Chapter 3: Forensic Examinations
It never gets easier.
Each incision hurts as much as the first. Each time a body lands up on my autopsy table, a sadness for the life taken comes over me but I do my best. I do my best to make sure each and every body that I examine gets some kind of answers, some kind of justice. But it's times like these that hurt the most. Times when evil puts itself on display in front of me.
I swallow down the bile that's burning my throat, harden myself against emotion and empty the two items from the black trash bag before I begin. I snap my gloves into place and pick up the first appendage that spills out before speaking into the Dictaphone on the side. "There's a left pedal, severed rather clumsily at the lower tibia. The tarsus, metatarsus and phalanges seem to be in good order. The plantar is approximately 6.23 inches long. The size indicates that this is indeed from a child as suspected but results of the blood work we intend to do will confirm this.
"There is also a right femur and the surrounding tissue. Again, severed rather crudely, indicating that whoever did this is an amateur. The femoral artery has been cut. Unless some form of medical attention was received, the victim is very likely to have bled out.
"Blood work will ascertain whether both parts are from the same body. Based on the pale skin tone present on both limbs and size, I'm inclined to infer that they are but this is not a certainty," I say, cleaning away the blood coating the two body parts and dipping my gloves in the sterile water.
"There is a small scar on the front of the femur, towards the right side. It is 5 centimetres long and jagged, indicating that this was not from a medical procedure. The colouring and smoothness implies that it is an old injury. There is also a mole on the inner femur but otherwise, no other identifiable marks are present." I take a deep breath after examining the foot and thigh on my table. I pick up the trash bag and peer inside. There's nothing but blood that I can see and so I turn it inside out on top of the autopsy table, taking a closer inspection and that's when I see it. There's a piece of paper, stained red. Just visible is the block capitals of a typed note.
Puzzles.
Each piece is as important as the last. You can't just pick and choose.
Let's see if you can work this one out.
I think back to the woman, pale faced and teary eyed as she stood in front of me after I raced to her house. It was an hour before I was supposed to wake up and begin my day, it was an hour and half before I was supposed to have breakfast with Karma after our movie night last night, where touches and caresses and words that were too intimate for friends but not enough for lovers were shared.
It was magical and I knew reality had to set in at some point.
This woman's son, Ty, had been missing for a few days. As she was leaving the house this morning, she opened the door to see the garbage bag on her step.
I grit teeth and close my eyes for a few seconds, once again baring witness to the evils of humanity. I cough to clear my throat and begin talking again, opening my eyes and slipping my professional mask back into place.
"Inside the bag that the pedal and femur were found in, a note and blood have been discovered. Blood work will be taken of this as well as checking for fingerprints or any other forms of identification," I say, preparing to take blood samples before examining the appendages further.
2:36pm.
That's what my watch says by the time I decide to take a break. My stomach growls, aching for food and I almost tell it to be quiet before I realise that that's not exactly normal.
I pack up my stuff before heading over to Nice n' Steamy, the café I met Karma at two days ago that does the best coffee I've ever tasted. My stomach rumbles again and I growl in response, moving faster.
I'm still awaiting the test results for the body parts found earlier. The lead detective catches me just as I reach the precinct doors.
"Dr Raudenfeld, are the results in?" I shake my head and sigh. He does this every time.
"No, Detective Booker. I told you, I will personally bring them up or call to let you know the results as soon as I receive them." He frowns and tugs at his yellow and pink tie, his yellow and pink tie that should be burned. If I think its bad fashion, it must be. I mean, I'm standing here in black scrubs and a lab coat.
"Can't you speed this along? I need those results, now."
"No, I cannot. The lab technicians are working as efficiently and accurately as possible. Now, please, move out of my way."
"You're leaving?"
"I'm going to lunch, Detective Booker. I haven't eaten in over 12 hours. The technicians will contact me should the results come in whilst I'm away. If that happens, I will come back as soon as possible."
"I need those results ASAP."
"I'll only be across the street, Detective. Now, please let me past."
I side step him and begin to leave when I hear him say: "Fine, but you better not be long with those results, Doctor."
"Or what?"
"Or you'll know about it."
"Is that a threat?"
"No. It's an observation. I need those results, I need to try and find this killer. Ty Jones was a child, he deserves justice.
"Firstly, Detective, it is not conclusively established that it even is Ty Jones and—"
"Well, who do you think it is? The Boogeyman?"
"And secondly, don't you dare imply that I do not want justice for this child. Don't you dare imply that I don't care."
"Well, it sure as hell seems like it." I clench my jaw and ball my fists, steadily breathing in through the mouth and out through the nose will my eyes closed before I speak again.
"I have things to do, Detective. I have other cases, other people to find justice for. Yes, I want to find the killer, yes, I wish I was superwoman and didn't need to eat and breathe and piss and shit. But I am. You will not make me feel like taking care of myself is not necessary. You will not make me feel like I am inhuman in my humanity. We can't all be like you. It's no wonder you're divorced at 29," I say, walking away and clenching my jaw once again. I know I reacted unprofessionally, I know what I said was disrespectful but Detective Booker consistently treats me and every other woman as inferior. He treats Karma like she's worthless and then expects me to let things be? He expects me to give him special treatment?
Everyone here knows better than that. Karma may be the emotional one but when it comes to her and my job, all bets are off.
I'm standing in line, breathing in the strong scent of coffee when someone tugs on my arm and I turn around to see her, Tina McAdams.
"Oh, hey. It's been so long," I say after throwing her wave, internally rolling my eyes at my own awkwardness.
Why did I have to run into her?
"It sure has, Raudenfeld. You're looking good," she says, checking me out from head to toe. I pass my weight from foot to foot and awkwardly put on a fake smile, scanning the room for a way out of this…awkwardness.
"Yeah."
"So, how've you been? How's Karma?" she asks, nodding her head behind me. I turn and see the line moving forward and take a couple of steps back.
"I'm good. Just working," I shrug. "Karma, she's good. She has the day off so, yeah."
"That's good."
"Yeah. So, how're you?"
"I'm good. Working, too. Just checking in with a client, y'know?"
"Oh, yeah. So, how's the job going?"
"It's going good."
"That's good. You always wanted to be a lawyer."
"Yeah and you always wanted to be a medical examiner so I guess we both got lucky, huh?"
"Something like that," I say, nodding my head and shrugging.
"What can I get for you," the lady at the counter asks. I give her my order and add on Tina's Caramel Latte before spotting a table to sit at and staring intently at it. Tina rolls her eyes.
"Go put your lab coat down or something. I'll wait for the drinks and you know they'll bring you your food when it's done."
"Sure thing. Thanks Tina."
"You're welcome." And so that's what I do. I sit at the table and wait, playing with my fingers and avoiding Tina's direction at all costs.
Seriously? Why did I have to run into her of all people on today of all days? I'm having an internal debate over whether I should invite her to ruin my lunch or politely encourage her to leave when she walks over, drinks in hand. She places a cup of steamy hot coffee in front of me and I notice the takeaway cup in her hands.
Thank god for the little things. I almost sigh out loud in relief and I feel the tension leave me.
"Thanks for the coffee, Raudenfeld. Maybe I'll see you around," she says, raising her cup in the air and nodding her head at me.
She's so weird.
"Thanks for bringing mine over and…yeah, maybe." She smiles and looks at me for a few seconds. I not so stealthily avoid her gaze and spot her small smile.
"Something's don't change, eh? Tell Karma I said hi."
"I will."
"See you around," she says, turning and walking out the door without so much as a glance back at me. She's good at that.
"See you around."
And now I can enjoy my lunch in peace…or so I thought.
My phone vibrates and I see that Senior Criminalist Davies has messaged, telling me that the test results are in. I see the waitress, Jennie walking over, plate in hand and I groan. The salad looks so good but instead of eating it, I'm lucky enough to get stuck looking at Detective Booker's unappealing face.
"I am so sorry but I have to get back to work. Could you box this up for me?" I say as soon as she arrives, heartbroken look in place as I have to wait even longer for food, something I adore. I know she'll do it, she's always had a soft spot for me. It's a shame one particular redhead already has all of my attention…and is ten times more beautiful than Jennie…and is funny. Hell, Jennie doesn't even compare...but she's nice…and pretty.
"No problem, Doctor. Duty calls. Just give me a minute," she says, winking before turning and heading back into the kitchen, or what I assume is the kitchen area. I groan and place both hands over my face.
Today is really not my day…but at least she's pretty.
"Guess who I ran into?" I ask Karma as soon as I walk through the door. She's sitting on the sofa, legs folded to the side and head resting on her bent arm. She's wearing a baggy jumper, her favourite shorts (which are also my favourite shorts for her to wear, they're so…form fitting) and her glasses. I take a breath and run my eyes back up and down as she answers.
"Jesus?" I roll my eyes and she laughs, finally facing me. Her hairs tied up and she looks so relaxed as she turns back to read her magazine.
"No, Idiot. Tina."
"Tina? Oh, Tina. The one you broke up with because she got you a tortoise, something you've wanted forever, right?" I roll my eyes again and cross my arms.
"Do you know how long tortoises live for?"
"Er…no," she says, facing me and tilting her head to the side, looking adorably cute as she bites her bottom lip.
"Some live longer than 150 years."
"Wow, okay," she says, dragging the two words out. "That's a long time."
"That's a serious commitment. I'd have that tortoise for the rest of my life."
"Right." She raises an eyebrow. "And that's a problem because?" I sigh.
"I know you don't get it but I just-I wouldn't accept that from just anyone. They'd have to mean something...really mean something to me, y'know?" She hums. "Like 'I'd have to love them' mean something."
"Oh. It wasn't like she was asking you to marry her, Aims."
"I know but that-having something from someone for the rest of my life, that's a big deal to me. I know you think I'm stupid but...yeah." I shrug and take a seat. Karma rolls her eyes.
"You're so weird but I get it. Hey, so would you accept one from me?" I pretend to think for a few seconds, tapping my pointer finger against my jaw.
"Hmm. Would I want to put up with you forever?" She nudges my arm and my facade dissolves into laughter. "Yeah, I think I could manage that."
"Gee, you're so good for a girl's ego." she rolls her eyes. "What would you call it?"
"Swift." She laughs.
"You're a dork."
"So are you. Besides, it fits. Tortoises are like, the only creatures that move slower than you before your morning coffee."
"Hey, I'm offended by that." I scoff.
"You shouldn't be offended by the truth."
"Right," she says, rolling her eyes. "How was work?"
A/N: So this is my favourite chapter that I've written so far! Wahoo! I'm such a nerd when it comes to researching things. I'm clearly not an ME or in the police force so if I've done anything wrong or if anything doesn't sound right, feel free to message me or something.
I hope you enjoy this one, guys.
A
P.S. if any of you have tumblr, this is my fanfic one: .com and my personal one: .com