After their argument, Brian drove to the precinct. He had to hand Jameson to his colleagues and report to Moore. Having sat at his table, the officer opened up a new document and started typing. He hated bureaucracy but with time he noticed that sometimes it helps clear your head. The conversation with Amanda weighed heavily on his heart. He still thought he was right but he couldn’t get rid of the feeling that he had hurt her. Not her pride which he wouldn’t have cared about at all, but herself. Brian didn’t know when he would see her again but he was sure it would happen soon enough. That girl was very stubborn, she wouldn’t back down from the first hindrance. It was difficult for him to admit that Amanda Capiano turned out to be not like he expected at all. Sure, he was right about some things, like her pride, confidence and obstinacy but it took him by surprise how skillfully she got Lucy and Alfred to open up, how she remembered and analyzed all the details from Thomas Jameson’s interview, how she defended herself against that drunkard… At least now he knows she won’t be an eternal damsel in distress like those women in the witness protection program. He sighed. Liz could also protect herself but she had perished. Perished because of his foolishness, his stupid care! He angrily squeezed the pen he didn’t notice he was holding. The plastic cracked. As if waking up from a trance, Brian unclenched his fist. This pen was her gift to him. The ink has long dried but he couldn’t bring himself to throw it away. He kept it as a keepsake. It was all he had left…
He shook his head and exhaled. Making a report wasn’t helping him at all. He had too much on his mind. Amanda, the case, his own demons… He looked at the computer screen. At least the report was done. Now all that was left was to send it to Moore. It will take time for him to study it anyway, so Brian has some free time to himself. He will go to the police station’s gym to blow off the accumulated steam. Maybe it will finally alleviate his pain.
****
When Amanda came back to her apartment, it was already late in the afternoon. After putting enough distance between her and Brian, she called a taxi, so getting home wasn’t an issue.
The first thing she did was to fill in her jacuzzi and lay there eating ice cream for an hour. This routine was her own stress therapy. Amanda came up with it herself, building on her experience and professional knowledge. Yes, when she was still studying business she got interested in human psychology and took Psychology 101. At first it was nothing but a pastime for her amusement but then she discovered that finding keys to people can be very useful in business. For example, it was her who advised her father to invite potential partners for dinner at their house and serve bony fish, such as blue tuna and platinum arowana. Taking out bones will make them nervous and they will become easier to negotiate with.
Laying in the jacuzzi, she also reflected on the morning events. She expected that she would figure out Brian in no time while Henry would prove to be a challenge. In reality, it went the other way round. Brian puzzled her with his sudden anger outbursts at her and his hostile attitude towards Capianos. And if the latter could be justified (he’s a guardian of the law, after all), the former baffled her tremendously. She couldn’t be that disgusting to him. A couple of times she even noticed an interest in his eyes when he looked at her. Was it a mere curiosity or something more?
Her thoughts turned to Henry. He was really a true professional, he had managed to see right through her in a couple of minutes! However, he doesn’t seem to be a threat to her family. “Unlike Brian, he fears Capianos, not hates us”, she thought, “which makes him undoubtedly wiser than Davis. I’m not surprised, though. It’s not for nothing that he became the head of the investigation division at 46. Should I read his profile once more?”
And what about the case? They still haven’t moved forward even for an inch. What should she tell her parents? They will surely want to hear from her about everything that happened. Amanda sighed and fumbled for her phone to check the time. Several drops of water fell on the bathroom rug. “Damn, it’s already 5 pm, I should get ready”, she thought. There was no point in postponing the conversation. However, she decided she would withhold some details, such as Jameson’s assault, Brian’s behaviour and their quarrel.
****
For the last 2 hours Emma Lloyd had been trying to understand how Nocturnal Phoenix’s victims died. She had checked all the analyses twice but still had no idea where to start. She had little hope for the report on the latest victim. Sean already did the autopsy and soon the results would come in. She looked at the bodies. “What can connect you? Different clubs, different lifestyles, different backgrounds… They have nothing in common”. All victims were more or less healthy, they couldn’t have gotten a sudden heart attack. And there’s no adrenaline in their blood. So they weren’t scared before dying… She felt that the clue was somewhere close, hidden in the plain sight. “What if… It’s just a wild guess, but…” Emma went up to the body of Nigel Malisson, the latest victim, and took his forearm with the phoenix sign. What if the killer is not a maniac and the tattooes were made to hide something? A trace of an injection, maybe? She took the magnifying glass and bent over the body.
“Oh my god! I was right!”, she whispered, “I must call Sean right away!”
She grabbed her phone and dialed her husband. A couple of minutes later, the medical examiner appeared in the doorway.
“Look”, Emma gave him her magnifying glass, “look closely at the tattoo. Can you see this trace of an injection here, around phoenix’s tail?”
“Goodness, how could we miss it?!”
“I managed to find it only on this body because the image is sloppy. The other signs were made much more thoroughly”.
“Can’t hurt to try again”, Sean resolutely came up to the other cadaver trolley.
After some time, he admitted defeat with a sigh.
“Now I believe we know how the killer murders their victims. They inject them with something, but with what? There is nothing in their blood”, Emma was agitated.
“You know, I just finished Nigel’s autopsy and an interesting idea visited me. When we examined his body, he had been dead for about 2 hours. It’s less than in previous cases. What if there’s something new in his analyses? Some new reaction or a substance?”
“Sean, that’s genius! Let’s go!”
They hurried to Emma’s desk.
“Proteins, erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes… Ah! What’s this?! Sean, do you see this?”
“Hmm, strange, it’s the first time I see this formula”.
“This must be it! This is what they use to kill!”, Emma victoriously shook her fist.
“You’re our PD’s diamond”, her husband tightly hugged her and kissed on the cheek, “let’s go report it and then start studying it. Before you called me, I had wanted to call it a night and suggest coming home, but now no way I leave you here alone to sort through all this! We’ll do it together!”
Excited scientists exited the laboratory.
It was like this all their life. They were highschool sweethearts, studied at the same university and shared their passion for medicine and chemistry. They got married soon after graduating and moved to a little two-story house in midtown. When he was offered a place in the PD, Sean was walking on cloud nine. He dreamed of being a medical examiner in the police since childhood. Emma supported her husband and was very surprised when he suggested she become a forensics expert. She doubted herself for some time but eventually her husband’s persistence made her say yes. And so it’s been already 20 years since they started serving this city. The journey wasn’t always smooth, they had their ups and downs but they always persevered staying true to themselves. Their family happiness, however, was overshadowed by the fact that they couldn’t have children. What a twist of fate - scientists who spent all their youth studying human’s body turned out to be powerless before sterility. However, with time Emma convinced herself that it was for the better - their job wouldn’t let them spend as much time with their kids as they would want anyway. Sean and Emma were quite happy with their life as it was right at that moment.
****
The call from his boss caught him in the locker room.
“Yes, sir?”
“Davis, come up to my office right now. Some new information has come to light”.
“I’ll be right there, sir”.
The officer quickly changed and left the gym.
When he entered Moore’s office, Brian noticed Emma and Sean sitting on the chairs with Henry pacing the room.
“Where the hell have you been? Ah, doesn’t matter, you’re here. Listen: Emma uncovered a controversial detail”.
“I wouldn’t call it controversial…” Emma started.
“It is controversial considering who we had to team up with”.
“What are you talking about?”, Brian asked.
“Mrs Lloyd discovered how exactly Nocturnal Phoenix kills their victims. The bad news is, the substance is unknown”.
“Most likely, the drug has never been used before”, Sean added, “so somebody has developed it recently”.
“Do you see what I mean, now?”, Henry turned to Brian.
“You think Capianos test the new drug on people in their own nightclubs?”
“Oh, just theories, theories! But quite a plausible one, huh?”
“Doesn’t seem like their style”, Emma suddenly butted in, “it’s too direct, Capianos prefer acting from the shadows. Creating a pseudo-serial killer is not in their interests”.
“I hear you”, Henry said, “so, this sudden and unusual collaboration with that girl takes on a new meaning now… I couldn’t figure out Capianos motives before and Amanda seemed sincere in her desire to help, but now I wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her. Do you hear me, Brian?”
“I do, but even if Capianos are involved, I don’t think Amanda is aware of it”.
“Why are you suddenly defending her?”, Henry narrowed his eyes, “you were very outspoken about her not taking part in the investigation. What happened between you two?”
“Nothing”, Brian looked away. Nobody should know about their conversation at Jameson’s. Nobody would understand the feeling of guilt that was eating him from inside. He himself didn’t understand where that guilt came from.
“Captain Moore, I’m with Detective Davis on this one. We can’t rule out the possibility that it’s some crazy newcomer with a knack for chemistry,” Sean drawled, “of course, the final decision is yours but I think refusing Capiano’s help would be short-sighted”.
“Who’s going to reject Capianos? Do I look like a lunatic? Nobody in their right mind will reject them! Luis used to make people disappear without a trace! I don’t want him to return to these methods!”, Henry raised his voice and banged his fist on the table.
“Here is what I decided: tomorrow, when Amanda comes, Brian will tell her that the forensic team”, he pointed at Lloyds, “discovered how the victims were killed. Then he will take her to the lab where you show her the body with the tattoo. But do NOT tell her that Emma has figured out the formula”.
“I actually didn’t…”
“We’ve worked together for 10 years already, so I dare say I know you well enough. You started this and knowing you, I’m sure you will see it through”.
Emma smiled. Indeed, Henry could be too harsh sometimes, but working with him meant equality and understanding. He has always been fair towards his subordinates and if she or Sean needed a break, he would always give them days off without any questions. Emma even came to consider him as her friend.
“Thank you for appreciating my work”.
“We serve this city and you did a lot for us. It’s me who should thank you, you and your husband”.
With the decision made, everyone dispersed to their respective places, Lloyds to the lab, Brian to his desk on the first floor and Henry Moore was finally left alone.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJl4NrEo96
