No Copyright Infringement

I swallowed the hard lump that formed in my throat. My stomach churned just thinking about what happened a moment ago. If I were standing maybe 2 inches to the left I would be laying in the ambulance with a dart sticking out of my neck. My uncle could sleep this off, but the other two officers were sent to the hospital. Different people in different uniforms littered around the crime scene. I spotted Carlos standing with his guys and someone new in a black suit on the side. I looked towards the field where Trenton PD were bagging and collecting articles from the guy in the bushes. I was currently looking down at the reason why I was here in the first place. Samuel Singh, lay face down or on his back, I'm not sure because currently his head was twisted so that he was technically face down in the dirt. Because of the many face prints and activities that had occurred I knew there wasn't going to be any tracks. But I knew that his body had been dumped. Mr. Singh once owned the local Italian restaurant in the Burg, but he was closed down because the cops found a meth lab in the basement. His restaurant was very popular but with one small rumor of rats led to the health inspector finding more and it wasn't rats.

The way the head was positioned, the skin around the necked took on a ripple effect. There was bruising around the temple and in front of his ears. Those noticeable marks on the ears suggested his head was held in a workbench clamp allowing the killer to twist the body. I continued to look and write down any little details from the body. The clothing on the body looked torn and old in some places. He had on two different shoes that looked similar. His neck was taking on a dark maroon color on the collar area. There was dried blood in perfect circles along his forehead. Uh those circles were drilled holes that filled with blood and have since dried up. I was so focused on his neck that I almost didn't notice that his mouth looked disfigured. I bent down and with the tip of my pen I lifted the upper lip. Every one of his teeth was missing except for the top four. When I lifted the lip a little more, his mouth opened and PLUM was engraved on the remaining teeth. I rocked back on my heels; it was much easier to go into shock. It was like my hearing was fading in and out, the air was short. Who could be doing this?

I felt this sensation of being watched. I lowered my head and quickly glanced out the corner of my eye to see who was watching me. I was too absorbed inspecting my surroundings that I didn't hear it when someone came up behind me. After their shadow loomed over me I felt the person reach out and grab my shoulder. The force from that nearly tipped me over on the body. My reflexes were slow today, but I was able to do an over the hip check and throw them over my shoulder. I was breathing hard, expecting the worst. I looked down at Joe groaning and rolling on the ground.

"Fuck sake Cupcake, what's your problem."

"Don't touch me." I was not in the mood for his antics.

"I was just trying to get your attention." He was slowly getting up until he noticed the dead body next to him and then he shot up.

"You nearly pushed me into the body; I could have contaminated evidences left on the body."

"Come on Cupcake with both know that's not true, you should let Jamison do it."

I looked at him through narrowed eyes, "You mean the rookie that managed to tank two of your cases, making you well on you way back to directing traffic?" His eye narrowed.

"So you think that you and Special Agent whatever can solve this case."

I ignored him, "what are you doing here anyway?"

"I heard your name of the police scanner, got here as fast as I could. And by the way what were you doing out here almost getting killed."

Mentally I was screaming and imaging myself beating him into a pulp, "If you are not assigned to any of these cases then you need to leave."

"We'll see, and then you'll be working under me." He whispered that last part as he walked around me trying rubs his hand down my back. I stepped away and looked him in his face.

"Please repeat that last part Officer Morelli" his jaw twitched when I said officer.

He just walked away smirking, or I think that's what his face was doing. I watched him walk away trying to put a little swagger in his step but tripped on the uneven dirt. I giggled and from the straightening of his shoulders he heard me.

I don't normally bag the body myself but this time around it was personal and I wanted to make sure no one else could mess with this case.

Carlos walked back over to me, "I saw what happened with Morelli, you ok?"

"Fine nothing I can't handle."

"I don't doubt you Babe."

"So who was that?" I pointed to the guy walking away.

"My superior, he thinks we need to speed along the process."

"We just got this case."

"Yeah, he thinks if the public found out about the murders then they will panic."

I shook my head, "Feel like bagging a body." I looked up at him with a hopeful expression.

Carlos dropped me off at the precinct; he would go back so they can canvas the area. We are supposed to meet up with each other later at his office. The body hadn't arrived yet so I spent some time getting the necessary supplies. It was quiet and I took Carlos's advice about the headphones and I was regretting it. Because of the quiet I could hear every little sound. It was making me jumpy.

I could hear the old elevator on the back hall. No one uses; I thought it was out of order. The elevator has not been used since the renovations 2 years ago. I could hear footsteps getting louder as the person approached. I made sure to not make any sound as I hurried to the side office facing the door. The little office doubled as a panic room in the event of one of the prisoners going rogue. There was a two way mirror on the top half of the door; I quickly clicked the door shut. I could see a man dressed in all black clothing creeping into the lab. I've never seen this person before, but he looked like he knew his way around. As he made his way into the lab, he was looking around. I had left off the lights in the entrance but the examination table was brightly lit. I couldn't see his face, he stayed in the dark. He looked up suddenly turning directly toward the door where I stood. I could make out little features on his face but none familiar. I quickly grabbed my phone and locked the knob simultaneously. I quickly opened the camera and hit record. He was inching his way closer to the door; I held my ground too afraid to move. He was finally closer to the mirror, he looked noticeable, like someone I may have walked past or met a while ago.

He looked at the mirror, our eyes connecting but no recognitions of him seeing me. His eyes were kind of dark blue and blank, no life existing in his eyes.

I don't know if he heard someone, but he sudden looked over his shoulder and hid behind the door.

"NO," I groan I saw Morelli stroll into the room. Morelli was getting on my last nerve always showing up. He looked to be yelling but I couldn't hear him because of the soundproof room.

The man shook his head and swiftly ran up to Morelli and put him in a chokehold. It took him about 15 seconds to jerk him unconscious. There was nothing I could do if I didn't want to expose myself. I watched as he threw Morelli to the floor and ran from the room. I hit stop on the camera and quickly sent the video to Carlos.

My phone rung a moment later, "Don't move."

He hung up.