So I should be finishing off my update to Breaking Through but then this came to me. Let me know if you like it and whether I should continue.
The uniforms had condoned off the alleyway. Not that there was much need. With the pandemic at its peak, the streets were deserted. Most people were following the directive to stay home unless to shop for food or other essential items. A small number still travelled to work unless they were lucky enough to clock in at home. Not really feasible for a homicide detective, Gail thought gloomily, as she parked next to the forensic van.
At least she wasn't partnered with Dov today. He had become near hysterical wiping anything she touched, from door handles to the steering wheel, with anti-bacterial solution. If Covid-19 didn't kill her, the chemicals from the cleaning products would.
'I know you're a germaphope,' Gail had said to Dov, 'but isn't this taking it to extremes even for you'
'You'll thank me when you don't die,' Dov had retorted.
As she got out of the car, Gail pulled on a pair of disposable gloves. She did a quick scan of the perimeter. No sign of Frankie.
Duncan was standing by the tape at the entrance to the alleyway.
'Detective Peck,' he grinned in that way which to Gail somehow always seemed like a cross between puppyish over enthusiasm and something a bit lecherous. 'Forensics are here,' he nodded towards the van. 'But not Detective Anderson.'
'You'll make detective yet, Gerald,' Gail said drily.
'You think?' Duncan brightened even more.
Gail looked at him impassively and scooted under the tape.
'Oh, oh,' his face fell. 'I guess you saw the van and—'
'Yeah, yeah,' she flapped her hand dismissively. She wasn't even sure why she was being so mean. It wasn't like she didn't know Officer Moore was an idiot or needed to rub it in. Fact was it seemed like she was permanently in a bad mood, so much so that it was even beginning to bother her. Maybe it came from living alone.
When the government decided everyone should isolate at home, Gail wasn't too worried. She was at work when the announcement was made. Chloe had regarded her forlornly and asked 'how are you going to survive all alone by yourself?' To which Gail replied, 'I am going to revel in the fact that I do not have to make excuses to avoid seeing you losers socially.' Chloe frowned sadly and then made as if to lurch towards her but Gail held up her hand in a stop gesture. 'Social distancing remember. 1.5 metres. I wouldn't want to have to arrest you.'
Outside of work, people had generally left her alone. Elaine had called once, if anything miffed that she'd been forced to cancel a date she'd set up for Gail with a rising star from the Attorney-General's department. Like it was Gail's fault that the coronavirus had halted Elaine's matchmaking plans. 'It's not like I'm patient zero,' Gail told her mother. 'What?' Elaine had asked, clearly not understanding what Gail was getting at. 'Audra is going places and she's easy on the eye too,' Elaine had then chuckled uncomfortably as though admitting a woman was attractive might threaten her avowed heterosexuality.
Oliver had checked in a few times and Chloe too, though Gail had left her calls unanswered. Frankie fired off a message late one evening saying 'I suppose a down and dirty booty call is out of the question?'. They hadn't fucked in years, not since the brief dalliance after Holly left, and though Gail mainly couldn't stand Frankie she was slightly tempted, if only for some physical connection. She might even have replied but then Frankie sent a second message with 'oops, wrong number' and Gail recalled the detective had started seeing someone called Gabriella, which explained how she'd hit Gail's name by mistake.
Gail and Chris had played some video games but he was married now with two kids and another on the way and didn't have a lot of free time. 'But you call me if you need anything and I mean anything,' he had said to Gail, his brows knitting together earnestly. 'Anything?' she asked and he nodded so much she wondered if he'd ever stop. 'So you'd bring me cheese puffs when the supply runs dry?' Chris being Chris didn't laugh or get annoyed that she wasn't taking him seriously but instead looked offended. Had she hurt his feelings? Probably. It was a generous offer given he had his own family to think about and now she doubted she could call on him.
So all in all, social isolation wasn't quite what it was cracked up to be or more precisely what she'd hoped it would be. Gail Peck missed people, and it wasn't just this fact but her annoyance at discovering it, that was making her mean and cranky. Yesterday Chloe had persisted in calling her 'Detective Grouchy' in a sing song voice and didn't stop until Gail threatened to shoot her. 'I'm sure the courts would see it as justifiable homicide,' she smiled sweetly at Chloe, 'I'm willing to take my chances.'
Even though it was a cool morning the alleyway smelled fetid. Not of a corpse but of the rotting garbage that overflowed the hopper bins belonging to the strip of now shutdown bars and restaurants backing onto the alley. Gail went to cover her nose but stopped. No face touching, even with gloves on.
The body was face down next to one of the hoppers right at the end of the alley. Gail guessed she should be grateful for the exercise. Even at this distance she could tell the man's hair was matted with blood. Two forensic nerds were by the body. One was kneeling to take photos while the other, who had their back to Gail, sketched the scene. They were both wearing full protective gear—biohazard suits with hoods, googles, double gloves and N95 respirator masks—so Gail didn't recognise either until Rodney looked up from where he was crouched by the body.
'Detective Peck,' he said, and it sounded like he was smiling, even though the mask muffled his voice.
Before she could reply, Rodney's colleague spun around so fast it almost made Gail dizzy.
'Holly,' Gail breathed, not quite believing what she was seeing.