Several moments later, Harleigh stood in the huge auditorium, staring in horror at the stage. Gene let out a shaky curse from beside her, and Markov averted his eyes. Clusters of solemn officers stood staring at the floor, shaking in shock.
"Possible torture?" Ari asked, his face several shades paler, "This was an officer?"
Parker nodded, lips pressed tight. The corpse hung from the stage, unrecognizable, and Harleigh didn't care to look closer. A ring of drinking glasses surrounded the body, filled with bright red liquid.
This time it's not paint.
"There was a note," Parker managed, handing a crumpled piece of paper to Ari.
"Oh God, protect us," Ari muttered.
Wilma's head snapped up and Gene moved to Ari's side. He covered his mouth with one hand, then bolted from the room. Ari's eyes went wide with concern and Wilma gasped, both hands over her mouth. Harleigh's curiosity got the best of her, and she stood on tiptoe to see over Ari's shoulder. The message had the same inscription as the first:
Blood<Water
But it had an added note:
Turner, look familiar? I thought so. Guess blood isn't thicker than water after all. Get it? Blood? Cheers.
Harleigh swallowed.
"That's definitely blood," Markov said, examining the letters on the note, "He wrote it in blood."
"I think I'm going to be sick," Wilma admitted.
Harleigh felt Ari's mood switch from the same confusion she felt to a dull, forced calm. He handed the note back to Parker and grabbed Wilma by the shoulders.
"It's ok. Get something to drink. Will you go find Gene for me and make sure he's ok? He's going to blame himself."
He gave her a gentle smile, and Wilma rubbed her forehead.
"Yeah, I'll check on him."
"Thanks."
Smart. He gave her someone to care for to take her mind off her own horror.
"This is older," Markov said solemnly, "The blood in the glasses is starting to congeal."
Ari nodded but didn't respond.
"Parker, did you check the entire building?" he asked after a tense silence.
"Yessir. Every inch. Nothing, sir," Parker said in a monotone, staring at his feet.
Ari brought a hand towards his face, then put it back down, taking a breath through his nose.
He's barely under control, Harleigh realized.
"We'll need a team in here to clean this up," he continued, "Parker, please, take the night off. Try to sleep."
The man let out a quick, sharp chortle.
"Sleep?" he muttered, "After this? They were right to call you crazy, Pereira."
He turned on his heel and left, and Ari watched him go with an impassive face. Markov placed a hand on his shoulder, and Harleigh noticed Ari tense.
"We should go," Markov said.
"I'm getting a look at that crime scene if it kills me," Ari stated, "Markov, take everyone else back to the hotel, please. Get coffee or something."
YOU ARE READING
Memphis May Fire (#1 of the Harleigh Lynn series)
Novela JuvenilHarleigh, an young detective, has just been moved to a new department. Just as she's beginning to learn how to work with her new team, a suprising issue arises--they receive a call from the lead singer of Memphis May Fire. Harleigh and crew are task...
