Case 9: Burned to the Bone
Ramirez stumbled into the room looking sheet white under the green as he looked for the two detectives.
"There, there's a body in the car park, the one on Calgary. It was on fire."
The two detectives were already out of their seats and on their way, telling Ramirez to talk with the Chief.
When they arrived the smell of burnt flesh was heavy in the still air and it made both of them want gag as it hit the back of their throats, JJ was glad he'd left Dorian with Ramirez.
"According to the found ID he is Chad Whickman, and, by the looks of that tattoo, he's a Viper."
The younger sighed, gangs always spelled trouble, no matter what was going on.
"Marvellous, well let's get on with it."
JJ found a cigarette butt not far away and Jones picked up a note, frustrated when he found out it was half erased. Soon the red-head returned with a copy of a foot print, pressing in close to his partner to read the now intact note.
"25 Whisp Lane, top balcony, don't be late again. Rose." David shuddered as the warm breath fanned his throat and the taller's arms circled his waist, firm body pressing close.
"Lets get going Doll, if this is gang related we need to solve it quick." David sighed, leaning back into the hold, savouring the moment before he pulled away.
The coroners collected the body and took the evidence back for them so the two detectives could go straight to their location.
When they arrived at the apartment they were greeted by a beautiful young hispanic women who looked between them in worry.
"Excuse me ma'am, are you Rose?" Her face paled and she looked as if she'd be sick.
"It's Chad isn't it?" Tears built up in her eyes and they fell when the elder nodded. "I knew something was wrong when he didn't show up, I waited all night."
"Who the hell is that?" A man clad in red, a skull tattoo adorning his arm came to the door. "What the fuck do you want?" He snarled at them only to be slapped by his sister who raged at him in Spanish, more tears falling down her face before she pushed him out of the apartment and dragged the detectives in.
"He is an idiot! Tony thinks he can do what he likes including banning my boyfriend from my apartment!" She paced back and forth across the small room.
Something caught JJ's eye and he quickly pieced it together to find a very tacky 'love letter' signed Big Baby.
They watched as her anger rose until she collapsed into sobs and they caught her between them, gently guiding her to the sofa.
"I'm sorry, I just, my God Chad." She sobbed into her hands.
"You've got nothing to be sorry for Sugar, nothing at all." The southern soothed the best he could. They waited until the tears stopped and Jones handed over a tissue for the girl who took it.
"Now sweetheart if you're up to it would you mind telling us a little more?" The gentle coaxing did the trick as she nodded.
"Me and Chad met at a bar, it was instant chemistry." Blue and green eyes flickered meet each other. "We started talking and it from there. Tony hated it, the head of the Skulls little sister dating a Viper." She laughed harshly, a sob came from her throat. "My one true love dead."
She sobbed again and the young detective pulled her into his chest, letting her cry.
"Then there was Big Baby, that if it who pretended to be friends with Chad so he could hit on me, ugliest and fattest of the lot." She shivered. "Find who did this, please." JJ soothed her and she fell asleep so they gently rearranged her on the couch, JJ put his card on the table.
When they went outside they were met with Troy Cassidy leaning against the wall smoking.
"Look, I'm going to be up front. Is the bastard being dead a blessing yes, but I'd never do anything to hurt my sister." And he walked past them into the apartment and JJ was pretty sure the guy was telling the truth.
It was well past lunch so they decided to grab something before walking through the streets, looking for Big Baby.
Yep, fat and ugly, the little test was no help and was lucky JJ didn't stuff that damn cigarette down his throat when he blew in the marines face.
They didn't have much else to go off so decided to call it a night as the world outside started getting dark.
Not much later the elder detective appeared at the younger's door.
They cuddled on the couch as they ate dinner, watching recordings before they went to bed, curled around each other, content in holding one another.
How the hell had it gotten to this?
The next morning they swung by to get the results from yesterday, noticing the number of Vipers ans Skulls being dragged up to the second floor.
In the basement they met Nathan who was already calving into another body.
Jones just grabbed their file from the side as the man started talking.
"The killer used gasoline to burn him alive, I also found blue divers under his fingers and dandruff on his body that doesn't match his DNA. In other words your killer has major dandruff."
Both detectives snorted, they couldn't help it.
"Understood. Thanks Nathan, have fun."
Before they went up to Grace.
"Morning guys. Morning Dorian." The puppy yipped in response earning a chuckle from the female red-head.
"All I can tell you is that cigarette was used to start the fire that killed your victim." She shrugged.
"So the killer smokes." Jones hummed before thanking her and they went up to the top floor.
"What is it with you guys and giving me bad footprints?" Alex complained as they came in.
"You're supposed to be genius, besides it's not like we can ask them nicely to leave a perfectly clean print behind." JJ smirked, grinning when the younger pouted.
"It's from a sports shoe, standard tread." They ruffled his hair to squeaked protest before they left for the third floor.
"So recap." Jones collapsed into his chair, JJ perched on the desk. "We have a Viper, burnt alive who was dating the younger sister if the Skulls leader. The killer wore sports shoes and blue, smokes and has dandruff." He sighed and both contemplated their next move.
"Sargeant Jensen." Ramirez popped up out of thin air like normal. "A Miss Cassidy is waiting for you at reception." JJ sent up a silent prayer, gripping his rosary subconsciously while his partner smiled at the movement.
It only took moments for him to find the young women who wore a weary smile.
"Miss Cassidy, what can I do for you?"
"I found this earlier." She handed over a coffee stained paper. "It's an advert for a job interview, on the day he died, I remember because he spilt coffee on it, I hope it helps."
She left without saying anything more and JJ went up to the lab, using the spectrum scar to isolate the black beneath the coffee.
He didn't hesitate in taking it up to Alex who quickly ran it through the computer.
The ID placed the advertiser as Joe Stern.
It was Jones as always who went and spoke with Joe who complained vehemently about the Vipers while JJ lifted the trash when the Wal-Mart owner mentioned throwing applications away, he also spotted the broken CCTV tape and took it.
Back at the station the tape was taken to Alex while they rummaged and found Chad's application.
"It looks like he was trying to go straight." Jones sighed.
"Makes sense, leave the gang, get a job and make a life with the girl he loves." Strong shoulders slumped and he sighed, wishing it was all a little less tragic.
They didn't wait long until Alex had something.
"The tape doesn't work well but, it filmed the murder and got enough to tell yout killer is six foot."
"You know David, this wasn't a gang hit. Do you want to make the arrest or shall I?"
Said man chuckled as they left.
Joe Stern spilled everything in seconds about his hate for the Vipers and how one dare try and get a job from him, that he should be celebrated as a hero.
It made them sick.
Night brought the detectives together again, beers in hand in the warm autumn night as they sat upon the back.
Both were thinking on the tragic loss that had taken place but also something that Rose had said, 'instant chemistry'.
The elder made up his mind and stood, walking yo the younger, lips descending to meet the others.
JJ didn't hesitate, pulling him forward onto his lap, this could all go to hell but neither of them were stupid enough to waist it.
