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“Don’t touch anything,” Ben said sharply.
James looked up from where he was couched beside the body. “What, do I look like a rookie straight out of the academy? You think I’m going to contaminate a crime scene?”
“It’s not that, it’s just-” he was interrupted by the arrival of the chief.
“Not another one,” Chris said, and it wasn’t a question. There was no doubt this was the same perpetrator, even with a cursory inspection of the body. They had a serial killer – worse, a vigilante – on their hands.
“Another one?” James asked. “I’m guessing I missed something on my vacation.”
“Yeah, that’s what I was trying to warn you about. See, the wound isn’t fatal – it’s high up in the shoulder, this guy should have been able to walk himself to the hospital and come away with nothing more than an obscenely high bill. But instead, he’s dead.” Ben paused, and lowered his voice. “So far we haven’t released this to anyone but a select few…” he looked at the chief, who nodded. “It’s not the wound, it’s the poison that kills them. It’s curare. You touch that, and…”
“I’m dead as a doornail?” James grinned.
“Actually, no. Not right off. See, the poison works by paralyzing the ‘rough’ muscles in the body. Your heart, as it happens, is smooth muscle,” Ben said.
“Ah, and your diaphragm is not,” James finished. “You just didn’t want to have to give me mouth-to-mouth.”
“Exactly, and you’re right, I didn’t. But if someone gets to a poisoned victim and administers CPR, the victim can survive. If they get the oxygen.” Ben glanced up and down the street. “Not that help is likely in the neighborhood, if anyone heard.”
“That would explain the use of an arrow, instead of a bullet,” Chris said. “Quieter.”
“More than just that, I think,” Ben said. “It’s a statement. Think about it, if we found a drug dealer shot, what would we say? Oh, more gang violence, either a turf war or an execution. But this…. this can’t be mistaken. This is unique. And I think there’s something about the poison, too. I mean, the killer could use ricin, and there’d be no hope for the victim even if found in time.”
“But the victims have a chance, if anyone cared to help them,” James said grimly. “Some comment on society. And let me guess, we have no leads, no clues, and no physical evidence?”
“Not a single stray fiber,” Ben said.
James looked up from where he was couched beside the body. “What, do I look like a rookie straight out of the academy? You think I’m going to contaminate a crime scene?”
“It’s not that, it’s just-” he was interrupted by the arrival of the chief.
“Not another one,” Chris said, and it wasn’t a question. There was no doubt this was the same perpetrator, even with a cursory inspection of the body. They had a serial killer – worse, a vigilante – on their hands.
“Another one?” James asked. “I’m guessing I missed something on my vacation.”
“Yeah, that’s what I was trying to warn you about. See, the wound isn’t fatal – it’s high up in the shoulder, this guy should have been able to walk himself to the hospital and come away with nothing more than an obscenely high bill. But instead, he’s dead.” Ben paused, and lowered his voice. “So far we haven’t released this to anyone but a select few…” he looked at the chief, who nodded. “It’s not the wound, it’s the poison that kills them. It’s curare. You touch that, and…”
“I’m dead as a doornail?” James grinned.
“Actually, no. Not right off. See, the poison works by paralyzing the ‘rough’ muscles in the body. Your heart, as it happens, is smooth muscle,” Ben said.
“Ah, and your diaphragm is not,” James finished. “You just didn’t want to have to give me mouth-to-mouth.”
“Exactly, and you’re right, I didn’t. But if someone gets to a poisoned victim and administers CPR, the victim can survive. If they get the oxygen.” Ben glanced up and down the street. “Not that help is likely in the neighborhood, if anyone heard.”
“That would explain the use of an arrow, instead of a bullet,” Chris said. “Quieter.”
“More than just that, I think,” Ben said. “It’s a statement. Think about it, if we found a drug dealer shot, what would we say? Oh, more gang violence, either a turf war or an execution. But this…. this can’t be mistaken. This is unique. And I think there’s something about the poison, too. I mean, the killer could use ricin, and there’d be no hope for the victim even if found in time.”
“But the victims have a chance, if anyone cared to help them,” James said grimly. “Some comment on society. And let me guess, we have no leads, no clues, and no physical evidence?”
“Not a single stray fiber,” Ben said.
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BUT I FEEL NO NEED, mostly because I appreciate the work.
Anyway, I was mainly going to point out that I was confused as to who all of these people were at the beginning. Is Chris the chief? Because if so, you refer to him as the chief later and it's messing with my head.
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And you like it when I'm cruel. You must, or you wouldn't keep sending me stuff! Rest assured I'm just as mean to published authors in my reviews of their crap. At least you never typed out the phrase "She ordered coffee and toast and buttered it with her tears". Then, I'd have to hunt you down and smack you upside the head.
Oh, yeah, and Chris is the chief. If that's not clear enough I'll have to tweak. Maybe they should toss in a few 'sirs' when talking to him. I always forget that.
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I'm hoping for no ughs in yesterday's delivery.
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This second arrow might lead to something... if I ever write more!
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Hmmm, maybe this scene needs to be fleshed out. I could... yes. I see now.
Good point!
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Very intriguing. Why is this killer killing, who is he ... or is it a she ;)
Write more!
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You have a very clever little mind, don't you? As a matter of fact, that's kinda what I was thinking when I wrote this... WHY ARE YOU IN MY HEAD?! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! ;P
We'll see if inspiration strikes. Why do I write so much crime stuff? Not that there wouldn't eventually be romance, too, but... Maybe I'm reading a few too many mysteries these days...
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LOLOL.
I enjoy crime stuff. But then, I love my crime and law shows.
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Plus I'm in a debate in another journal over gun control, so it's on my mind. :)
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