Golden Skies

Chapter 1: The first of many

The sunlight gently kissed the earth on the early spring morning. One by one vans arrived to the lonely hill to see the dead boy. The scene was filled with cops, and scientists seeking an explanation. A crimson SUV arrives, unnoticed by the mass and a tall man in a long blue trench coat emerges from it. He walks through the yellow tape to find an officer taking note of who is coming in and out. He checks in before heading over to see the body.

"Good morning Detective, late night I suppose?" The Officer laughs and the Detective grins.

"I wish it were that kind of late night. You know if the other precincts want to send us a case they should have the courtesy to organize what they send so that we wouldn't have as much work." The Detective takes out a pen and starts jotting down what he sees.

"Well life ain't always gonna go your way Ramirez." The officer continues to take pictures of the body.

"You seem to be in a good mood. I'm guessing the date went well?" Detective Ramirez finds himself looking around and taking down as many notes as possible.

"Best date I've gone to in years. I might go on another one this week." She playfully winks at Ramirez. "A jogger found handsome here this morning and tried to revive him. She claims he was breathing when she got here but well he isn't anymore. Coles going to have fun distinguishing the peri from post mortem." The Officer stops taking pictures and looks at the body as a whole.

"This is going to be difficult to solve, isn't it. I've always liked challenges, guess it's my lucky day." Detective Ramirez looks up to see the Officer. "What's wrong Potter?"

The Officer's eyes were locked on the body, as if she were mesmerized by it. She tries to look away but it seems impossible.

"I don't know why but he seems so... familiar." The Officers interest concerned Detective Ramirez. This job could get to even the strongest people and Potter was no exception.

"Maybe you saw him around town. With these kinds of clothes, he must have had money. I recognize the handiwork and" The Detective attempts to snap her out of it, and it seemed to have worked enough to let her look away.

"Yeah, it seems to be from Andy's shop..." Officer Potter says in a monotone voice. "I'll go tell forensics that I'm done here." Officer Potter walks away as if she's half asleep which leaves Detective Ramirez even more curious about the dead man's identity. The deadman's suit rose a particular interest in the Detective. He recognized the maker and knew it was expensive and custom made yet it seemed that the suit looked cheap and not fitting on the young lad. He snaps a few pictures before another officer calls him over.

"Ramirez, get over here." A tall, and over-sized man yells at him from far away. Detective Ramirez turns to look and walks over, making a slight displeased expression all the way through.

"Detective Braddock? Need any help?" Detective Ramirez said in an aggravated tone. Ramirez was pretty much convinced that Braddock wanted to take his place as a lead homicide detective and was trying to make him look bad at all costs. Braddock didn't try too hard to keep it a secret. Half of the police department knew Braddock wanted to make Detective Ramirez look bad in front of the commissioner, who was one of the few people who hadn't noticed.

"Nah, I'm good man. It's the lady that needs help." He tilts his head towards the ambulance. Inside the ambulance, there sat a girl who was being examined by the paramedics. She was wearing jogging attire, and had long golden brown hair tied back into a long braid, who's tips reached just past her waist. She was particularly petite, he thought she couldn't be older than 25. She had a fair complexion, and her checks were red.

"The jogger I assume." Detective Ramirez didn't take his eyes off of her. Something was oddly familiar about her, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Officer Braddock laughed at him, and Ramirez turned to give him a confused look.

"Yeah, she's the jogger. Lota trouble that little girl is causing. Least she found the body right?" Officer Braddock laughs some more and Ramirez continues to study her. Detective Ramirez felt a strange vibe come from this girl. Her actions weren't strange but there something about way the blood was spread across her body and the haunted look on her face that made him believe there was more to it. There was blood stains all over her sweater, hands, and even some on her face, which was more than to be expected in these kinds of situations.

"Has anyone talked to her about it?" Detective Ramirez almost whispers. Officer Braddock nods and takes out his smart phone. Braddock briefly looks up something before he filling in Detective Ramirez on what happened.

"Yeah, Reina interviewed her but she said little. It's only natural for her to be in shock. I think it'll be best if we just wait till the girls ready to talk. Who knows when that'll be though?" Officer Braddock turns to leave.

"Is there anything keeping us from letting her leave?" Detective Ramirez asks Braddock while he blankly stares at the jogger. Officer Braddock shakes his head instinctively.

"No, she can leave after the paramedics are done with her." Officer Braddock takes a small pause before opening his mouth again. "Isn't strange though? It seems to me the chance of her finding him right before he died are pretty slim don't ya think?"

"Yeah..." Detective Ramirez's voice trails off. Even though Officer Braddock could be bias and hateful sometimes, he was right. What are the odds of her finding him at his last moments?

"Go get'er tiger." Officer Braddock whispers, before leaving to his car giggling like a high school jock. Detective Ramirez shots him a dirty look, trying to ignore his childish comment. Detective Ramirez walks towards the ambulance, hoping to get something out of the jogger. He walks up to one of the paramedics, asking if he could talk to her.

"You can talk to her but don't frighten her she's already shaken up. The other Officer already took her statement but I know that's not enough for you so Id say just keep it short and simple because she really doesn't want to stay her any longer than she has to." The paramedic looks back at her and smiles at Ramirez.

"Thanks Ashley, I guess I owe you one." Detective Ramirez smiles and Ashley rolls her eyes in a playful matter.

"Yeah, and 5 more but I'm going to save them for something big so don't you forget Ramirez." Ashley smiles weakly as she walks away. Detective Ramirez knows she's only keeping it together by a string. She hates when they end up dead, its part of her job but she can't take it sometimes. It takes Ramirez a minute to collect his thoughts before he walks up to the witness. He smiles a little,hopefully making her less uncomfortable but she doesn't even look up. He keeps his distance and awkwardly stared waiting for the right moment to disturb her.

"Hi" the witness head shoots up when Detective Ramirez lets out a greeting and for a second they make eye contact. He looks into her eyes, but for some reason he can't tell their color. For a moment he's sure their brown, but every time his eyes focus they seem to change color.

"I'm Detective Ramirez and I just wanted to ask a couple of questions about what happened do you mind me asking them by any chance?" As soon as he finishes she breaks eye contact.

"Not at all, you're trying to help that guy right?" Her voice is soft, almost a whisper and in her voice Ramirez can hear sadness. He's not completely sure but he already has an idea of who this girl might be.

"Yeah, of course, it's what I do. Pardon me I forgot to ask your name." Detective Ramirez puts his hands in his pockets trying to seem more friendly. She hesitates to say so.

"It's.. Sheila, Sheila Everspring. I work for a company downtown, maybe you've heard of it. Marketers." Sheila swallows hard, and tries to straighten her slouch but ultimately fails. The key in Detective Ramirez head turns and he recalls where he had seen this girl. He chuckles sightly which grab the attention of Sheila.

"Yeah I'm familiar with it. An.. An acquaintance of mine works there. Marge Pollic." Detective Ramirez says slightly bitter. Sheila smiles and looks up at Ramirez.

"I remember you, Margie brought you to the christmas party right?"