Chapter Sixty-six: Gone
Speed felt refreshed when he pulled the Hummer along the curb. He'd gotten the call while in the shower, hearing his phone beep when he shut off the water. After that it was a scramble to get clothed and leave the apartment. At least he found a temporary sitter for Mite. The sun was barely above the horizon as he stepped out of the Hummer, taking a deep breath of air. Closing the door he walked around to the back of the Hummer, popping the trunk and retrieving his kit. He closed the trunk, listening to the sound, finding it rather creepy that he heard only the sounds he made. Used to working in the bustling city or even in the everglades, home to a variety of animals, the background noise actually helped him focus. Out here, the silence was going to be distracting.
Moving around the Hummer he took in the scene before him. How odd for there to be a house in Miami without a lot of buildings around. The big city practically shadowed the everglades; looked like a hipper and more stylish New York City. There were a lot of similarities between the two cities, and he should having lived in both. But this house, it stood alone in a stretch of greenery, trees and shrubbery hiding the place from certain angles. Even from where he stood he couldn't completely make out the full structure. The home looked to be made of brick, resembling a small mansion more suited to a northern state, not Miami; where most of the big houses where made of white stucco and red roofs.
He ducked under the yellow crime tape, flashing a quick smile to the uniformed officer leaning against his patrol car. Sometimes he talked with the officer, got the lowdown on the crime scene before venturing into the mess. However, he felt like having a look at the scene without hearing what someone else had to say about, without having to hear their theories. He wanted to have his own first impressions. Striding across the lawn he tried to ignore the fact that the grass was starting to get long, a little weedy, and that the cement path to the front door was cracked and uneven. By all rights the place was starting to resemble a home left abandoned, the perfect place for someone to leave a body or commit a murder.
Closer to the large house he got the impression that the home was abandoned. It could have been the way the plants grew right beside the house, encroaching on the structure. It might very well have been the broken windows on the second floor or even the crumbling chimney. Why would anyone in Miami need a fireplace, he wondered. Decaying leaves lay scattered over the three steps that led to the front door. They crunched under his feet. Why couldn't he hear the sounds of the city; which he could see from this vantage point? What about the sound of birds or a barking dog? Shaking his head, driving away all the horror movie moments that popped into his mind, he went through the front door. The wood looked swollen, old, perhaps even moldy.
Stepping into what used to be the foyer he wrinkled his nose, the place reeking of decaying wood and other unpleasant aromas. Including the distinct aroma of decomp. He let his nose lead the way, careful to watch his step in order to avoid ruining evidence and the risk of falling through the rotten floor. He had been right in thinking the place long abandoned. Wall paper peeled off the walls in long strips. There were a multitude of stains on the painted walls, some of which he could easily identify; which actually bothered him to some degree. Perhaps he had been on the job too long.
He passed through what might have been a living room at some point in time. The smell of decomp grew stronger but he still couldn't see the body. He settled his case on the floor, popping it open and removing a flashlight. Given the position of the sun and the amount of overgrowth around the windows the building actually ended up being darker than it should have been, giving him that creepy feeling that he was walking into some sort of trap. He shook his head, refusing to believe that notion. Thoughts like that would keep him from being able to do his job. Still, he pulled out his gun, flipped on the light, and began venturing further into the house. He crossed through the entrance into what might have been a dining room when he heard the sound of a creaking wood.
The sound came from behind him.
He whirled around, gun pointed.
"Ho, it's just me," Delko said, holding out his hands, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Bit jumpy?"
Speed relaxed. "This place is creepy."
"Yeah," Delko agreed, looking around at the room. "Smells awful, too. Have you found the body?"
"No," he shook his head. "That's where I was going. Care to join me?"
Delko placed his kit on the floor near Speed's, drawing his own gun for a measure of safety. The two of them set off to venture through the house. They went through the kitchen, the smell of decomp growing stronger with every step. A door in the corner stood open. A shiver ran down Speed's sign when saw it, knowing for a fact that it would lead to the basement. And his knowledge was confirmed when Delko looked through, announcing that there was a set of stairs. After a short discussion they decided to head down, thinking that maybe the body would be located in the basement. What better place to leave a murder victim?
Half-way down, Speed covering Delko, stopped on the creaky wooden steps. "Maybe we should just go have a word with the officer. He should know where the body is."
"Already talked with him," Delko said, continuing down the basement. "Said he cleared the area as best he could given the condition and smell, figured nobody was inside but he never saw a body. In a place like this it could be stuck in some wall or covered in rubble." He was further down on the set of stairs. "Looks like there is a lot of left over junk down here."
A loud clatter came from somewhere upstairs, making both men jump. Without having to say a word they both started back up the stairs, guns ready, walking carefully. Speed felt his heart beating frantically in his chest. He was trying like hell not to panic, to keep his cool in the heat of the moment. Delko must have read something in his body language because he put a comforting hand on Speed's shoulder for a fleeting moment. Then resumed trolling the area for the sound. Anything could have been hiding in the shadowy corners. They passed through the rooms, backtracking to the front door.
"Shit," Speed muttered when they reached the old living room. He let his gun fall to his side.
Delko came up beside him. "Now this really throws a kink in the chain."
Both crime lab kits were gone from the room.