Once Upon A Murder (Wattys 2016)

Chapter 2

The downtown street of New York seemed to be less crowded tonight. People hung around in small groups and not many dared to walk these streets especially at night. Money got passed swiftly from hand to hand, women stood around the corners wearing pieces of cloth that left little to the imagination, the air smelled differently around here with the amount of smoke that was puffed away and if looked more carefully a body or two could be noticed fallen on the ground yet alive. Keeping her head wrapped under the hoodie and walking as unnoticeably as possible was Mia Wesley. Very carelessly bits of blonde hair propped out of her hoodie covering most of her face. She knew that an eighteen year old roaming these streets was questionable but she didn't seem to care. She licked her dry lips determined to get what she had come for. Walking very swiftly Mia cut the corner that was more deserted than the one she had just left. She was closer to her destination, a smile played along her face at that thought but then she noticed another hooded figure standing at a distance. She stopped for minute deciding if she should move forward or not, but the figure seemed to have not noticed her or so she had thought. Walking swiftly yet alert Mia kept a good distance from the figure as she walked parallel to it. The figure didn't move, to which Mia relaxed a bit and crossed it. She had just made five steps ahead when she felt someone grab her tightly and white cloth spread across her mouth. The last thing she remembered while slumping on the ground was the shoes of the very same figure she had just crossed.

Brianna was holding her fifth cup of coffee while she stood in front of the naked body placed on the examination table covered in thin sheet. With all the make-up removed, the hair undone, the dress gone and stitches running along the torso, the body no longer looked like a sleeping beauty. She noticed more clearly the women's pale freckled face with dark circles under her eyes. Adam slumped himself on the chair at the far corner least interested in the scene that lay in front of him. They both looked tired from six long hours of scooping around the crime scene to catch as much evidence as possible. And except for the tape, they had found none.

It was already eleven in the morning and they had all survived only on coffee. Briana nerves twitched every now and then in irritation as they waited for Lanie's report. While Lanie made them wait all Brianna could think of was the soft sheets of her bed. But she had to suffer a long day before she made it to bed and Briana winced at that thought.

Just then Lanie walked in, holding the report. She looked irritated herself to have worked all through the night.

"Hey", Brianna waved while Adam made the least attempt to acknowledge Lanie.

"Can I have a sip?", Lanie asked pushing forward her hands for the coffee which Briana gladly passed. Though in different departments of the system, working on multiple cases together had build their relationship from work related to bring best of friends. Lanie took a sip of the coffee feeling her nerves settle in place, she made her way to the head of the table and placed the pad she was holding down.

"So what killed her?", Adam asked still not moving from his place.

"Respiratory problems and heart attack", Lanie said as she completed the coffee. She looked apologetically at Briana who simply shrugged at the empty cup that Lanie now held.

"A heart attack?", Adam blurted out confusion playing across his face.

"Yup, caused by Ketamine" Lanie added looking at Briana who seemed to be in deep thought.

Adam looked between the two hoping for one of them could explain more about the drug. Seeing his confusion Briana smiled and replied,
"A Ketamine is usually given to reduce pain, a powerful hallucinogenic it's usually gives out of body experiences. Users usually pass out, they lose their own perception of time and depth, plus when your heart rate increases its causes excessive panic and aggression. High dosages simply shuts down your lungs followed by heart failure"