Chapter 13 - Slaughter House
The city's finesse were working the crime scene or "the slaughter house" as it was being called. Seasoned veterans worked quietly and effectively, putting into practice years of training which helped them deal with such things or at least have the appearance of dealing. Rookies were loosing their lunch all over the place, it had gotten so bad that buckets where brought in.
"Jesus Christ mother of God" exclained Mike stepping inside the barrier, his CIA bodyguard following close by his side, hand on weapon, ear piece listening to the Intel from agents scattered around the surrounding area. Mike brought a shaky hand slowly down his face, swallowing down his own lunch. As head of the Metropolitan Police Department he knew that he had to be a strong presence in the face of such evil.
Detective Kate Lam came over, placing a hand on Mike's arm squeezing gently to reassure him. Mike got to work and did his job just like his fellow officers.
A short time later while talking to Kate, he saw her eyes widened staring behind him. Mike quickly turned and saw Vicki striding up to the tape and about to enter the slaughter house.
"Vicki, hold it right there" said Mike putting up his hand.
Mike ducked under the tape and came face to face with Vicki just before she stepped into the room.
"Vicki, you don't want to go in there, trust me" Mike went to grab her arm only to have her shake him off angrily.
"Don't you ever do that again Mike, play the macho guy with me, for gods sake Kate is in there and if she can take it so can I" said angry Vicki.
"Your not officially back on the police force yet, you shouldn't be here" replied Mike trying to find an excuse for one of them not to have nightmares.
"I've got my wedding planner here with me and he said I can go in. I think the CIA out rank you." said Vicki pointing to Bruce behind her. Bruce smiled at Mister Tall blond and beautiful, his arms filled with fabric swatches.
"OK, I'm sorry for trying to save you from the horror, big tough Vicki Nelson, back on the job" said Mike to her face.
Vicki skirted around Mike taking two badges from him, pinning on on her chest and handing the other to Bruce.
"Here hold these for me" said Bruce giving the fabric swatches to a stunned rookie officer as he tried to find the perfect place to pin his.
Vicki and Bruce both put on the gloves necessary to go into a crime scene. The first thing she noticed was the coppery sweet sickly smell of blood drying. Trying to keep her face under control Vicki walked in determined to show Mike she could do this.
"Someone has been a very naughty boy" whispered Bruce standing besides her. Vicki was so shocked at the statement for a second the horror the room receded before flooding back in.
Panic began to fill her, memories flooding back for the night of the ceremony, the ceremony which had summoned Astaroth to the pentagram, knives and battle axes slashing and rivers of blood as Vicki drove the dagger into his black heart that lay quivering on the floor. Vicki took a shuddering breath.
"Vicki here take my arm" Mike had come up behind her and walked her outside again.
"It's ok Vicki, we all felt like that going in there the first time" Mike kept his hand on her arm.
"Mike its not just what's inside there, it's just... Hell forget about it". Vicki angrily shook off his hand and walked off to one side. She had never told him how Astaroth was defeated, all the blood, the rape. He was never going to find out how Henry had brutally raped her in order to destroy the demon. He would never understand.
"I'm going back in Mike, I want to help you get this bastard, I want him dead" growled Vicki.
Mike and Vicki walked back to face the horror together.
... Inside the Room...
Bruce was leaning towards the heads pinned to the wall as if fascinated. A bolt had been drilled through the center of each forehead keeping them in place. The eyes of all the victims were open, staring sightlessly into the room at the remains of their bodies. Parts of the bodies had been pieced together into a framework, a framework in the shape of a Christmas tree. Intestines were looped around like tinsel, hearts, kidneys hung like ornaments. Little skin packages seeped blood onto the floor below the tree. What was left of their bodies after decorating the tree was neatly wrapped in the skin packages.
Vicki doubted she would ever feel the same way about Christmas again.