Forever

Good as Dead

4 MONTHS LATER

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"Sure you don't know anything else?"

"Didn't see anything." The construction worker fiddled with the wrench at his belt. Henry noted the broken watch around his wrist- Glass had been found in the victim's skin. Jo kept at the interrogation, continually asking and camoflauging the question of 'did you do it?'

"For the last time, I didn't see anything!" He threw his hands up in a fit of annoyance. "And if you guys are real cops-"

"My partner's not a cop. He's a Medical Examiner. Big difference." Jo was surprised he hadn't corrected the man. Henry was usually sensitive about what he was mistaken for. The worker scowled.

"Yeah? Well, your partner just wandered away. Some cop."

"Medical Examiner!" She protested. She was surprised to find herself defending his position. Oh, well. "What direction? I have to install a GPS Tracking Device in his scarf of this keeps up." Jo added. The worker grinned.

"Dunno. Down to the coast."

"Uh-I'm not done with you, but.... He'll get hit by a car or mugged if I don't keep an eye on him, so just.... Don't be suprised if you're called in for an interrogation." She hurried off in the direction of the coast.

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"Knew I'd find you here. What've you got?"

"Nothing, yet. I'm looking for glass fragments in the wood. It could suggest how hard that man's watch slammed into it if he was fighting with our victim." He was crouched haphazardly on the wooden dock, an intrigued look on his face.

"And this helps us how.......?"

"There! Detective, do you see them?" He seemed excited and crouched closer, peering at the wood like it was a mystery he knew the answer to. Jo shook her head and looked around.

"Hate to break it to you, but people are staring... And no, I can't see them! What are you-"

Her phone buzzed and Henry practically laid down on the wood, aand put his face close so he could detect bits of glass. He gave her a quizzical look when she held it out of him.

"Says it's for you. I've heard that voice before. Henry, I seriously have to stop taking your calls for you. Get a phone or I'm- Ah, hell. I don't know what I'll do, but it won't be phonely-good."

Henry's eyes widened slightly.

"Okay, fine, I know you don't like wordplay, and 'phonely' is not a word......"

He glanced at her, and there was a dazed expression in his eyes. In the sun, she could see beads of sweat gather at his eyebrows and the sides of his head, and Jo actually thought maybe it was a call from his friend saying he burned the house down or something. Then he gave her the phone.

"What was that? You okay?"

"Detective, I have to go..... If you'll excuse me...." He brushed past her, and Jo stared after him. His shift was far from over; as was hers. But then......

"Wait for me, Henry." She called. He stopped and turned, looking at her with something akin to dread. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing is.... Is wrong, I just missed something!" He turned to leave and when grabbed his arm.

"Look, I know you like to be vague, but what? What did you miss?"

He nervously shifted his feet and looked about, before opening his mouth, and then only preceded to sigh before looking around again. She clapped a hand in his shoulder.

"Henry. What'd you miss? Some kind of romantic date......?"

That did it. "What? No. No, not a date. The murder! The manner of death wasn't the slit wrists. The victim was electrocuted!"

"Like...... Like that Dominatrix's........ Client? Is this some kinda repeat kill?" Jo asked. He ran his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath before speaking.

"No! It's something else....... The only one in need of electricity, to have anything to do with it... Would be..."

"Hugo. The construction guy."

He looked at her. "Yes. Hugo the Construction Guy. Now can we please-"

"How did you even know that? Every time you get on my phone, you get all weird.... I mean, do you have some kinda secret informent I don't know about?"

Henry stamped his foot in anxious energy. "Detective, please! Hugo's planning to kill someone else if we don't stop him! He may be in the process as we speak!"

Jo sighed. "Fine, let's do this. But as soon as we get back, I want to know how you got the info. And-" She pulled a tazer from her pocket and held it up. "I don't want you to die. He may be armed."

Henry stared at it, not comprehending what she just said. She'd seen him die, surely. He'd explained it to her.....

"I can't die......"

"Pfft. No one is immortal, Henry. Take it." He shook his head.

"I'll pass..... My apologies, but I don't like to be armed. And it may be in my best interest to excercise my brain." Jo sighed.

"You're lack of self-preservation........."

"I'm aware, Detective."

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"Don't do this, Hugo." Jo held then gun level with the man's face. He continued holding the knife to the woman's face, breathing heavily. Henry was back behind him, creeping up slowly from the metal supports of the in-construction apartment complex. The man looked behind her and flicked his eyes to Jo once, and she turned around in time to hear a sharp yell. Just as she was about to whip back, several armed men with Ak-47s approached her, eyes glowing with hatred.

*************POV Swap: Henry*************

Henry stepped as lightly as he could, but Hugo heard him and twisted around, dropping the unconscious woman to the ground. Eyes wild, he brandished the knife before him and waved it threateningly at Henry's face.

"I'll kill you, by God, I'll kill you all!" He blubbered. Something in him must have snapped. But Henry wasn't worried about that. He was more concerned for Jo, currently cornered by about four giant men with AK- 47s and looks to match their guns. Hugo waved the knife at Henry's head, now hissing mad.

"I just want to talk!" He said, putting both hands up.

"Why don't I believe that?" The crazed man snarled. He sighed.

"Look at me. I am a Medical Examiner. My name is Henry Morgan and I hate weapons, so if you could please-"

Hugo ran forward, catching Henry off guard and knocking both of them to the ground. He struggled to bury the knife into Henry's chest and preceded to do so, almost laughing as he did. Behind him, he heard the man's partner yell, and it nearly shocked Hugo into becoming sane again.

But nothing, as Henry had come to realize, is as great or as violent as mental sickness's wrath.

The knife plunhed into his chest and Henry kicked once, staring into Hugo's distant, angry eyes. Maybe he could convince him.........

Memories swam through his head and he was three feet below the surface. Nothing other than the call from Adam earlier before in the day could shock him like the icy water did.

I have a real knack for getting killed, he thought as he swam to shore.