Serious Snafu

Chapter 9

Brody got in the car where Pride was waiting.

"Ready?" he said.

"Yep," she said looking straight ahead.

A few minutes went by, Brody kept her gaze on the road.

"You and Plame both owe me twenty bucks," she said matter-of-factly.

"What?" he frowned. "How can you be sure?"

"They jumped about ten feet when I knocked on the Awindow," she said.

"They could have been deep in conversation," he countered.

"They sure were," Merri chirped. "LaSalle also had his hand on hers. And she snapped it away."

"So, wouldn't that mean she didn't want him touching her?" Pride said.

"Or, she didn't want anyone seeing him touching her," she said. "Big difference."

"And you can tell how?" he raised his eyebrows.

"Years of experience," she smiled.

"Personal experience?"

"Mmm, let's call it being an astute observer of human behavior," she said smugly.

"I need more than just circumstantial evidence," he frowned. "I still saying you're seeing too much into this."

She turned to him. "Willing to put your money where your mouth is?"

"I thought I already did," he said.

"How about raising the ante to fifty?" she offered.

Pride put the SUV in park; they had reached their destination.

He had a look of resignation. "I suppose if I don't, you won't let it go?" he frowned.

"No way. This is too much fun," she said.

"OK, but keep it in here, not at the crime scene. We're professionals right?" he looked her straight in the eyes.

"When have I been anything but?" her eyes wide with innocence. She opened the door and got out.

Pride shook his head as he climbed down. He had to admit, Meredith Brody was the consummate professional - when she wasn't betting on the sex lives of her co-workers.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

As soon as the team entered the crime scene any frivolity stopped. The Marine wasn't just killed. His body looked like something from Saw: his eyes were gouged out; his chest muscles and external genitalia sliced off neatly, like prosciutto from the bone.

"They suspect foul play?" LaSalle said. "No shit."

"Maybe he really pissed off his girlfriend," Sonja said, as she put on her gloves and knelt near the victim.

"Or, it's the work of Jill the Ripper," Sebastian's voice came from the other side of the room. He had his camera and a specimen bag.

Loretta's came from behind him. She put a motherly hand on his shoulder. "Now dear, what did we just talk about?"

Sebastian hung his head, "No conspiracy theories at the crime scene."

Loretta smiled sweetly, "That's right dear." She joined the others near the body and began taking out her instruments.

The team went to work and "learned things."

After about 15 minutes they regrouped. The victim was Corporal Henry Vance. He was an information specialist for the Marines and had lived in New Orleans for five years. This was the home he shared with his longtime girlfriend Vienna.

"Like the city?" Pride asked when LaSalle told him.

"Exactly." the younger man replied.

"Oh, she mentioned that a few times," Percy added. "As she inhaled about a dozen Newports."

LaSalle threw her a look. Percy hatred for smoking bordered on the pathological. "C'mon, it's a very stressful situation."

"Yeah, and she seemed really broken up about her boyfriend, in a not-giving-a-shit way," Percy said.

Brody saw LaSalle twitch when Percy said boyfriend for the second time. Oh, they were so knocking boots.

"She claims that she came home and found him like this," LaSalle said.

Brody motioned to a small knot of people at the door. "That might not be all she found. Some neighbors said that Hank often entertained when she was out, which apparently was her favorite place to be."

"Still there's no sign of a struggle," Sebastian said. "And no blood splatter. It's almost too clean. If you could be too clean, then I'd guess you'd be sterile..." he trailed off.

Pride just shook his head. "LaSalle, you and Percy go to the base, see if you can find out more about our vic."

"Sure King." LaSalle said. He motioned to Percy and she rolled her eyes. "Yes, master."

Pride turned to Brody, "Canvas the area and see if you can find out anything else."

"Ok, Pride," she said and left.

Pride squatted next to Loretta. "Can you make any determinations?"

"Sebastian's right about it being too clean. He was definitely killed somewhere else and placed here. Also, the external damage was post-mortem," Loretta said as she got up. "I won't be able to determine COD until I get him on the table."

"Anything else?' he said.

Loretta stood up and took off her gloves, "Christopher and Sonja are hooking up."

Pride winced, "Not you too!" He paused. "Hooking up?"

Loretta smiled. "I hear that's what the kids are calling it these days."

Sebastian had been preoccupied taking pictures of the scene. He looked up suddenly, "Calling what?"

"Fucking, dear," Loretta said and walked away.

"OK." was all the young man could manage. He turned to Pride.

"Whaaat is she talking about?" He said to Pride.

Pride put his arm around Sebastian. "Apparently it's something only women can see."

Sebastian shook his head slowly, "I'll add it to the list."