Chapter twenty-one; Invitations and children murderers.
The wedding will probably in a chapter or two, but I'll see what my crazy mind concocts.
Henry felt every part of his being burn with sadness. As he looked down on the autopsy table the young boy that lay there lifeless brought back memories of world war two. The Nazi's were relentless and they killed every being in their way. Be it adult or child. The young boy that lay in front of him was six years old. He was barely a pre-schooler and he was already a victim to death. Tears prickled down Henry's cheeks and he could barely find the courage to stand. He leaned forward on the table with his hands stretched out in front of him. The images of the mass murdering of children flashed before his eyes. Back then he tried to focus on the fact that there might be survivors, but now the memories haunted his very soul.
Henry did the only thing that could comfort him. Since the other ME's had the day off, except for Lucas which was on lunch break. Henry started to sing a song that he heard a soldier sing once in the midst of all the death that surrounded them. Though he didn't sing it in English. He decided that the proper language would be German, because when he heard the song escape the soldiers' lips it was in that very language. As the notes of the lullaby graced his ears he started seeing the soldier who had sung them. He was a lively young man, someone who was kind and caring, someone who should've had to fight in the war as he did. The young man died a soldier. His life was taken by another comrade. He was in a dire situation, captured by the enemy to be used as a hostage. His fellow comrade did the kindest thing possible and ended his short life.
Tears prickled down Henry's cheeks. The pain as fresh as when he received it. Though he didn't know the young man very well he still considered him a friend. Henry took a deep breath and continued the rest of the beautiful lullaby. When the song ended he placed a kiss on the boy's forehead. Though he didn't know the child in anyway, he thought it was the right thing to do and for a moment Henry felt as if he was kissing a young Abe goodnight.
"I didn't know you could sing." Jo said with a soft and kind voice. At first Henry was startled, but then he relaxed, knowing he could trust this women with everything in his damaged soul. He slowly turned around and came face to face with Jo. She was standing a few feet away, leaning against on of the morgue's doors.
"I never use my gift a lot, not even in the shower." Henry said with a sad smile. She stared at him with loving eyes and lifted herself from the door.
"This case is taking quite the toll on us. Even Reece is in her office trying to put her focus to better use, but failing miserably." Jo said with a sad laugh.
"Detective Hanson mentioned something about having caught a suspect? Is this true or was he just trying to bring peace to my conscience so I could finish the autopsy?" Henry asked as he turned back to the bruised and battered child.
"We do have someone in custody. The boy's father, but he isn't saying anything until the his lawyer arrives." Jo said with an irritated scowl. Her gaze softened as she then pressed further into the case of Henry's hidden talent. "Where did you learn that lullaby from?" Jo questioned with a soft smile.
"From a lively young man, during world war two in fact. He was one of those… uhm what do you call it…" Henry trailed off as he thought for a moment. "Snipers!" Henry announced as he remembered. "He was a dear friend of mine. I didn't know him that well, but I still see him as a friend and I always will." Henry said as his grim mood lifted a bit.
"I'm glad you weren't too much of a shy man back then." Jo teased with a smile. "Hanson invited us to dinner tomorrow night at his place, but I think that we can persuade him to take us to a restaurant. We can discuss that tonight. Then her face became serious again. "Have you started on the autopsy yet? We need it to hold it against our suspect. Our only thing we can hold against him is that we found him on the crime scene." Jo said as she sighed heavily.
"Not quite, but it'll be finished within the hour." Henry said with a sad smile. "And I think dinner tomorrow with his family would be nice, but we can discuss that matter tonight." Jo nodded as she walked up to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Henry smiled sadly at her then turned back to the child in front of him.
"We'll solve this one no matter what. I'm sure of it." Jo said as she gave his soldier a reassuring squeeze, then she turned and made her way to the elevator.
"Lucas I need you to run this fingerprint in the lab immediately. It is of utmost importance." Henry said as handed Lucas the fingerprint as soon as he stepped into the morgue. "It is the only one found all over the young Samuel Francisco." Henry said as he rushed around his office in search of something after he had handed Lucas the fingerprint.
"Wow, Doc. You really sped things up in the time I was gone." Lucas said with wide eyes.
"I couldn't quite focus on anything else you see. Jo and Hanson already have a suspect in custody and this fingerprint and the autopsy report is absolutely crucial at this point. I already have my theory about what happened and that fingerprint will either acknowledge that very fact or it would lead us to a different suspect. Though I believe that to be very unlikely." Henry added hiding his sorrow about the young boy very well. Though Henry wanted to do right now was go straight home and spend the rest of the afternoon down in his lab, but Jo would surely drag him back to the precinct with much resistance from his side.
"Would you care to share with the class?" Lucas asked expectantly. Henry smiled fiendishly.
"Not until I receive the owner of that fingerprint." Henry stated which made Lucas sigh in defeat. The young man quickly made his way to the lab without wasting anytime.
When Lucas had returned he was walking rather like a 5-year old, whose blue balloon had just been popped. He also had a sad expression in his eyes. Henry instantly knew that his theory was correct and it looked to him like it had effected Lucas the same way.
"This is messed up. Normally these things doesn't effect me, but since it's such a young kid…" Lucas trailed off. "Who in their right mind would…" This time Henry cut him off sadly.
"I know, Lucas. I know." Henry said with a sigh. "Thank you for your help. I'd say that we're done for the day. Go home and enjoy the rest of your Sunday." Henry said with a sigh a he retrieved the papers from Lucas's hands, rather thankful that Lucas didn't use this 'aha' moment. Then he reached for the autopsy report on his desk and made his way to the elevator. When Henry woke up that morning he was focusing on the birthday party that he had to attend with Jo. Now his focus was drifting away to the scared and dying screams of old and young people. World war two was yet again one of the times he'd rather forget, but that was impossible and Henry knew it. As the elevator slowly made its way to the floor above Henry's mind slipped to the last conversation he had with that young man.
2 April 1945
"Yeah, I am quite excited to see my baby. Mary found out about two weeks ago, but still she refuses to go home and leave the fighting to us men." Michael chuckled as he sat with Henry in a bar that was there for the army men of the camp.
"I am still quite amazed that she is allowed to take part in this war as a soldier and not as a nurse, etcetera." Henry said with an interested grin.
"Yeah well, she is the best at what she does, so it isn't that hard to believe." Michael chuckled as he brought mug of beer to his lips. "And I have to say, I am the luckiest man alive to have found someone as special as her." Michael said with a smile before he emptied the contents of his glass.
Henry snapped back to reality when the elevator door opened. Henry quickly made his way to the interrogation room. He was anxious to close this case. It was bringing back to many painful memories and most of them had barely anything to do with this case.
"Well, if you don't have anything else to hold against my client, I think that this interrogation is over." A grey haired man in a rather expensive suit and a brief case in his hand stood along with his poorly dressed, black haired client and made their way to the door. Jo and Hanson shared an anxious look and knew that if Henry didn't get here soon the man would walk and possibly disappear.
"I wouldn't count on that." Henry said after he had swiftly opened the door. He smiled cockily as he noticed the tinge of fear on the suspect at hand. "I would take a seat if I were you Mr. Francisco. This would take some time to explain what I have discovered." As the man made his way back to his chair along with his lawyer Henry sat in one of the chairs next to Jo. She gave him a questioning look along with Mike Hanson, but Henry gave them a confident smile in return.
"I hope this is some hard evidence. My client has been here long enough and he has a son to mourn." The smug lawyer said as he pushed his glasses back up.
"Oh it is. I believe that this is indeed your client's fingerprint. It was discovered all over his son's body." Henry said as he glared at the black haired man in front of him.
"Well that doesn't…" Henry cut the man off before he could continue.
"Your client has an unhealthy amount of suspected child abuse on his record. Don't you Harold?" Henry questioned as he intertwined his fingers and placed his hands on top of the files he had just placed on the table.
"You beat your kid?" Hanson helped Henry press the man even further.
"Don't answer." Harold's lawyer said with warning. Ignoring his lawyer the man slowly nodded.
"What happened to your wife, Mr Francisco? On your record it states that someone broke into your house and beat your wife to death. Is this true?" Henry pressed even further. Jo could see that the man in front of her was on the brink of tears. Pieces of this mystery started to fall in place and she realized that Henry was going to solve another case in one day yet again.
"Don't answer." The lawyer said again trying his best to keep a straight face. Ignoring his lawyer once again Harold shook his head.
"No. It was my fault. You know what, I'm done. Bring the damn confession papers or whatever." The man said with a sad voice.
"What are you doing? Are you delusional?" The lawyer yelled with irritation.
"No. Just tired of lying."
"Well done Dr. Morgan. Another case well rapped up." Reece praised Henry with a tired smile when they exited the interrogation room.
"Thank you Lieutenant. Now if you'll excuse me I'd like to finish the paper work and then I'd like to go home." Henry said with a sad smile. Before Reece, Hanson or even Jo could say anything Henry made his way through the door and retreated to the elevator.
"This case had gotten him well worked up. Is everything alright between the two of you?" Reece questioned. Jo smiled as she placed her hand in her pocket and traced her engagement ring that lay waiting in her pocket.
"Yes. Everything is beyond fine." Jo said with a soft smile.
"Then I'd think that he needs you right now, Detective. Take the rest of the day off. You two did a fine job." Jo nodded as she followed Henry to where he fled moments ago. Reece then turned to speak to Hanson, but Jo was too far away to hear anything.
I think that this wasn't a bad chapter. And for those of you who might think that this doesn't advance the plot… I'd remember that Michael if I were you… As always I'm awesome…