P.S.I. Private Supernatural Investigators Book 3: Condemned Souls

Chapter 2: The Locked Door

The officers standing guard at the shattered entrance peeled back the tape. Butch and Scarlet strolled inside with the police following. Each officer had a german shephard. They carefully walked through the broken entrance where the doors would usually be.
      She noted that as they stepped through, the glass was shattered in tiny pieces. The only way glass would shatter is if something was thrown at it. Did these beings throw their bodies against the glass doors? Then why was there no blood?
      They ventured through the main entrance which surprisingly was not destroyed. He, Scarlet, and the officers had to use the stairs to get to the middle section. As they came to the east wing, the officers had the dogs sniff around.
      While the dogs were sniffing around, she and Butch placed on gloves before investigating the area as well. Scarlet could tell that nothing around so far looked like it was touched. All expect that a few carts were tipped over with metal trays strung on the floor. White silky lab coats were strung around as well. Most likely from the carts being tipped.
      So why did these beings attack the guard if they did not want something that was here?
      "Scarlet?" she heard her partner's voice get her attention. Scarlet looks to see that he was knelt down on the floor. She walks over to Butch and stares at the floor he was examining. "Are those..."
      "Scuff marks?" guessing he says. "Yes, they are. By the looks of it, they were made by tiny nails. Definitely not a vampire. They grow out their nails to be like claws."
      "So these beings are human of some sorts," Scarlet assumes.
      She brought out her cell phone and took pictures for their pin board. Later, Scarlet would print off the photo at the station. The scuff marks was barely noticeable which she had to expand her screen to take a photo. Since these scuff marks were small and not deep enough to be a vampire, who were these beings?
      There was a possibility of any supernatural being to these scuff marks. A ghoul...a banshee...a reaper...anything human related really?
      Just then, one of the dogs burst into a bark, which caught their attention! Scarlet and Butch stand up from kneeling and rush to where the dog's bark was coming from. The dog was at a door to a lab room. The young dog was scratching at the door determined of wanting in.
      "I can't control him," explains the officer as he held back onto the leash.
      "He must be smelling something coming from under the door?" she guesses half-informs.
      "Can the door open?" curious he asks.
      "No, it is locked," the officer confirms.
      As Butch tried to help calm down the dog, Scarlet noticed something. The scuff marks they found earlier was here in front of the door too. Her eyes followed the scuff marks to see they led to the ones Butch had discovered. The mysterious beings had come from that lab room!
      Suddenly, a scruffy matted-fur rat scampered out from under the door! The dog went to go after the rat but Butch once again calmed down the dog.
      "Seems like this lab facility needs an exterminator brought out here," with comment he implies.
      She suddenly began to hurry along in a fast pace as she walked away. He saw his partner strolling off which he hurried after her.
      "Where are you going?" Butch queires as he follows beside.
      "I'm going to go talk to R.J.," Scarlet answers. "Whatever beings these are that attacked the guard came from that lab room. I saw more scuff marks that starts in front of the door and leads to the ones we found."
      "Do you think R.J. is lying?" half-confused he assumes.
      "That's why I am going to talk with him," she assures. "Because of my strong senses, I will be able to detect if he is lying."
      As Scarlet and Butch stroll back down the stairs, the officers follow with the dogs. Once back outside, she saw that R.J. was still around. Scarlet strolls over to the manager who looks puzzled to see her again.
      "Done investigating already?" dumbstruck he replies.
      "I have a question for you if you do not mind me asking?" she asks half-hostile half-firm.
      "Uhha...sure, what is your question?"
      "Why would one of the lab rooms be locked if an employee of yours was staying late last night?" quick with her question Scarlet queries.
      "After I got the call about the incident with the guard," he answers, "I called my assistant manager and told him for everyones safety to lock up every room until authorities get here."
      "Can you unlock the room," beginning to ask she replies coolly, "so that the kanines can check out the room?" Before the manager could answer, Scarlet adds, "We found evidence that leads from that room. All we need is access to help us further with the case."
      "I would unlock the door but-"
      "If you have a problem with us looking in the room..." She pulls out a slip from her pocket "...we have a search warrant assuring you we are not tresspassing? I am just here to do my job, sir."
      Butch, who was standing off to the side, was impressed of how Scarlet was going about this. She was testing to see how the manager would react under pressure. If he was hesitant then that would give them reason to be suspicious.
      "I have no problem with you searching the lab," he assures her, "it's just I don't have the keys. My assistant manager does. I can give him a call if you like and get Ezra to come here with them?"
      "That would be appericated," politely Scarlet says. "Thank you."
      She turns to where her partner was off to the side as the manager gets out his cell phone.
      "Nicely done," he praises quietly to her once she was near him. "What were you sensing from him with your test you were doing?"
      "His heart rate did not at all rise when I pressured him," informs Scarlet quietly. "I don't think he was lying about not being here last night. I did not smell any fear scent either."
      She pauses before telling him her accusation.
      "However, I am suspicious of this assistant manager. He was the one who locked the door. I'd like to know why and what is in that particular lab?"

      "Ezra is on his way," R.J. informs after hanging up the call.
      Suddenly, the young dog who was freaking out about the door, started barking again like last time! This alerted Scarlet, Butch, and R.J. They instantly rush to where the dog was barking.
      The dog was around the east side to the building. She saw that the officer looked disturbed. He glances at Scarlet, Butch, and R.J. still distraught. What did the dog discover?
      "Scarlet? Butch?" spoke the officer almost sick to the stomach. "You are going to want to see this?"
      They walk over to where the dog was barking. The dog was facing some bushes which he growled. As she and her partner approached the bushes, they gasp to see what the dog discovered.
      Lying on the ground between the bushes was a man. His head was bleeding badly from a gouge! The man's lab coat was soaked with blood as well. He was lying on his back with his arms splayed out as if had fallen?
      "Oh, that's disgusting," Butch responds while covering his nose. "He smells aweful like he has been lying here for months."
      "Oh, no!" gasps R.J. with disbelief. "That's Tony. He is one of my best scientists!"
      "He's dead now," he comments. Butch looks at his partner who had a face expression that wanted answers. First, there was a locked lab room that was very suspicious, and now a dead scientist. "I'll give Frank a call."
      "Good-boy, Duke," Scarlet whispers in the dog's ear which the dog smiles.
      She then stood up which she looks where Tony was lying. Scarlet then looks up spontaneously having a feeling. There, she saw a window in the middle section was open. The scientist must have fallen out of the window after been attacked as well!
      "I got a call that the cops need the keys?" a snappy voice spoke up.
      She turns around to see a man in his late twenties standing before them. He was holding a pair of keys in his hands. The man had black scruffy hair and blue eyes that felt like they were pericing through your soul. He wore casual clothing, not looking like an assistant manager.
      "Yes, thank you, Ezra," the manager says while taking the keys. "Here you are, ma'am?"
      Scarlet took the keys from R.J. but was still staring at Ezra. He stared at her for a moment not speaking. He then strolls over to the bushes.
      "Oh, look at that," sarcastic Ezra speaks. "Tony got himself killed. It's a shame. He was a good man."
      "Respect him, Ezra!" R.J. snaps in anger. "He was a good man. It is sad to see him this way."
      He scoffs while spitting at the ground beside himself. "Whatever you say, boss," still sarcastic Ezra responds.
      Scarlet's wolf senses was picking up bad vibes from this guy. However, she was confused. Her wolf senses was trying to tell her that Ezra was just your average rude person as well. Maybe Scarlet had inhaled the fumes that she could smell from the lab rooms that it was messing up her senses?

After getting the call about Tony, the coroner's van pulled up. Hopping out of the driver side was Frank and Noah. He had a medical kit with his tools to inspect the victims' with.
      "Thank you for coming, Frank," Butch greets the coroner. "Scarlet and I was not expecting a dead body."
      "No worries, Mr. Baxter," assures Frank. "It's my job to help inspect the poor victims'."
      As they came to where the dead scientist was, he placed his medical kit down.
      "Poor, fellow," Noah spoke with sympathy. "Nasty way to die."
      Frank brought out a few tools after placing on some gloves. He began to inspect Tony before announcing the diagnosis. Frank takes the gloves off after done.
      "Well, this man has been lying here for nine hours."
      "Excuse me, R.J.," politely Scarlet says. "Is that opened window by any chance where Tony works?" she adds while pointing.
      The manager looks up then at her. "Yes. That is Tony's lab."
      "C'mon, Butch!" Scarlet calls hurrying off. "Bring the young pup with you. We are searching that lab room."
      After seeing Tony's dead body, the officer eventually had to sit down. It was a disturbing sight for anyone to see.
      Once back inside the laboratory, Duke was in the lead this time. The dog tugged on the leash that Butch was holding onto. After coming back to the locked door, Duke scratched at it with a forepaw. She placed the keys in the door knobe. Scarlet, before opening the door, pulled out her pistol.
      If there was any way a being was left behind, they would need defence?
      When she went to open the door, it would not open. Scarlet looks at her partner with exasperation. Did Perry not bring the right keys?
      "Take Duke," handing the leash he replies. "I have a better idea. Stand a side."
      After she took the leash, Scarlet and the dog stood a side like told. Butch stood what looked like a fighting stance. He then powerfully kicked the door with a foot! The door barely budged. Butch tried one more time of kicking at the door using all of his strength. After a few kicks, the door finally swung open slamming against the wall.
      "I didn't know you knew kerokie?" she compliments stunned and impressed.
      "Kerotie...Tikwando...Martial Arts," naming off a few he says with a smile. "I know every single one."
      "All right, Duke," Scarlet explains to the dog, "go find what you smelt earlier?"