by D. M. Wicks
“Hey,” She said and took a sip.
“Mom stop by?”
She nodded, “I made curry.”
“Smells good.”
“There are some leftovers in the fridge.”
“Thanks.”
We stood in silence drinking. The wine was a five-buck-chuck of Merlot, which was always to dry for my tastes. Setsuna also liked it a little sweeter, but our mother didn’t leading me to believe that our mother brought it. I decided to break the silence, “How was she?”
Setsuna sighed and set her glass down. It was empty. She picked up the bottle and studied it for a moment before saying, “It’s dry. She always gets Merlot. I hate Merlot.”
I watched as she filled her glass again before taking another sip.
“I take it that she asked the usual questions, then.”
She nodded, “I don’t get it Oda. Why can’t she just understand that I don’t want to live with them? That you and I are independent and can handles ourselves.”
I grabbed her hand preventing her from taking another drink and studied her eyes. They were so much brighter than my own. We were twins, but she always liked to say that she got the best traits of our parents and maybe she was right. She was beautiful. Bright blue eyes, dark glossy hair spiked in a lazy disarray, long eyes lashes, and the body of a dancer that she worked hard to earn; short and petite.
“She loves us that’s why she asks,” I said and smiled.
She set her glass down and I pulled her into a hug, “I know she wants what is best for us, but no matter how many times I tell her that this life we’ve built is what we need she just won’t have any of it.”
I pulled her back so I could look at her. Her eyes were dry, but I cold see the storm brewing in them, “Setsuna, what we are doing is weird.”
She laughed, but I continued, “We are blue eyes and we are working I work for a private detectives agency, while you teach at a dance studio. You can’t blame mom for no understanding. She comes from a different time with different core beliefs, but the world has changed since she was our age. She just doesn’t want t change with it. In her time children born with the gene stayed home and had babies. Even for our generation that’s what most of our kind do.”
“I know Oda, but she still makes me feel guilty as shit whenever she drops by unexpected.”
“Just remember that she does it out of love and that we only have to put up with it about once a month instead of everyday.”
She laughed and hugged me again before pulling back fully, “Thanks little brother. I needed that reminder.”
“Hey, I’m only younger by five minutes and thirty-five seconds”
“Still means that you’re younger.”
“Whatever,” I said and reached for my glass.
“How was work?” She asked.
“Fine I guess. I’m on a new case.”
“So soon? Didn’t you just finish one?”
I nodded, “We were lucky to get one so quickly. It means more money.”
“Does it have something to do with the fire?”
“Sort of.”
“I see.”
“What about you? How is the studio?”
“Good. I’m in charge of teaching a small class of children between ages three and six.”
“That’s great. It’s what you wanted, right?”
“It is. I just wish I was given a larger class to teach, but I’m still inexperienced.”
“Just keep working your way up. You will reach your goal soon enough.
She nodded and placed her glass in the sink. I put the nearly empty bottle in the fridge before emptying the contents of my glass and leaving it as I followed Setsuna out into the living room. We sat next to one another. She turned on her phone and connected it via blue tooth to the speakers next to the television. Soft music began playing.
“Is your boss still an asshole?”
I laughed, “I hope I grow on him soon.”
“Why don’t you work for that woman? I think her name was Faye or something like that. Didn’t she offer you a job at the station? You could be a real police officer.”
I shook my head, “Doesn’t work that way.”
“Why not? It’s not like your boss is going out of his way to keep you.”
“He was the first person to take me seriously. I went to District Six and applied. They replied in six hours saying that they didn’t have any positions available for a new recruit.”
“Well, they obviously do now so you should try again.”
“You’re not getting the point. They had room just not for any of our kind. Declan was at least up front about his prejudice and didn’t try and hide it. When I walked in for an interview he said, “I’ve never hired your kind before, but as long as you’re not as lazy as they say, then you can be my secretary. Ask to be my partner in a year after working for me. I might have a different answer.”
“Oh my gosh, he said that? What a jerk.”
“Come on sis, I know you’ve had your fair share of road blocks.”
She went quiet then nodded. I continued, “It was the first time someone was so blunt with me and I appreciated it.”
Setsuna sighed, “I can understand what you mean though. I had to deal with a lot of people that just wouldn’t say what they were really thinking. It was frustrating. That doesn’t mean you owe him anything, though. He should still treat you like a person.”
“Don’t worry, I can handle myself.”
“I don’t know Oda. You’re a bit of a pushover. I remember having to save your ass all through childhood.”
I laughed again, “Touché, but I like to think I’ve grown since then.”
“I have yet to see the proof.”
“Just wait a little longer and you will.”
She chuckled, “Okay, okay. I was just giving you a hard time. I know you’ve grown and so does the rest of the female population. I practically have to beat them off with a stick.”
I blushed, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t. How’s Marcie doing by the way? You donated today, right?”
My blush deepened, “She’s fine.”
“Just fine?”
“Yeah.”
Setsuna shrugged, “If you say so.”
“Have you donated this month yet?”
“Unlike you I’m always on time. I did it a week ago. Bled three bags worth before I was done.”
I grinned, “I did four.”
“You always were competitive. I guess that’s what makes you such a good officer.”
“It helped me make it through the academy.”
“Why did you have to work so hard back then? I remember you practically killing yourself over your grades. I had to physically take you away for it all to make sure you donated.”
I stared down at my hands before clenching them and meeting her gaze, “I couldn’t just graduate. I had to beat all the records if I wanted to be accepted because god knows they all wanted to see me flunk out and cry home to mommy. I couldn’t just be good. I had to be great or I was just wasting my time.
Setsuna placed her hand over mine and smiled, “You are great no matter what anyone says. I love you Oda. Sometimes I think you’re the only man that will ever understand me. Then I want to drink because it depresses me,” She laughed.
I shook my head, but smiled, “You’re crazy.”
She stood and I followed, “I better get to bed. I have a morning class at the studio before I have to teach the kids in the evening.”
We hugged, “I might not be home for a couple of days.”
“Okay. Don’t work too hard.”
“Back at you.”
“Night Bubba.”
I smiled at the term of endearment we used to use as children, “Good night Sissy.”
She disappeared down the hallway. I sat back down and listed to the music coming through the speakers. It was a sad song that I had never heard before and it made me re
alize the tension building in my chest. Setsuna and I were close and shared everything with one another, but sometimes there were things we unconsciously kept hidden from each other. I looked out the ceiling windows and saw that it was still raining. Tomorrow was going to be rough for the both of us. We would get through it though. We always did. I stood, turned off the music, and the lights. I left the room in darkness. Tomorrow. I just had to make it through tomorrow.
Chapter Four
Declan was waiting by the mouth of the alley when I arrived. He had his headphones in and didn't immediately notice me, but by the time I was about a foot from him his eyes jerked open and he pulled his headphones out.
"About time you got here, Oda. I was beginning to think you got lost."
"I'm only a few minutes late. Besides, my sense of direction isn't as bad as yours."
"Yeah, yeah, make fun of the humans’ bad sense of direction."
I shook my head. "Being human has nothing to do with it."
"Sure it doesn't. You blue eyes are just superior at everything. How did the donating thing go? Did you drop a pint?"
I blushed and nodded. "It went well. I just have to make sure I don't leave it so late next time."
Declan grinned. "Why do I feel like I'm missing something here? What, were you hitting on a cute nurse or something?"
I sobered up and felt the blush disappear. "No, I'm not an unashamed love puppy like you. I have some sense of dignity when it comes to women."
"Ouch, you wound me with your words, Oda. By the way, there isn't one man on this planet who hasn't had a nurse fantasy. Just saying."
"Well, I must be an exception to that statement," I said as I ducked under the caution tape and led the way into the alley.
"No, you're in denial. We can't all be as unashamed as me after all. It's a gift, what can I say?"
"I’m sure it is. So, walk me through this."
"Sure thing, kid," I scowled at his comment, but chose to ignore it.
Declan walked over to the white tape outline of where Jeramy Alcott's body had been and crouched down. "He was found here with a needle in his arm."
I covered my mouth as I walked over. "What is that smell?"
"Besides the smells of the rotten garbage from the Chinese restaurant next door, I do believe that our victim threw up. The images on the disk showed it. The lab guys must have taken most of it with them to analyze. We are still waiting on the information of what drug actually killed him. Our case isn't really their top priority so I'll probably have to bash some heads to get it in a timely manner."
"Sure. What are your first impressions?"
Declan turned to me. "What are yours?"
I looked down to the outline and crouched as well. The alley was wide enough for Declan and I to stand next to each other comfortably. It was between a Chinese restaurant as well as an abandoned building. According to the file Lieutenant Faye gave us, the body had been found that morning by an employee of the restaurant. The guy had stepped out after morning preparations to take a smoke before the customers started coming. Despite being found that morning, the time of death had been the night before.
I turned to my partner. "Why out here?"
"That's a good place to start, continue."
"The building next door is abandoned. If he is a junky wouldn't he want some privacy? I guess he could have just gotten impatient."
"True."
"But didn't it rain last night?"
"Sure did."
"I don't know. It makes more sense if he squatted in the abandoned building, or even if he took it back home with him, just not doing it outside in the rain. Did he have a history of drug addictions? I forgot what I read."
"It said he had been caught in possession of weed a few times, but nothing for the past five years. He either got clean, or got smarter, or I guess in this case, dumber."
I nodded. "Are we sure it's not a suicide?"
"The lieutenant didn't give her order on that one. It could be a suicide. I need to see the body. From the looks of the pictures the needle was in the opposite hand of the injection site, so it could be the guy wanted to end it all. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. It would make this an easy pay check too."
I stood. "Should we go see the body then?"
Declan stood as well. "You're driving. I took the bus here."
"Sure thing, boss."
"Why does that sound derogatory coming from you?"
"Because it is."
Declan sighed. "I suspected so. Oh, well. You're technically my secretary on paper. It's only natural that you do all the hard work."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. When are you going to make your decision about promoting me to partner, by the way?"
"Slow down there, kid. You've barely been working for me for a year. Besides, I still haven't made up my mind about the whole blue eyes cop thing, not to mention you haven't gotten your detective license yet. You need to get a little more experience under your belt before you try running with the big boys. The academy may have given you a big head, but the real world will take you down a few notches. Be patient."
"Fine, I'll drive."
"Good boy."
"Declan?"
"Yeah?"
"Call me boy or kid one more time and my steel toed boot will find its way to your big ass and implant itself there until your balls turn blue."
"Jeez, can't you take a joke, Oda? No need to get violent."
"Just so we understand each other, that wasn't a threat. It was a promise."
Declan nodded. "Sure, sure. Just drive us to the morgue. It's on Third Street in case you forgot."
"I didn't."
"I was just saying." Declan grinned as he climbed into the old clunker I called a car. I sat in the driver’s seat and started the engine. Sometimes working with Declan was like working with a child. He was an intelligent guy, but his maturity level was that of a pre-teen about to hit puberty. It was weird sometimes, especially since he was nearing his thirty-third birthday whereas I had just turned twenty-one. It was one of the reasons he and the lieutenant didn't get along. Despite his childish personality, he was a damn good private detective. He had good connections as well as instincts. He had worked for the District Six Dayton Police Department for ten years, after all.
I glanced at him as I drove. He had his headphones in again. I had learned over the course of this year that when he had them in he was in his zone. It usually meant he was a few steps ahead of me, which always annoyed me. I may have been his secretary on paper, but I was supposed to be his partner. I just wished he would let me in on his thoughts more. Instead, he was always working the case by himself. He liked to treat each case as a competition between the two of us. I had a sneaking suspicion he was trying to prove something, like maybe something along the lines of humans being better than blue eyes or something equally pointless. I guess it made us equally stupid since I always rose to the challenge regardless of the baiting.
I pulled into the parking lot of the Montgomery County District Seven Coroner's Office and killed the engine. It had begun to sprinkle again and I walked a little faster to avoid getting wet. Declan took his sweet time, but he had the hood from his jacket up. Once he reached the building he pulled his hood down and took his headphones out. We entered and walked up to the secretary behind the glass.
Declan said, "Hello, I'm detective Declan Webber. Lieutenant Faye said you were expecting us."
The woman smiled. "One moment."
Her smile fell. "I'm sorry, but your name isn't on the list."
Declan muttered something I'm sure was derogatory under his breath. "Can you check for the name Declanass Webbedfeet?"
The woman furrowed her brows, but nodded. She smiled when she found what she was looking for. "I take it you're not on good terms."
Declan nodded. "Something like that."
She pointed to a clipboard on the ledge. "Please sign your name there and take these." She pulled out two guest passes and handed them to m
e. "You can scan these. Moreteese's office is in room 23B. He should be on break right now."
Declan clipped the pass to his shirt and smiled. "Thanks."
I scanned the pass to get through the doors and we both made our way to the office. Moreteese was the one the file said was in charge of Jeramy's exam. I found his door and knocked. There was a muffled consent to enter. Declan had described the coroner to me before. He had said that Moreteese was a short man who was stuck in the nineties. He wore jeans and listened to hip-hop mixed tapes when he was working. Overall, he was a cool guy if a bit eccentric.
He stood from where he was eating his lunch behind his desk. "Ah, Detective Webber. I've been expecting you," He turned to me. "And officer Ko, it is an absolute pleasure to meet you."
He shook Declan's hand then mine before leaning back against his desk. "I take it you have come to see the body of your latest victim, yes? He was quite the fine specimen. Very fit for a human. Yes, there was some deterioration to his lungs, but the rest of him was in fine condition. I find it very strange that he overdosed on what I suspect was Aphrodite. The labs are taking their time on confirming that though. Injecting something like that directly into his veins was crazy. Not even hard junkies of the stuff would do something like that unless they wanted to pull the plug. Was he a suicide victim? Oh, I do love a good mystery—"
He would have continued to rant had Declan not interrupted him. "Moreteese, were there signs of long term usage of the drug?"
The coroner shook his head. "Heavens no. As I said, the man was fit. He took care of himself as far as I could tell. I dare say he was a vegetarian. His last meal was tofu tacos with gluten free shells. He seemed to be a healthy eater, but it could have just been a one off. Oh, and one more thing. I found it very strange the needle was injected into the vein. It was very strange indeed. Usually junkies of Aphrodite inject into the biceps to get the best effects. As I was saying earlier, the man must have wanted to call it quits—"
Declan patted Moreteese on the shoulder cutting him off again. "That's all I need, man. Thanks for the run down. You never fail to impress me with your accuracy and speed, not to mention thorough reports. Can you email me everything? I'll take a glance when I have some down time, but I have to get back into the field, Moreteese. Thanks again."