Dismantling Instructions

Report #1

"Good morning Bureau Adminis-"

Footsteps from above echoed throughout the quiet morning of the Annapolis Bureau. They were hurried and the whirling figured of Mason Black broke the peace that had settled in the bullpen. Several pairs of operatives at their desks muttered amongst themselves or drank the morning brew.

The footsteps of their youthful leader came to a halt as he faced the manpower of the organization that was at their desks. Unlike them he lacked a tie or the regal fabrics, choosing a loose fitting chestnut camp shirt with dark grey slacks and his signature converse.

"Are you okay Black?"

The words drifted from a younger man that was a Special Agent named Giovanni. His black hair was brushed back and his brown eyes stared at their leader while his partner a cunning woman named Bekah was seated on the desk itself. Her long strands of dirty blonde secured in a ponytail. The female lifted her head in question.

"Yeah boss, what's wrong?"

"Mmm."

It was the classic sound of dissatisfaction. It plagued his family. Both he and his cousin used it when in thought.

"This."

His tablet was brought to attention and with a tap of the screen, the device woke up. What replaced the black box was a gory image. It was a female that was chopped into neat chunks. The picture had been marked up to become an impromptu butchery manual. With another tap, a series of handwritten notes appeared. The writing was chicken scratch and hurried but several keywords could be detected.

"Look."

Another set of people, on the other side of the room, peered at the display. A youthful ginger scowled while her partner, someone from Egypt frowned.

"Waat are they?"

Her Irish accent was uncomfortably thick but Mason said nothing. Instead, he glanced at the between space which was filled by another staircase, it went to the second floor.

"They're an instruction guide"

Seth, the desert man spoke like someone from Oxford. He squinted at the scene through his glasses and before he could finish speaking, Mason interrupted him.

"Dismantling instructions..."

Seth shook his head and leaned back into the office chair beside the Irish woman, Mindy.

"Well shit."

The blonde broke the silence after Mason declared his finding. She was curious however on where he had found this barbaric presentation.

"My Doorstep. I was on my way to work when I found a package marked for me. It wasn't sent through the mail so no return address.

With another tap, the screen displayed the unmolested package. It was ragged and the name "MASON BLACK" was written with wide, harsh letters.

"I don't like the idea of something stalking my townhouse."

It didn't help that his wife didn't want the move from the manor sanctuary to Maryland.

They all nodded. Mason turned after adjusting the hem of his shirt.

"Special Agent Russo-"

Giovanni stood up while he shrugged on his suit coat.

"-and Agent Jones will take up this investigation."

Bekah nodded. She slipped from the desk. Landing quiet, like a cat.

"Find me the source of the package, check with the lab for-"

"Fingerprints."

A pink bubble popped before she spoke and both left. He breathed out, he knew those could handle an investigation.

Those burning eyes of orange then shifted to the other pair.

"You two."

The screen behind Mason changed to the dead woman's face. Her hair was a pale white but looked alive, she had died recently.

"Someone is missing a sister or a daughter. Perhaps someone noticed a young mother is missing. Find her identity. If we can find her name we can establish a timeline. Find out who did this and why murder clues were left on my doorstep."

During the monologue, Mason lit an American spirit. The smoke drifted from the smoldering edge.

Both Mindy and Seth stood up. Seth flashed a thumbs up and the Irish girl mumbled some sort of Dublin slang he couldn't fathom at the moment. They as well left leaving Mason alone in the sunken bullpen.
On either side of this 'pit', two more could be found. All sectioned off with high walls to create a contained atmosphere.
He took a few steps out of the ditch and onto the level floor. His gaze shifted left and right, scanning the muted interior of the agency office

'We'll find the writer of this gruesome manual.'

With the final thoughts Mason sauntered away to First, find coffee, second, wander into his office and 3) finish paperwork.