Chapter 4:
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“Stokes, Sidle, what the hell took you guys so long? This body is practically a mummy!” the detective said as Nick and Sara stepped out of their Tahoe. Grabbing their kits, they moved closer toward the frustrated detective.
Putting his field kit down, Nick politely extended his hand for a shake, “Nick Stokes, Sara Sidle.”
“Mark Hensen” the detective replied, giving Nick a firm hand shake, clearly showing his anger from the grasp he had on his hand.
Smiling, Nick decided to whip out their secret weapon, “Sorry man, we couldn’t help it. You know, driving all this way; got some car troubles.” Sara smiled, mentally crossing her fingers as the detective listened to the lie.
“Ah,” Hensen said as he moved his hand shake over to Sara, “car troubles… explains it. Well, you got here, that’s all that matters.” Sara and Nick smiled at each other. Hook line and sinker.
Motioning toward the taped off house, Hensen started with the basics, “Allison Grave. Fifteen. Found by her parents around 10:15; the call was made at 10:17,” looking over at the two CSIs, Hensen could tell that all they wanted now was to look at the crime they had set before them, “go in. But I want to warn you, it’s not the prettiest sight in the world.”
Patting Hensen’s shoulder, Nick led the way into the house. Cutting the tape, he stepped into the large crime scene. He literally felt his heart drop down to the floor as he saw the scene before him.
Allison Grave hung from her neck, topless. A knife mark engraved a line down her stomach. Blood dripping down, creating a blood pool under her dangling feet. The body had bruises all over, making it look like a fallen apple. Eyes shut, hair torn out, teeth broke. How could someone become so angry.
Nick froze as he took in the rest of the scene. Blood spattered all over the walls, the furniture trashed and ripped, the floor had multiple blood shoe prints, body hanging in the middle of it all. As Nick turned around, he saw the victim’s family, eyes full of tears, just starring in disbelief at their once happy, alive family member. A blast of emotion hit Nick, bring tears to his eyes. Before the tears slipped, Sara came up behind him, putting a hand on his heavy shoulders.
“How can humans be so cruel?” Nick asked, still starring at the shattered family.
“I’ve stopped trying to answer that question. There’s no excuse for killing someone.” Sara replied, looking into Nick’s broken eyes as he turned his head to look at her.
Nodding, Nick bent down and quickly grabbed his field kit. 100 swabs wouldn’t be enough to collect the amount of blood scattered on the walls, floor and ceiling, but Nick just prayed that some of it would lead to a possible suspect.
Following Nick, her out kit in hand, Sara started to gather in the rest of the surroundings. Looking over at a blood covered picture, she could see the smiles of the family break through. Their once inviting and bright smiles, now cold and torn. How could someone bring so much heart-ache? As she edged closer to the hanging body, Sara noticed something on her lip; a cut. A deep slit parted the lip into two, the blood now dry.
“Someone not think regular piñata was fun? Thought of improvising?” Hensen said as he walked into the once silent crime scene.
Nick and Sara both looked back. Stranger things have happened in the city of Las Vegas, some just brought chills back from remembering.
Nick pointed to the topless girl, “And thought it’d be more fun with her naked?” You could heard the anger and frustration in Nick’s voice. He knew how sick some people could get. He knew how dangerous people are, but it still seemed to amaze him every time a case like this popped up; which was thankfully not everyday.
Looking back, Sara could see tear marks stream down the girl’s face. What pain she must of went through. Being hung, stripped, beaten, cut and left to die.
“Any witnesses?” Sara asked Hensen, eyes still glued to the vic.
Shaking his head, the detective replied, “No.”
Sara’s eyes went wide as she looked back, “None? Didn’t the neighbours hear anything?”
Hensen’s face went from calm to confused, “Oh, yeah… I haven’t personally talked to them yet.”
Hensen making a quick exit, nick shook his head as he looked over at Sara with his ’he’s-a-dumb-ass” expression.
Sara looked over at Nick, “The neighbours must of heard something. This girl went through torture, and you’re telling me no one heard?”
“I dunno Sara,” Nick said, looking around, “maybe he… put something in her mouth, made her drink a drug…”
“Strangled her first, then took her for a ride?” Sara finished, noting the multiple rope bruising around her neck.
Nick started to image it, but the person he imaged in that state tore his heart.
Sara, hanging helplessly from her neck, had tears filling her eyes. The killer was tall, manly, much stronger then her. Lust in his eyes, hate in his heart, he started to slowly rip away at Sara’s shirt. Her screams and her yells going unheard as he started touching and feeling her all over. Her terrifying whimpers seemed to excite the killer, letting thrill trigger off all through his whole body. Being the fighter that she is, she fought back, trying to her hardest to make him back off. Her attempts failing miserably as she started to feel the burn of loss of air grow tighter and harder in her throat and lungs. Not feeling him on her anymore, Sara starts to feel relieved, until she feels a blow hit her in the back off the head, causing her to blank out for a few seconds. The hits become harder, more violent as time goes on. Not able to bare it much longer, Sara releases the tears in her eyes. Allowing them to stream down her face, catching some of the dripping blood. Screams of pain and yells of terror creaked out her mouth before she feels the metal blade come in contact with her lip. Feeling the blade slice through her lips and the warm sensation of blood linger down and in her mouth, Sara takes her last breath and cries out a plead for freedom.
“Nick,” Sara said for the second time, bringing Nick out of his imagination, “you ok?”
Starring at Sara, Nick couldn’t help but feel a pain in his heart start to form. He’d never let that happen to her. No one would ever touch her or make her feel any pain. He wouldn’t be able to handle seeing her in such terror.
“Yeah,” nick said, flashing Sara a forced smile, “I’m fine. Just… don’t understand.”
Sara’s eyes locked on Nick as she grabbed her camera, “I don’t think we could ever understand. Even though we are scientists.” Giving Nick a smile back, Sara took a few steps closer toward the body, “Let’s get started…”
Stepping up beside Sara, Nick added, “So we can finish.”
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sorry it took so long. hope you enjoyed