“And what’s Nathan Clark’s body doing all the way out here?” Aiden asked.
“I don’t know. But that’s what I heard from the man who I think murdered Nathan. His information is credible, so I want to make sure.”
Despite Jimin’s explanation, Aiden’s scowl remained. At the other end of their gaze were officers wearing jackets emblazoned with the LAPD logo, digging up dirt with spades.
Having received the news from Jimin, Aiden had convinced his superiors to allow him to rush to the scene with a team of a dozen or so officers.
“Aiden, I’m sorry for dragging you out here on short notice,” Jimin apologized, and Aiden’s expression finally softened.
“No need to apologize. If there really is a body, it’s big news. The only thing I don’t like is those FBI guys. All they do is give orders and they don’t even lift a finger to help.”
True to Aiden’s words, the FBI agents simply stood around watching the LAPD officers work, showing no signs of offering help; yet, they seemed to have no qualms about butting in and giving their opinion. This was one of the reasons for Aiden’s foul mood.
After arriving at Gabriela Cemetery, Jimin and Rob had scoured the sprawling grounds and managed to find a gravestone marked with Nathan’s name. The year of birth matched, and the year of death was two years ago. There was even a tasteless epitaph that said, “Reborn, he will live on”. Jimin had called the LAPD for backup and also phoned Heiden back in DC, who dispatched FBI agents from the Los Angeles field office.
“I had the management company contact the owner of the plot, but they said they had no recollection of ever purchasing it,” said Aiden.
“I guess they used his name without permission. Which means the death certificate and burial permit were probably faked, too.”
Mike, who had come along with Aiden, shook his head in disbelief.
“Why would he go through all that trouble? If he needed to get rid of a body, he could’ve dumped it in the ocean or in the woods.”
“Who knows? Maybe it was the murderer’s way of showing respect.”
“That’s messed up. Hey, there’s the vault.”
From the soil emerged the burial vault which encased the coffin and prevented dirt and water from seeping inside. The vault was opened to reveal the casket. The officers tied up the casket with rope securely before slowly lifting it out with a crane.
Once the casket was laid on the grass, the officers and agents swarmed around it.
“Dear Lord, I ain’t having any meat for dinner tonight,” said Mike as he crossed himself. Jimin was also not looking forward to seeing a grisly body. Usually, a body would be embalmed before being buried, but in Nathan’s case, he was probably buried as is. After two years, there was probably nothing left apart from skeletal remains.
“Aiden, we’re going to open it.”
The officers laid their hands on the lid of the casket. When Aiden raise his hand, the lid came off and revealed what was inside.
“Whoa!”
“Holy…”
The officers holding the lid of the casket stumbled and fell on the ground in horror. They were not alone; Jimin almost yelled in shock.
Most of the men on the scene were used to seeing dead bodies. If they had found a rotting body or skeletal remains in the casket, they wouldn’t have been this shocked.
YOU ARE READING
Deadlock || ᴠᴍɪɴ
Fanfiction[COMPLETED] Jimin Lennix, a former DEA investigator was arrested by a false accusation of killing his own partner. The FBI agents gave him a special deal, to look for a particular criminal hiding in the same prison. By the time he was detained in th...
