Unforgivable Crime

Chapter 5

Time flew by while Messer made some calls. Hopping some one would give him a lead to the boy's location. Unfortunately, none of his people could help him out. It was like the boy had just vanished off the face of the earth. Messer hadn't thrown in the towel as yet, but he was becoming less convinced that he would actually find the boy. After all, with the resources his father has it wouldn't be hard to hide the boy. Sitting at his desk he began writing, listing what could have happened to the boy, where he could be.

· Hiding out overseas

· Hiding in his big ol mansion

· Maybe with family

· Possibly dead...? Probably not

· Possibly high somewhere

· Maybe he will turn himself in...

The last one was fruitful thinking. If he did turn himself in it would make Messer's job so much easier. He sighed as he wrote the last one down. "I wish he would" Messer thought to himself. He had just finished writing down the last point when Flak slapped a magazine on his desk. "How are you doing?" He said with a smug look on his face. "Guess who found the boy. I'll give you a clue. He had two thumbs and is the most charming man in the station" He smirked lightly hitting Messer. "I know you were expecting me to find the boy, but I didn't, I am sorry but thanks for the compliment". Messer laughed but Flak was clearly unimpressed. "So why did you slap your magazine on my desk, your gossip magazine which I've clearly told you on numerous occasions not to read around the station because it just makes you look like a tabloid obsessed nut". Flak rolled his eyes and listed the magazine up, turned a few pages and showed him the picture on page 7. "We have good news and bad news. Good news is I managed to find the boy. Bad news, it looks like he wasn't even in the country at the time of the murder." Flak looked at him as Messer slammed the magazine on his desk.

"How could this be, you are telling me that he was pictured in another country just three days ago". Messer rubbed his forehead and sighed. "Did we get the report back from the coroner or is he going to make us beg for it?" Messer looked a little defeated, but he knew there was some hope, maybe the boy could have committed the murder and still left. It just depended on time of death of Daniel Smith. "It doesn't matter Messer, read the article". Flak pointed to a paragraph.

According to our sources Logan arrived in South Africa this month for a vacation he really needed. While he was there, he also attended the Cape Town carnival....

Messer put down the magazine and sighed. "You right Flak. The kid has been gone overseas for a whole month, there is no way that Daniel has been dead for more than a month. His body would have been far more along the stages of decomposition. He still looked a little fresh, if I could say that." He woke up from his chair and put his coat on. "Come on. Let's go see if Jack is done with his report. Maybe there is something I missed".

Downstairs was the coroner's office. Jack loved peace and quiet and you could hardly hear a thing downstairs. Maybe the concrete above his head blocked the noise of the busy station. Jack essentially had a basement that he was working out off. The coroner's office use to be the police parking lot, but they decided to convert it to make life easier for Jack. He never did like the noise of the city while he worked and sometimes, he had decomposing bodies on his table and well nobody enjoys having the station smell like a decomposing body. Messer and Flak found him bent over a table. "They really did a number on you Mr William, I mean you look more bruised up then an NFL players girlfriend". Jack spoke to Mr William. "I see you still talking to dead people Jack. Always delightful to catch you doing that" Messer claimed as they walked up to him. Jack was caught by surprise and nearly jumped on the body. "How many time do I have to tell you to knock Messer and Flak you should know better, you should knock before you come in" He looked annoyed but he smiled as he moved away from the body going over to Mr Smith. "If I did knock, I wouldn't catch you talking to dead people and then how will my day ever improve?" Messer laughed walking over to Mr Smith. "So, tell me, what is the diagnoses doc?" Messer and Flak joined the Jack at the table. "Well Mr Daniel has been dead for two days; I would estimate his death to be around 2-4 pm on Saturday afternoon. Cause of death is strangulation coupled with a blow to the head. I suspect just like you said Messer it was probably a teenager that attacked Mr Smith. The finger marks indicate that. Fortunately, he pressed hard enough to leave some impressions, I might be able to match this impression to the person who did it if you can find them. I also found marks on his wrists, possibly rope marks. I am still trying to compare them to known rope marks to see if I can pinpoint which rope it is. Everything else seemed pretty much alright until I noticed a small puncture mark on his arm". Jack pointed to Mr Smith's left arm. "It is a needle mark which I did find out because it was the only puncture mark I found on his body, which is uncommon for a regular user. I sent his blood for a tox screen and the results surprised me" He handed Messer a chart sheet. Messer and Flak looked through it. "Are you sure about this Jack?" Messer asked looking up from the sheet. "Yes, I double checked the results myself."

Flak looked at Messer and Jack. "So, are you going to tell me?" Messer looked at both of them "Well according to this Daniel took a lethal dose of meth, almost double the dose you would need to kill yourself" Jack explained. "Why would Daniel, a known drug dealer use so much? Surely he knew how much was safe to use". Messer looked over the report. "You said you found the needle mark on his left arm Jack?" Jack nodded in agreement. "Strangely his overdose wasn't the cause of the death. It would have been if his attacker waited a little bit longer". "I think he was drugged by someone else". Messer claimed as he handed the board back to Jack. "Why do you think that Messer, just because he is a drug dealer doesn't mean he didn't get high on his own supply". Flak said looking at him. "It is a possibility". "You right it is but seeing how Daniel is left-handed and it would be impossible to safely inject himself in his left arm. Also, that he was tied up and that he was drugged on the same drug Beth died using. It is all too much of a coincidence Flak". Messer pointed out to him. "Why would someone go through so much trouble trying to kill him?" Messer was puzzled at all of this new information. "Maybe the drugs were taking too long to work, maybe the attacker got tired of waiting. It is a theory Messer". Flak replied. "Yeah maybe it is but using the same drug that Beth died on, it just all points to revenge... Thanks Jack for this, we will let you get back to talking to your dead man" Messer and Flak headed back upstairs as Jack scoffed at his remark. "I still think the kid plays a part in this but him being away for so long really doesn't help at all. He couldn't possibly be here at the time of the murder but yet I still feel he has something to do with it all Flak. We need to find out how that reporter got a hold of that picture and story. We need to find his source. That is our only lead and best lead we have". Messer and Flak made their way out of the station heading straight for the magazine office.