Damon walks back outside to get a breath of fresh air. The street is filled with squad cars, light bars flashing and a multitude of uniformed officers. The sun is reflecting off the yellow crime scene tape, securing the scene. Reaching into his shirt pocket, he pulls out a cigarette and lights up another one.
Jeremy Gilbert was certainly no poster boy for the straight and narrow. He was a well known figure in Reno's underworld. His existence was rather shady and it seems he obviously ran afoul of the wrong person or persons. He disappeared about five years ago, vanished without even a trace of evidence... Till today that is.
Damon is not exactly sure how long his vic had been missing as everyone interviewed was either tight lipped or they couldn't pin point with any specificity when they last saw him. There were many suspects, business partners, family, friends who stood to profit from his disappearance but every trail, every tip he received led absolutely nowhere. Although he had no doubt that Gilbert had been murdered, there was never any proof to substantiate his hunches. Well, it couldn't be any more clear now. He hardly got into the barrel willingly.
He can see no bindings though, Jeremy could have been either unconscious or already dead when they stuffed him inside. The seal had to be airtight for his body to mummify the way it did. He's no pathologist but he's not an idiot either. Putting the cigarette in his mouth, he takes a long pull, blowing out smoke rings when exhales. Patience is not exactly his best virtue but he knows he has to wait till his team is done processing the scene. If he could, he'd gladly pull the body out and carry him to Dr. Maxfield himself if it meant getting the autopsy results as soon as possible.
It might be considered inappropriate enthusiasm but this one is personal. Jeremy Gilbert's disappearance was the last case he worked on before leaving missing persons to join the cold case department. He always thought of it as unfinished business and when Jeremy's file was turned over to his unit, he stuffed it in his desk drawer. As one year bled into the next, he would occasionally pull it out and read through it again. Perhaps his case can now finally be solved? Damon promises himself right here and now that he'll leave no stone unturned to try bring the killer to justice.
After stomping out his cigarette butt, he nods at one of the detectives when they bring the barrel out. He examines it meticulously, noting the rust and the illegible name on the outside...
Now that the forensic team has wrapped up their business, he goes back in. In the darkness of the crawlspace, cobwebs lie as traps, their intricate webbing almost like artwork as they adorn the room when his flashlight illuminates them. Dust clings to them and they're almost beautiful in a macabre sort of way. If he switches off the flashlight, it's pitch black and there's no seeing them until he feels them on his face. Each one is enough to set his heart beating faster than it should.
There's only eerie silence in this room, the only sound in the twenty by thirty foot space are his foot falls and breathing. The cobwebs crackle softly as they contact his shirt, or worse, his face. Although the stickiness the spider gave them is gone, they still cling to him in a way that spooks Damon. All of his life he has hated spiders.
"Shane said he knew nothing about this room. He showed me the blue prints from when they bought the house from... The guy's right, this place is not on them. This must have been added sometime after the house was originally built."
Damon nods and then goes back outside. Shane is rather animatedly talking to some beat cops about his big discovery. Damon mentally rolls his eyes having heard the story from the home owner already himself. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out his car keys. Ric jumps into the passenger seat, Luka in the back and then he shifts into gear to drive downtown to their precinct to start writing their reports.
Finally he may be getting back to the starting line.
His pen is buried in his hair as he stares at the computer. He's trying to type of his report but he keeps getting distracted by memories. He remembers very well when Jeremy Gilbert went missing. His disappearance wasn't even reported for a few weeks and when it was, it was by some girl. He wasn't initially assigned to the case so he never met the woman. Pulling his pen out, he flings it against the desktop and then picks up his phone to check in with Dr. Maxfield one more time.
Damon knows he's good at what he does but he doesn't appreciate the rude rejoinder when the guy tells him in no uncertain terms to stop calling him so he can work. Shaking his head, he knows there isn't anymore for him to do at the office today. As much as he doesn't want to admit it, he could use a few hours rest. Standing up, he picks up his jacket to leave the place. Ric pats his shoulder, promising that he will call him the minute he hears something from the good doctor.
When Damon gives him a nod, he calls Luka and offers to buy him dinner. With a shake of his head, Damon walks out, letting the door fall closed behind him. He's certain that Luka is up for Ric's famous rookie speech, he mentally smiles at that because he was once on the receiving end of it himself. Ric isn't that many years older than Damon but he's been around the block a few times, learned a few things. He took Damon under his wing from the day they met, feeling a responsibility for his younger partner. Somehow Damon became the head of their division but their bond is unbreakable after walking together for a few years now.
Once he's outside, he breathes in the fresh air allowing him to at least try to shake off the stress of the day. As much as he tries to keep the two murders that strangely coalesced today in the back of his mind, he's unable to separate the events of the day. Rather than stew about it, he gets into his car and heads to the one place he always comes to find some semblance of peace.
Twenty minutes later he parks in front of the cemetery, quickly walking to the north corner, stopping when he reaches the small headstone that he knows so well. He sits on the bench before the grave caressing the words carved into the stone with his gaze.
Adriano Salvatore 1954 - 2002
Beloved Son, Brother, Uncle, Good man.
The message behind these simple words, Damon chokes at the sadness he can still feel whenever he thinks of him.
I miss you.
It's been fifteen years but it still feels raw and viscerally painful. He's well aware how much Adriano and his disappearance affected not only him but the whole family really. His dad has never been the same. Since then, Damon grew up faster, his plans for the future changed during their search for answers. Looking for truth about his favorite uncle became his religion, his obsession and he's never wavered in his quest to remove any hint of suspicion that has always hung in the air. Whether it takes the next ten years or a lifetime, he made a solemn vow to his uncle that he'd move mountains if necessary to prove him innocent of such heinous supposition.
"Are you in trouble, son?"
The warm voice and steady hand on his shoulder never cease to make him feel better. "Dad? What are you doing here?"
Giuseppe sits down next to him. "I come here every week at the same time. What's your excuse?"
Damon chuckles a little, his dad can always see through him. "We had two bodies turn up today. One of them is almost certainly Jeremy Gilbert."
"The Jeremy Gilbert?"
Damon nods. "Exactly."
"Congratulations, Damon. Do you think now that you have his body, you might possibly solve his case?"
"I hope so. I put everything into my work, dad. If I don't succeed, it isn't for the lack of trying."
Giuseppe nods. "I'm sure you do. And I'm proud of you for it, I hope you know that. But Damon, try not to make it personal. I know it's the first case you didn't solve, but there is, will be more. This one's not all that different from many of the others who've simply vanished."
"You're wrong, dad. This one's very different."
He and his dad spend some time at the cemetery, just reflecting on their relative. Although his dad suggested coming to the house for dinner and Damon wasn't opposed to it, he hardly had time to say goodbye when Alaric called him to get back to the precinct. Damon looks at his dad, regret weighing heavily on his features.
"I know, I know," Giuseppe just waves him off before Damon can start explaining as he witnesses his son go alert while on the phone. "Don't be a stranger, alright? I know you're going to be busy for some time but a short phone call or a meal won't kill you."
"Of course," Damon nods, "I'll be in touch." He squeezes his father's hand and leaves the cemetery.
Giuseppe watches his son hurry out of the place, jump into his vehicle and speed away. It didn't escape his attention how tired his son looks. But he's a Salvatore through and through, he'll push himself to the brink of exhaustion before he admits defeat.
Twenty minutes later, Damon is back at Police Headquarters, he heads straight to the pathology department.
"I thought you were in a hurry Salvatore," Dr. Maxfield welcomes him with his typical sarcasm. Ric and Luka are already there, his partner gives him an eye roll at the doctor's antics, Luka looks like he's trying hard to swallow his fear at being introduced to another corpse, this one mummified.
"Wes, I'd never dream of missing your wit and sarcasm," Damon retorts, giving him a grimace.
The doctor lets it go and steps closer to the table, pulling the sheet off the body. "We have his dental records from his original file. Meredith is going over them now. Everything matches up, height, the squid tattoo, his wallet was in his back pocket, no money but he did have his driver's license on him along with some credit cards. I found some light ligature marks around his wrists and ankles but none around his neck."
"Any bullet or stab wounds, any defensive wounds?" Damon asks.
"None," Wes explains, adding, "I think he was probably asphyxiated and then stuffed into that barrel. It's well preserved because of the airtight environment. He could easily have been in there for five years."
"So we're just waiting for Meredith to positively ID his dental records?"
"Your vic is indeed Jeremy Gilbert," Meredith Fell interrupts, stepping into the room. She slides some of the dental films against the X ray illuminator, pointing out the same characteristics, thus confirming the remains as Jeremy's.
"Thanks Meredith," Ric adds, giving his wife a wink.
Damon nods before turning back to Wes. "If you find or think of anything else..."
"...Then I'll give you a call, I know the drill detective."
"Thank you. Good job, both of you," Damon offers. After receiving an acknowledging nod from Dr. Wes, he walks out of the morgue to go back to his office.
As soon as Ric gets back, he plops down in his chair. When Damon looks up, meeting his gaze, he quips, "I cannot believe the way you scratched the Billy goat under his chin and he even bleated obediently." He laughs, unable to hide his amusement.
Damon chuckles. "I meant it this time. That guy is gold, he's very good at what he does so when he actually earns a thanks from time to time, it's no skin off my nose. Besides, you know what a generous sort of guy I am."
"Well, when you put it like that, I can admit you have a point." He turns around to Luka. "How was it? Better?"
Luka nods, amazed himself that he didn't have to run off in search of a bathroom to spill his guts.
"See? I told you. If you really want to be a cop, you have to have a strong stomach. It never gets easy really but you have to learn how to sublimate and then it gets less hard to deal with." He turns to Damon, "What's next?"
Damon looks at his watch, stands up and stretches his arms above his head. "Well, now that his identity has been confirmed, we have to find his sister to tell her 'good news'." Without looking back, he starts to walk out of his office.
"Now?" Luka retorts incredulously. "I mean, it's nine twenty, is it normal to inform relatives this late? It's not like we need to hurry as...," he trails off when his colleagues keep walking.
"Where she is, the night's just getting started," Damon tells him and gets into the car, letting Ric drive this time.
Stepping out of Ric's pickup, Damon pauses a minute to take in the place. It's been years since he stepped inside 'The Jungle' but he's never forgotten the atmosphere of the place. The exterior looks like King Kong's gate. It's huge with bright green neon letters flashing "The Jungle." When they step inside, Damon is in awe of how the place has grown since he was last here.
Although they're made of a plastic, fiberglass like material, the trees she has on the inside are very realistic looking. Its dim, colors and music are flashing like a strobe light. She has two huge salt water fish tanks on either side of the restaurant's entrance. The tables are bamboo décor, the ceiling has plant life hanging down, along with fake but real looking reptiles dropping down. She even has a faux volcano to delight the children. The bongo drums, native, primitive like sounds fill the air. It really is a stunning place. There's a rope bridge that leads from the restaurant to the bar area. It traverses an indoor waterfall. Damon cannot even begin to imagine how much it cost her to build a place like this. She's made some improvements since he was last here but it's still the same, it has her touch. He notices Luka's surprise and answers before he can utter the words.
"Yes, we're exactly where you think, in the Shane's neighborhood. The Jungle has been around along time... before the zoning rules would have prevented their close proximity. The victim's sister is the owner and proprietor of this fine establishment."
"But that's...," Luka's mind is filled with possibilities.
"Yep, exactly," Ric confirms.
Damon firmly pushes the door and within a few steps he's already met with the first safety measure. He doesn't bother to stop to chat with a low level security guard, instead he holds up his badge and walks around him. Before entering the bar itself, a tall dark figure appears next to him, Kol Mikaelson, her head of security.
"Detective Salvatore? It's been a long time. To what do we owe the pleasure?"
Damon gives him his full attention, this guy's not one to mess with, she demands that every one of her employees keep protocol. But it's not only Kol that yanks Damon's chain, he's butted heads with his pain in the ass lawyer brother a time or two as well.
"Mr. Mikaelson, we're here to see Miss Gilbert. It's official business, of course."
"Is it really necessary to bother her at this hour? Can't you just stop back in the morning when she's not busy with guests?"
"Believe me, Kol, it's important. If it could wait till morning, I wouldn't be here. And besides, you're a clever fellow, I'm sure, you and some of her other employees can take care of the guests for a few minutes?"
Kol doesn't exactly have any reason to stop them, so he steps aside and lets them pass but follows right behind them.
Damon continues up the stairs, wondering who will be next to try to stop him. Her ever present watch dogs are clearly on alert. When he reaches the familiar door, he knocks shortly and enters without waiting for an invitation. The room is a perfect blend of an office and sanctuary. It hasn't changed much either although he does notice that the ambience is just a tiny bit less foreboding. He vaguely perceives Ric and Luka coming to stand beside him, instead he focuses on the figure in front of him.
"What the... Officer Salvatore, can't you at least give us some advance warning? Or have you transferred to the vice squad?"
Lorenzo 'Enzo' St. John, is the club manager and the owner's right hand man. He's loyal to a tee. Some things never change, he's mocking him as usual but Damon is well prepared for their less than warm welcome.
"If our information could wait till tomorrow, Mr. St John, I can assure you that I'd be at home in bed at this hour." Buried inside a woman...
"I suppose we really have no choice but to listen to what you have to say... Then you can go home and crawl into that bed," a new voice, her voice sounds from a dark corner of the room. She's just as stunning as he remembers so much in fact that he can't take his eyes off her.
"Good evening Miss Gilbert. My apologies for interrupting you at this late hour but I'm afraid this simply couldn't wait."
"I'm listening."
"I guess there's no sense beating around the bush then... We found your brother's remains earlier today."
Damon looks anything but apologetic as the words spill from his mouth.
If she's surprised, she doesn't show it. She should be shaken up but Damon's not sure that the news is anything more than an inconvenience. Her eyes are boring into his and from experience, he knows she won't be the first to look away.
"I suppose you will need a statement then. Do you want to do it now?"
"Of course not, Miss Gilbert. We just wanted you to know that he's been found. Would 10 am tomorrow morning work for you?"
She nods. "Should I come to the station or...?"
"It's alright Miss Gilbert. We can do it here, we'll be leaving now."
"Thank you," she replies, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Damon shortly nods and walks through the door quickly without looking back. Ric and Luka only catch up with him outside. Luka looks more shaken than the grieving sister.
"That was cold!"
Damon can't disagree. With his eyes on Luka, he makes the comment, "Welcome to the jungle."
Eva and I want to thank you all so very much. You're such an incredible group of people, you awe us all the time. Thank you doesn't seem to be nearly enough. We are truly grateful.
Thank you to my sister Eva. I love you to pieces.
Chapter title: "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses.
Many very dear friends have stories in progress: Short on words, Mariah April May, Salvatoreboys4ever, Justinia Korax, TheLittle MissVixen, VitsAsh, AfterSundown, deepwater1978, StarlightSo and Amazing Aisha. Florencia7 doesn't have anything right now but her DE's are always amazing. These wonderful ladies are among so many others who are keeping the DE dream alive.
I hope you all have a safe and an incredibly wonderful day. Thank you all again so very much. We'll see you, hopefully tomorrow with November Rain 13.