Read Online Slasherazzi by Daniel A. Kaine - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Daniel A. Kaine
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I won’t run from this.”
Tanya took a deep breath before she spoke. “Then I’ll come with you.”
“Thank you,” I replied, managing only the briefest of smiles for my partner.
We drove mostly in silence to a secluded warehouse surrounded by half-built houses. The road leading in was packed with police cars and news vans, forcing us to park a few hundred yards from the yellow tape. As we walked down, we were greeted by Dictaphones and microphones being shoved into our faces, along with the flash of cameras. We moved on without any comment and found Lieutenant Boyd waiting with several officers at the perimeter to hold back the throng of journalists.
“Beckman. Grissom,” he said as we ducked beneath the barrier, and motioned for us to follow him. “I should warn you, it’s not pretty in there. I’ve seen some sick shit during my time, but this one is on a whole ’nother level.”
“I’ve seen plenty before. I can handle myself,” I replied.
“That’s what the men before you said as well.” Boyd nodded to a nearby group of officers, whose faces ranged from gray to white. One bent over and braced his arms against the nearest wall as he vomited.
“Darn rookies,” Tanya said. “So have we found any clues?”
The lieutenant shook his head. “We’re going through the place with a fine-tooth comb. Believe me, if there’s a single strand of the killer’s hair, we’ll find it. We’ve photographed the scene already. Just waiting for the medical examiner to arrive and take him away.”
Boyd stopped at the entrance to the warehouse and pointed to the table that had been set up. Boxes of overalls and gloves sat on top. I turned to pick up a set when his hand touched my shoulder.
“Listen, I know you’re not gonna like this. Heck, I hate to admit it myself, but we need help. I’m calling in the feds later today. Just thought I should give you a heads up.”
I dropped my gaze to the floor. Shit. It was pretty much inevitable that the FBI would be called in now, but that didn’t help lessen the sting. My first major case and I’d failed. It wasn’t just myself I’d let down, but every one of the killer’s victims, their family and friends, and all the other detectives and officers on the force. I should have caught our perp by now, then things wouldn’t have gotten to this stage.
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up,” Tanya said, nudging my chest with her fist. “You weren’t the only person on this case, right? We all were at some point or other.”
“Yeah, I guess,” I replied, lifting my chin to meet her eyes. “It just kinda sucks, you know? All that work for nothing.”
She nodded. “Happens sometimes. Let’s focus on getting this case solved as soon as possible, even if it means working with the feds. Okay?”
“All right,” I replied, picking up some overalls. I’d be happy to see the end of this particular case, even if that meant handing it over to a bunch of suits. Didn’t mean I had to like it, though.
Once I was suited up, I stepped inside the warehouse. The heat and smell hit me all at once. A putrid tang caught at the top of my nostrils, and I immediately covered my nose as my stomach clenched.
“Don’t be losing your breakfast,” Tanya warned.
“You interrupted before I could finish cooking it,” I replied.
Tanya went ahead into the main room. She paused and shook her head. “Oh, hell…”
I followed after her, stopping in the doorway. Fernando’s body lay bound across a large table, his arms and legs spread wide. He was naked, his skin covered in what seemed like an almost intricate pattern of shallow cuts. And his head…
“Shit,” I muttered.
“You can say that again,” Tanya replied. She turned away and lowered her gaze. “Ain’t nobody should have to die like that.”
I stepped around her and approached Fernando. His head rested on one side, attached to the rest of his body by only a few strands of skin and muscle. The floor around the table, and even the
Tanya took a deep breath before she spoke. “Then I’ll come with you.”
“Thank you,” I replied, managing only the briefest of smiles for my partner.
We drove mostly in silence to a secluded warehouse surrounded by half-built houses. The road leading in was packed with police cars and news vans, forcing us to park a few hundred yards from the yellow tape. As we walked down, we were greeted by Dictaphones and microphones being shoved into our faces, along with the flash of cameras. We moved on without any comment and found Lieutenant Boyd waiting with several officers at the perimeter to hold back the throng of journalists.
“Beckman. Grissom,” he said as we ducked beneath the barrier, and motioned for us to follow him. “I should warn you, it’s not pretty in there. I’ve seen some sick shit during my time, but this one is on a whole ’nother level.”
“I’ve seen plenty before. I can handle myself,” I replied.
“That’s what the men before you said as well.” Boyd nodded to a nearby group of officers, whose faces ranged from gray to white. One bent over and braced his arms against the nearest wall as he vomited.
“Darn rookies,” Tanya said. “So have we found any clues?”
The lieutenant shook his head. “We’re going through the place with a fine-tooth comb. Believe me, if there’s a single strand of the killer’s hair, we’ll find it. We’ve photographed the scene already. Just waiting for the medical examiner to arrive and take him away.”
Boyd stopped at the entrance to the warehouse and pointed to the table that had been set up. Boxes of overalls and gloves sat on top. I turned to pick up a set when his hand touched my shoulder.
“Listen, I know you’re not gonna like this. Heck, I hate to admit it myself, but we need help. I’m calling in the feds later today. Just thought I should give you a heads up.”
I dropped my gaze to the floor. Shit. It was pretty much inevitable that the FBI would be called in now, but that didn’t help lessen the sting. My first major case and I’d failed. It wasn’t just myself I’d let down, but every one of the killer’s victims, their family and friends, and all the other detectives and officers on the force. I should have caught our perp by now, then things wouldn’t have gotten to this stage.
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up,” Tanya said, nudging my chest with her fist. “You weren’t the only person on this case, right? We all were at some point or other.”
“Yeah, I guess,” I replied, lifting my chin to meet her eyes. “It just kinda sucks, you know? All that work for nothing.”
She nodded. “Happens sometimes. Let’s focus on getting this case solved as soon as possible, even if it means working with the feds. Okay?”
“All right,” I replied, picking up some overalls. I’d be happy to see the end of this particular case, even if that meant handing it over to a bunch of suits. Didn’t mean I had to like it, though.
Once I was suited up, I stepped inside the warehouse. The heat and smell hit me all at once. A putrid tang caught at the top of my nostrils, and I immediately covered my nose as my stomach clenched.
“Don’t be losing your breakfast,” Tanya warned.
“You interrupted before I could finish cooking it,” I replied.
Tanya went ahead into the main room. She paused and shook her head. “Oh, hell…”
I followed after her, stopping in the doorway. Fernando’s body lay bound across a large table, his arms and legs spread wide. He was naked, his skin covered in what seemed like an almost intricate pattern of shallow cuts. And his head…
“Shit,” I muttered.
“You can say that again,” Tanya replied. She turned away and lowered her gaze. “Ain’t nobody should have to die like that.”
I stepped around her and approached Fernando. His head rested on one side, attached to the rest of his body by only a few strands of skin and muscle. The floor around the table, and even the
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