Murder has Secrets, chapter 4
Chapter 4
I was working through paperwork on a homicide case the next day when my phone rang.
"Good morning, this is Scarlett Tudor."
"Hello Detective Tudor, this is Dr. Steven from the morgue we have finished the autopsy on body 61350, Mr. Armstrong, would you like to retrieve the results yourself, or should I send them up to you?"
"I'll come and get it Doctor. And would it be too much trouble for you to go over the autopsy again for me?"
"Not at all. I'll see you in five minutes?"
"5 minutes." I hang up and head down to the morgue, which is two floors below mine.
* * *
"The bullet entered the upper right back at a 5 degree angle. It passed through the left ventricle of the heart, stopping when it became lodged in a rib. Bullet was fired at an approximate four foot range," says Dr. Steven.
"Do you have the bullet?" I ask him.
He hands me a clear evidence bag with a small gold bullet inside.
"Thank you. That saved me from reading through more paperwork, and now I can find the weapon this came from."
"Anytime, Detective... May I ask you a question?"
"You just did, but shoot."
"Why would the killer shoot him in broad daylight on a busy street? Why not at night or when they knew he would be alone?"
"Good question. But I don't know the answer to that just yet... " my voice trails off as something clicks in my head, "Yes I do. I'll have to tell you later Doctor, this is really important." I walk out of the morgue at top speed and back to my office, where I dial Tré's number.
"Hello?"
"Tré it was a contract killer."
"Scarlett? Why... How'd you figure that out?"
"They shot to kill. No mercy, execution style. They did it while other people were around at the risk of being caught, but no one saw. There's a reason these people are called ghosts Tré. You don't know who they are, and they take no prisoners."
"Knowing you, you're probably right. If it was anyone else I wouldn't be too sure. But who would hire someone to kill Billie? He doesn't have any enemies... that I know of. You might want to talk to Adie," he replies.
I sigh, "now how did I know that?"
"Because she's your sister."
"Right," I say, "I always seem to need her most when I'm mad at her."
"It's one of the many rules of being a sibling."
I hang up and stare at the phone for a moment before picking up the phone and calling her.
"H-hello?" sniffs Adie. Oh great, she was crying. That just makes me feel even guiltier.
"Hey Adie, it's Scarlett. Listen I found something out today... " And I launch into the same speech that I had told Tré. When I finish, I hear Adie burst into tears.
"This is all t-too h-horrible," she sobs, "b-but it's so wonderful you've found t-that out. T-thanks."
"It's all in a days work," I reply, "but Adie, the reason I called is I need to know if Billie had any enemies, or has had fights with anyone lately."
"Just our usual arguments," she says, "you know, about leaving his clothes everywhere and using my eyeliner and hairspray. If he had enemies y-you would know Scarlett. You probably know more about him than I do. The only thing I can think of is crazed fans, but it's h-highly unlikely they would hire a hit man to do it."
"We can't rule it out, at least not yet. Thanks Adrienne."
"Bye," she says, just as my boss comes into my office.
"Mr. Henderson?" I ask.
"Can I see you in my office Scarlett? There's something we need to discuss."
Oh shit. I think of all the horrible reasons he needs to talk to me as I follow him into his corner office, which is filled with pictures of his family mixed in with America's most wanted and morgue photos. Creepy.
He indicates to a vacant chair opposite him and I sit down.
"Scarlett, it has come to my attention that you solve more cases than any other detective in this building. Which is why I am putting out rookie detective, Daniel Fitzgerald in your supervision."
"So you want me to baby-sit this guy?"
"Pretty much, yes. Show him the ropes, let him help with your latest case. Help him find out the ups and downs of this job."
"But... I... "
"Yes, yes. Thank you for volunteering Scarlett, he'll be here in twenty minutes."
I open my mouth to protest, but already he has closed his office door on me. I go back to my office and wait for my newest burden to arrive.
I was working through paperwork on a homicide case the next day when my phone rang.
"Good morning, this is Scarlett Tudor."
"Hello Detective Tudor, this is Dr. Steven from the morgue we have finished the autopsy on body 61350, Mr. Armstrong, would you like to retrieve the results yourself, or should I send them up to you?"
"I'll come and get it Doctor. And would it be too much trouble for you to go over the autopsy again for me?"
"Not at all. I'll see you in five minutes?"
"5 minutes." I hang up and head down to the morgue, which is two floors below mine.
* * *
"The bullet entered the upper right back at a 5 degree angle. It passed through the left ventricle of the heart, stopping when it became lodged in a rib. Bullet was fired at an approximate four foot range," says Dr. Steven.
"Do you have the bullet?" I ask him.
He hands me a clear evidence bag with a small gold bullet inside.
"Thank you. That saved me from reading through more paperwork, and now I can find the weapon this came from."
"Anytime, Detective... May I ask you a question?"
"You just did, but shoot."
"Why would the killer shoot him in broad daylight on a busy street? Why not at night or when they knew he would be alone?"
"Good question. But I don't know the answer to that just yet... " my voice trails off as something clicks in my head, "Yes I do. I'll have to tell you later Doctor, this is really important." I walk out of the morgue at top speed and back to my office, where I dial Tré's number.
"Hello?"
"Tré it was a contract killer."
"Scarlett? Why... How'd you figure that out?"
"They shot to kill. No mercy, execution style. They did it while other people were around at the risk of being caught, but no one saw. There's a reason these people are called ghosts Tré. You don't know who they are, and they take no prisoners."
"Knowing you, you're probably right. If it was anyone else I wouldn't be too sure. But who would hire someone to kill Billie? He doesn't have any enemies... that I know of. You might want to talk to Adie," he replies.
I sigh, "now how did I know that?"
"Because she's your sister."
"Right," I say, "I always seem to need her most when I'm mad at her."
"It's one of the many rules of being a sibling."
I hang up and stare at the phone for a moment before picking up the phone and calling her.
"H-hello?" sniffs Adie. Oh great, she was crying. That just makes me feel even guiltier.
"Hey Adie, it's Scarlett. Listen I found something out today... " And I launch into the same speech that I had told Tré. When I finish, I hear Adie burst into tears.
"This is all t-too h-horrible," she sobs, "b-but it's so wonderful you've found t-that out. T-thanks."
"It's all in a days work," I reply, "but Adie, the reason I called is I need to know if Billie had any enemies, or has had fights with anyone lately."
"Just our usual arguments," she says, "you know, about leaving his clothes everywhere and using my eyeliner and hairspray. If he had enemies y-you would know Scarlett. You probably know more about him than I do. The only thing I can think of is crazed fans, but it's h-highly unlikely they would hire a hit man to do it."
"We can't rule it out, at least not yet. Thanks Adrienne."
"Bye," she says, just as my boss comes into my office.
"Mr. Henderson?" I ask.
"Can I see you in my office Scarlett? There's something we need to discuss."
Oh shit. I think of all the horrible reasons he needs to talk to me as I follow him into his corner office, which is filled with pictures of his family mixed in with America's most wanted and morgue photos. Creepy.
He indicates to a vacant chair opposite him and I sit down.
"Scarlett, it has come to my attention that you solve more cases than any other detective in this building. Which is why I am putting out rookie detective, Daniel Fitzgerald in your supervision."
"So you want me to baby-sit this guy?"
"Pretty much, yes. Show him the ropes, let him help with your latest case. Help him find out the ups and downs of this job."
"But... I... "
"Yes, yes. Thank you for volunteering Scarlett, he'll be here in twenty minutes."
I open my mouth to protest, but already he has closed his office door on me. I go back to my office and wait for my newest burden to arrive.
