D-MINGO

Chapter 2: The Forensic Expert

Mervin D'Costa stood at the center of a dimly lit alley, surrounded by flashing blue lights and a small group of uniformed officers. The scent of rain-soaked asphalt mixed with the faint odor of something far more sinister. A body lay sprawled near a dumpster, and Mervin, with his tousled hair and oversized glasses, looked entirely unfazed by the scene.

"Alright, everyone, gather around!" he called, waving his hands as if directing a symphony. "Let's get this investigation rolling."

A few officers shuffled closer, eyeing the body warily. Mervin crouched down next to the victim, a young man in his late twenties. "We've got a classic case of 'late-night bad decisions,'" he announced, inspecting the scene with a mix of seriousness and enthusiasm. "Looks like our friend here had an unfortunate encounter with a knife. If my instincts are correct, we're looking at a stab wound just above the left kidney."

He pulled out a notepad, scribbling furiously. "Time of death, approximately three hours ago, based on rigor mortis and the temperature of the body... which, let me tell you, is far too cold for a night out in Goa."

As he stood up, Mervin accidentally bumped into an officer next to him, sending his clipboard flying. Papers scattered like confetti, and he scrambled to catch them. "Oh no! Not the evidence!" he exclaimed dramatically, diving to retrieve a page that had fluttered towards a puddle. "I swear, this job is hazardous to my health!"

The officers exchanged amused glances as Mervin straightened up, slightly disheveled but still grinning. "Okay, back to business. We should take a look for any defensive wounds or personal items that might lead us to our killer."

He turned back to the body and began checking the pockets, mumbling, "Let's see... wallet, keys, and-oh! A half-eaten samosa? Really? A murder scene and a snack? Talk about multitasking!"

The officers chuckled, and Mervin, undeterred, continued his analysis. "I mean, I get it. Sometimes you just need a snack before making poor life choices." He retrieved a pair of tweezers and gingerly picked up a small scrap of fabric caught under the victim's fingernail. "And here we have our potential lead-a piece of the suspect's shirt. Or maybe it's a really cheap fabric from a local market. Either way, it's something!"

After several more minutes of investigation, Mervin stood up and dusted off his knees. "Alright, team, I think we've got what we need here. Now, if we can just find out where this poor fellow got that samosa from, we might be able to crack this case wide open!"

As the officers continued their work, Mervin headed home, the excitement of the crime scene still buzzing in his mind. He kicked off his shoes at the door and plopped onto his couch, feeling the exhaustion settle in.

Half-asleep, Mervin began murmuring incoherently, "...and the samosa... wait, was it spicy? No, no... need to analyze the fabric..."

His phone suddenly rang, jolting him awake. He fumbled for it on the coffee table, squinting at the screen. "Hello?" he mumbled, still groggy.

"Mervin, it's Rajdeep. I hope I'm not interrupting your beauty sleep," came the serious voice on the other end.

"Beauty sleep? Ha! More like forensic napping!" Mervin replied, rubbing his eyes. "What's up? Is there another murder I should be aware of, or did you just call to discuss your latest coffee blend?"

Rajdeep sighed, a mix of exasperation and amusement. "We've got a situation. I need you back at the station. It's urgent."

"On my way!" Mervin said, suddenly alert. He grabbed his forensic kit, mumbling to himself, "Let's just hope this one comes with snacks too."