Crashed Into Reality

Chapter 24

"So what'd you get from the audio?" Peters asked Friedman as they were driving.

"Well, there were too many sounds blended together, to get a make or model on any one type of machinery, but, they figured it to be industrial, too big for personal tools. After comparing to different industries with large machinery, they have it narrowed down to either logging equipment, some kind of mill, maybe, or a construction site using large machines."

Peters thought about that, it made sense. "Yeah, got it, a place where there is enough noise and activity, the screams of a child would be drowned out. And, you know what, that jibes with something Trina said. She described a semi with a long flat bed. That could be used for hauling trees or hauling construction vehicles, like a backhoe, or a skip loader, those kind of things."

Friedman agreed. It left a long list of places to go through, but it was a start. There were several large construction projects around, lots of development. On the other hand, there were about four major logging companies within an hour's drive. They decided they would put together a list of possibles, when they got back to the station.

Peters and Friedman pulled up to Lemonwood's morgue. They walked in, showed their badges, and as they were about to ask for Detective Normandy, Lee Denver came out to the waiting area, and lead them back. His dark skin was now three shades lighter. Shock was on his face. When they got back to the viewing room, Denver paled even more.

"I thought I was going to be okay, I mean I have seen some awful sh**. But...this... it's too much." He shook his head, trying to maintain his composure. "I'm going to wait out there, Normandy promised to fill me in on what they find."

Peters opened the curtains to the window that overlooked the autopsy tables, and he turned on the TV in the upper right corner. The TV showed a close-up view of Autopsy Table 3, currently empty. Minutes later, a technician wheeled in a body, covered with a sheet. He was followed by the Coroner, who was clothed in a full-body protection suit, looking like an exterminator. He was wearing a surgical mask over his mouth and nose, and a plastic shield came down from his head to shield his eyes and face from splatter.

The Coroner was accompanied by Detective Oliver Normandy who was wearing a navy blue sports jacket and tan chinos. He had a mask on over his nose and mouth, as well. The Coroner helped the technician move the body from the cart to the table.

The sheet was removed to reveal a pale mix-raced teenager, who looked small and young. He had probably been about 5'7", and weighed maybe 130. Peters and Friedman turned their attention to the television screen. They heard the Coroner's voice as he began his initial examination, starting at the boy's head. As he spoke the camera zoomed in on the specific area mentioned.

"There appears to be some kind of dust in his hair, Manuel, get a sample of this." The technician came right over with an envelope, scraped some of the dust into the envelope, sealed it, and marked it.

"There are signs of sclera hemorrhage, and petechiae on the eyelids, as well as in the eyes. More petechiae over cheeks and neck. Single, deep ligature mark across the larynx, slightly upward angle, possibly garroted from behind, either assailant was much taller, or victim was sitting, and his attacker stood behind him. The ligature marks are deep, but wide, definitely not a wire, weapon could be a cable or electrical cord."

Peters and Friedman watched as the Coroner moved over every inch of that boy's body. There was a deep bruise on his chest, as well as one on his back near a kidney, and several of his toes were broken. Hands had been untouched, so maybe whatever they wanted him to do, he had to use his hands. There were no traces of fibers or skin particles under his nails. Very little to go on, except for the dust from his hair.