Chapter 5

Back in the world of Muggles, David Rossi and Spencer Reid arrived at the morgue. Though Rossi held a certain affection for his younger co-worker, he was glad to get out of the car. Reid had spent the entire journey emptying out his bag of witchcraft related knowledge. After ten minutes, Rossi felt like he had actually been at the Salem Witch Trials. After 15 minutes, Rossi wished he was being burned instead of the witches.

"Anyone ever tell you that you're not normal?" Rossi asked.

"Several times." Reid nodded. "I figured that they were complimenting my individuality."

"You keep thinking that, Kid." Rossi muttered, walking inside the building.

The morgue was cool and airy, the bright lights reflecting off the white and silver surfaces, making it look like some space age laboratory. Rossi shivered; he had need liked these places. Seeing the dead bodies was one of his least favourite parts of this job. He tried to keep as many people alive as he could. Reid didn't seem to mind it. He enjoyed science and there were plenty of chemicals to keep him entertained. The medical examiner, a middle aged man with brown hair parted in a straight line, was just setting up the bodies.

"Hello." he said, walking around the tables. "You two are with the FBI?"

"This is Doctor Reid and I'm Special Agent David Rossi."

"Doctor Crawley." the M.E. said. "The victim is over here."

He lifted up a white blanket to reveal the remains of Amber Kersley. Rossi shuddered. It wasn't any prettier in person.

"What did you find?" he asked.

"Well," Dr Crawley began, "these tears were made by animal teeth or something similar. They're rough, like what ever did this hacked at the flesh."

"Could the unsub have taken a skull?" Reid asked. "And used it as a weapon?"

"It's possible." Crawley nodded. "There are smaller, cleaner cuts that were made by a knife. The shape and line of the cut suggests no special serration, so I'd say you're looking at a standard cook's knife, about eight inches long, one and a half inches deep."

"Something that most houses in the city will have." Reid said. "He was careful not to use anything that might point to his identity."

"Anything else?" Rossi asked.

Dr Crawley shifted uncomfortably.

"There are some things," he said slowly, "that, how would you say it? Don't add up."

"Like what."

"Like the fact that there are no signs of a struggle." the M.E. said. "If she had put up a fight we would notice the abrasions on her hands. And yet I can't find any evidence that she was bound, knocked out or drugged."

"Maybe she was taken by surprise?" Rossi offered.

"Maybe." Dr Crawley said skeptically. "It doesn't seem very likely. I can't imagine that she wouldn't claw or scratch at her attacker, unless she was drugged or her hands were tied."

"You didn't find anything?" Reid said in surprise.

"Nothing at all." Dr Crawley shook his head.

"Nothing seems to be the magic number in this case." Rossi sighed.

"Let's look at her bag." Reid suggested.

Amber Kersley's bag was pink and leathery, the kind of bag that lots of teenage girls had. Dr Crawley took out the contents, all of which had been placed in separate plastic bags. There were a few pamphlets advertising deals at local cafes, a wallet with some foreign looking coins and...

"Is that the card that was used to identify her?" Reid asked, picking it up and holding it to the light.

The M.E. nodded.

"The mysterious Salem Institute. Apart from that I found nothing that points to who she is."

"Driver's license?" Rossi asked. "Credit card? Cellphone?"

Dr Crawley just shook his head.

"A girl her age would definitely have a cellphone." Rossi said.

"Maybe she left it at home?" Crawley suggested.

"Teenagers live through their phones." Rossi said. "I don't think she would have left it behind. Perhaps the killer took it as a trophy or perhaps it got left at the crime scene."

"Rossi, look at this." Reid called.

He showed his companion the card. It was white, plastic and shiny. Printed in spiky, black letters were the words "The Salem Institute for the Gifted".

"It looks like a plain card." Reid explained. "But when you hold it up to the light at the right angle..."

He did so and a shape was visible. A five pointed star made up the body of the shape. Inside that was a line that went through an oval. The end of the line connected to the top of a triangle, the base corners just touching the bottom points of the star.

"What is it?" Rossi asked. "Some kind of gang or religious symbol?"

"I'm not sure." Reid said. "But I'm positive I've seen it before."

He took out his phone and opened up the photos of the crime scene that Garcia had sent him earlier. He flicked through slowly, his eyes scrutinizing each picture carefully. Then he stopped and zoomed in.

"There." he cried, grabbing Rossi by the wrist and running out to the car.