something wrong, Detective." Shannon asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
"Headache. And the more I think about psychopaths and serial killers the worse it gets."
"There's some aspirin in the first aid kit. Help yourself."
"Thanks. Keep going. I can listen and medicate at the same time." Danny poured two pills into his hand and swallowed them dry.
"The cuts are informed and non hesistating."
"So this guy knew what he was doing?"
"Exactly, Detective Flack."
"We looking for a doctor?"
"Not necessarily. Anyone can learn out to remove the organs, especially when they aren't worrying about killing the patient."
"And the tool?"
"Something very sharp. But not necessarily a scalpel. And likely two different blades. One for the internal work and one for the skin."
"Can we tell if he was dead or alive when our suspect starting cutting."
"No way to know exactly, but based on the amount of blood loss, I would have to say alive."
"That is bent."
"Yes, Danny." Shannon frowned. "It is."
"What about trace?"
"Nothing so far. I'm going to go in again and go over the body with a fine tooth comb. In the meantime, I've triple photographed the body focusing on the cut marks. I've sent samples to DNA and Tox. And fingerprints as well as dentals have gone to ID."
"Beautiful, Shannon." Danny smiled at her. "Syd better be careful. He might come back from his vacation and find out the temp has stolen his job."
"Why, Detective Messer. You do know how to flatter a girl." Shannon laughed.
"We may be back with questions."
"I'll be waiting."
