BlackWell

Julian

I was seventeen when I met Missouri, back then she was Missouri Atterberry. Honestly, at the time, I thought she was a boy and a lot older than twelve. She had been tall, quiet, and muscular from farm work. She had become paler, and more slender over the years. She also had that scar that cut diagonally across her face. When I saw her at the bookstore I hadn't recognized her.

Yet, the inflections in her voice, and the way she walked, nagged at me. Bringing up memories of the girl from that summer. Now that I was certain it was her I almost wished it wasn't. Even back then, although she never talked about it, the weight of something horrible followed her. It was like she was haunted.

I was curious if her eyes had changed. Those piercing gray eyes, that I thought would turn me to stone if I angered her.

All of these thoughts ran around my mind, as I sat in the car looking down at the file D'Angelo had given me. I jumped when he tapped on the window. He mouthed for me to hurry up. Leaving the file behind I stepped out of the car," Sorry," I said, as I followed him. "Don't worry about it. Just keep your wits about you."

The brownstone house was crawling with CSI. including, Jason Mayberry, who met us at the front door. "Good to see you both, I thought you might want to see this." He led us inside the building. "Brace yourselves for the smell," He warned as the stench wafted down from the second story.

I noticed spots of blood on the landing, leading into the study.

D'Angelo and I both had our faces buried in our elbows as we approached. The victim sat on the floor, his back against a massive bookcase. His white shirt had turned a dark brown with old blood. Cloudy glazed eyes stared at nothing. The skin had greyed and his mouth hung open. " Whoever did this, He left you guys a note," Jason said, gesturing to the desk.

On the stationary pad was a single sentence, "You shouldn't have taken the Doctor."

"Wait, this doesn't make sense," I said furrowing my brow. "This guy has been dead for weeks, long before the first victim." D'Angelo nodded and looked at Jason, "Don't get mad just yet, big guy." Jason bent down and gently lifted Devens's arm. Showing off the man's missing hand, " From what I can tell someone removed this only a few hours ago."

My jaw clenched as I looked at the missing hand. "How did he die," I asked, crossing my arms. I felt D'angelo studying me, " A single stab wound." He moved Deven's shirt aside to show us. " Got him right in the heart." Jason stood up and removed his gloves. He grabbed a cigarette from his coat pocket. "There's a knife missing from the block downstairs." He exhaled smoke from his nose.

"Any signs of forced entry," D'Angelo asked, turning around to study the plaques and diplomas on the wall. "We haven't found anything, but I don't want to rush to any conclusions." He took another drag from his cigarette

D'Angelo turned back around, dragging his hand down his face. "Has anyone informed the captain yet?" Jason grinned, "I'll let you handle that one."

***

We ended the day with more questions than answers. At the very least the Captain reassigned our other cases, so we could solely focus on this. I radioed the officer we had watching my apartment, telling him I'd be late. Pulling over I parked in front of the park entrance, I sighed, and glanced down at the file in the passenger seat. It was sealed, I couldn't bring myself to open it, at least not yet.

On a park bench sat a short red-headed girl. "Miss Tanner," I called out, and she perked up turning toward me. She smiled nervously, "You can just call me Marry-Beth." I sat down, and she shifted uncomfortably. "Is she alright?" Marry asked, her big green eyes bore into me. She reminds me of Missouri's cat.

"She's fine, but I need to ask you a few questions. How Well do you know Dr. Blackwell." She looked at her hands as I talked. She was quiet for a moment, "She's nice, patient, and very professional," She swallowed hard as she continued. "She never talks about herself, I can never stop talking, so it's a funny dynamic." She laughed softly.

"You don't seem very talkative now." Her eyes were a full worry, darting around as she read my face.

She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. "How...old are you. You look too young to be a pathologist assistant." I asked the question carefully, not wanting to offend her. A small smile crept onto her face. "I am too young, " she blushed, "I'm...gifted, sorry I hate saying that, but saying I'm really smart sounds worse." Her face grew redder as she rambled.

I couldn't help but smile at her, she was like a little kid. My smile fell away when she began to cry. "I don't want anyone to get hurt."

"You don't want anyone to get hurt, but you're afraid." She nodded her head, as she uncurled herself. Putting her feet back on the ground. She was quiet, collecting her thoughts. " When I first started at the M.E. Office I was Dr, Phillips' assistant." Her fingers curled into fists in her lap. "He's not easy to be around. One day he got really mad at me, and not sure what Blackwell said to him. I heard through the office that it was pretty loud though. After that, I was assigned to work with Blackwell.

As Mary Beth told her story, I felt a small twinge of excitement. "What's that face about," Mary Beth asked, her own stress forgotten at the moment. "Your grinning, like a lot," she said pointing at me. "Sorry, I'm not grinning at you, but you may have given me something I can use."