High Stakes

Chapter 3

Nick's POV

"It's official, we have six dead and three wounded. Two are out of the wood while the other one's still in ICU." Lexi reported. We were both in our captain's office who was also my sister-in-law. "Families have also been notified."

"The gunman?" Captain Torres inquired.

"His mother told us that they didn't own any gun and have no idea how he got it. Also, CSU's are already checking his laptop and I'm sure that we can find there history of how he made the bomb."

"Technology." The captain sighed. In these days, anything can be found in the internet. There's an 'idiot's guide' to almost all things. "And the mother's boyfriend?"

"Abusive but no guns."

"What's Ben's condition?"

"He's regained consciousness and was currently confined in the psych ward. The doctors gave him a mild sedatives and put some restrains on his wrist in fear of suicide." I then reported.

"Ok. Keep me posted." We both nodded and walked out from her office.

I noticed that the television was still on and the tv stations were still reporting earlier's hostage drama. They also showed video outside the hospital and it might really took a great effort just to get inside. "Look at those vultures." I said disgustingly.

"They'll do anything for a scoop." Lexi sighed. "Come on, Sandy texted me. She got something."

Lexi and I took the elevator down the morgue. The moment that the elevator opened, I felt like I was taken into a different realm. The scent in the air was completely different from the upstairs. I have been going to this place for more than a decade but I still feel that eerie chill on my neck.

As we entered the morgue, two familiar bodies were lying on the dead man's table. "You got something for us?"

"Hold on." Sandy replied as she used her fingers to dug out the bullet. She said before that using a forceps could damage the bullet. "Gotcha!" She exclaimed while holding a piece of .45 caliber bullet.

Sandy placed the bullet in the tray, removed her gloves then motion us towards her computer. "That's the bullet from the second body. I already pulled one from the first body that I examined and the based on ballistics, we have a match."

"So the gun has been used before." I stated.

"The gun has been used a lot." Sandy pushed some keys and pulled out the reports. "The gun was used several times in the last six man. Before this incident, it was used to kill two men in an alley. Both were shot execution style."

"I remember that case but the we were not the lead detectives. I believe Jeffreys and Hale were the lead on those case."

Lexi confirmed. "Yes they are but they didn't find any leads. The case's still open."

"Let's talk to them."

"Agreed."

"Sandy, can you print out the reports and also the past cases." With a few clicks the printer went to life and gave us our needed information.

"Thanks hun." Lexi said. "I'll see you later." She kissed her wife while I went to get the papers.

"Thanks doc!" I yelled.

"I'll let you know more once I completed the autopsies." Sandy added.

Six bodies.

Six precious souls.

And knowing her, she'll try to finish them all in order to give the families closure.

As expected, the hospital's main entrance was full of reporters. Lexi and I decided to use the back door but it was also blocked. There were uniformed police officers trying to contain the situation but they can only do so little.