SPLATTER (draft)

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It was an awkward drive to the crime scene. Easter had only chosen to drive through with Mason because it was faster than getting a rookie to drive her or driving herself. She was a safe driver, always sticking to the speed limit and she did not have a siren like the squad cars. Catching a lift with Mason ensured she would get to the crime scene in the quickest way possible.

"I am sorry for what I said before...You were right, I had little right to comment on your personal life." Easter said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "My social skills are limited." It was true. Sometimes she offended people without realizing she was doing so. She had very little tact when it came to dealing with other peoples feelings.

"Do you have anymore suspects?" She asked, changing the subject. She had been locked away in her lab for a better part of the the week running tests that all seemed to be inconclusive. It was beginning to irk the genius that so far science was failing her. This killer was meticulous, careful not to leave behind any clue other than his riddle. By now she would have thought he/or she would have become sloppy. No such luck which meant the killer was only warming up. Eventually they became over confident and slip-up. Easter had seen it in other cases.

It wasn't long until Mason was parking behind the red tape. The crime scene was being secured and the crowd being moved back. "And the vultures descend to pick at the bones of the dead." She mumbled when spotting the media among the crowd. Easter looked over at the crowd. Anyone of them could be the killer. He could be watching them all.

Easter got out of the car and grabbed her kit from the back seat. As she made her way over to the scene her cellphone went. she slipped the device out of her pocket and gave the message a quick read. The message was from Channing Rodgers, widow of the late John Rodgers. She was a pleasant woman. Easter had the pleasure of getting to know her through John. They only really started becoming friends with the woman after she started dating John's partner, Casey.

From: Channing Rodgers
Message: Thank y'all for... I am sorry if I scared anyone, I... I think I need more time..

Easter hit reply, her fingers ghosting over the keyboard only to erase the message she had typed out. She didn't know what comfort to offer the woman. Casey, Benjamin and Lauren were a lot better at being sympathetic towards others. Easter slipped her phone back into her pocket, making a mental note to ask Casey if they could go around and check on the widow that evening.

I could make a casserole to take with. That's what people do to offer comfort. they take food with. She thought to herself.

The Forensic scientist flashed her badge and a Rookie officer lifted the tape to let her through. However Easter didn't follow his direction immediately. Instead the forensic scientist's eyes zeroed in on two officers. Benjamin and Casey. The genius waved at Benjamin, catching his eye. They were good family friends. She was surprised to see Casey. She was pretty sure that he was suppose to take the week off. She hadn't seen him get up the morning. Then again she did leave before the crack of dawn. He still looked like he was in pain. The murder of his partner had hit the officer rather hard. Easter was a genius but there were some things she didn't know how to fix. She couldn't understand. It had been a week. How was he not back to his normal happy self yet. The Casey that made her laugh everyday. It was grief. Easter understood the meaning of grief. A multifaceted response to loss, of someone with whom affection was formed. It was not only an emotional response to loss, but also has physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, and philosophical dimensions. She understood the meaning. She just didn't know how to make it go away. To Easter it was a very inconvenient, unproductive feeling. In truth Easter had been avoiding any conversation that had to do with John's murder. Everyone around her was emotional enough.

Instead of heading in the direction of the Officers, Easter followed behind Mason towards the victim. Her energy was better spent solving the murders. Aaron was there chasing off Lauren. It was a good thing because Mason wouldn't stand for having her around when she was not suppose to be on the other side of the tape. She then watched as their resident playboy placed his hand on another woman's shoulder. His voice softened as he told her that she too had to move on. Easter recognized her as Aaron's sister. "Did she know the victim?"

Just as she was about to start her investigation of the scene however a reporter slipped past one of the officers followed closely behind by her camera man. She targeted Aaron. "Any clue about the identity of the new victim? Is there a particular reason of why the forensics hasn't arrived yet? Or why the scene hasn't been taped yet?"

Easter stepped between the two of them stopping the reporter before she could get any closer to Easter's crime scene. "I'm here now and I'd appreciate it if you stopped there before you contaminate my crime scene." Easter said with an icy glare.

She hated reporters.

Once the crime scene was cleared of all non-authorized personnel, Easter took in the scene. Her mind soaking up every detail she could see like a sponge. "This is not right." She said to herself as she placed her bag down and pulled out a pair of latex gloves and slipped them onto her hands. All the other bodies had been posed before rigor mortis had set in. Meaning the victims had been killed exactly where their bodies had been found. This victim was different. From the way the body was positioned and the lividity that had set in, Easter got the idea that the victim had been killed elsewhere dumped or thrown from a moving vehicle.

She looked around backtracking her steps further into the road where she found skid marks. She walked back to the victim.

"It's not the same killer."