Murder of the 15th VII

Next day.

It was 3:15 when Levi received the call from Davies, informing him that another body was found as they expected. This time it was in Westminster. Levi and Marco marched towards the crime scene, black coat, and blue jacket billowing against the chilly wind.

Police cars were parked, blue and red lights flashing. Uniformed officers stood before the yellow tapes surrounding the perimeter of the site.

Kevin Taylor waited behind the yellow police tape surrounding the perimeter of the site. The young detective glared at the duo approaching, and he gestured to the two uniformed men to let them in.

He turned his back to the two tall men and walked ahead, whilst they followed behind him. He led them to the Detective inspector in charge.

"Director Inspector, they're here." He said, the older man turned and nodded.

The serious expression on Davies's face sent chills down Marco's back, he knew something was up.

Davies beckoned them to follow, "This way, good thing we got here early. We better hurry while the press isn't here. The techs just finished taking photos and videos, and tagging evidence." he says as he led them into an old abandoned apartment complex.

"We haven't moved anything yet, as Dr. Gray instructed. She wanted you to see everything precisely as it was before they start collecting evidence."

Davies said as he led them through the empty dusty hallways. Their only source of light was the moonlight and the torch in Davies' hand.

"Woman was found not an hour ago, a group of kids climbed over the barbed wires surrounding the property. They were planning to smoke a joint, unfortunately, they discovered a dead body instead." the Inspector said, his light bounced on the wall and the dusty floors.

Walking beside Levi, Marco said, "Hopefully, they take it as a sign to stay away from drugs."

Davies and Levi nodded amused, what they would give to see those chubby youthful faces filled with hope contort to a look of horror. Serves them right for sneaking out.

"Yeah," Davies said.

As they came closer to the scene, Davies swallowed, his throat felt constricted suddenly.

"Well, the victim was..." He starts, having trouble finding the right words.

Should he tell them? No, they should see it for themselves.

Levi took note of the older man's reaction, "This one is different," he figured.

Davies stops on his heels, turns to look at Levi straight in the eye, with his lips pressed together and says, "Yes." He points to their left, where a small open empty lot was. Something that may have been a garden in the past for kids to play around.

And lying in the center of it was the body of a woman.

Davies gestures to Levi to take the floor and do his thing, read the scene as Marco says.

Levi stepped in the scene, a forensic tech handed him and Marco a pair of latex gloves and shoe covers. After wearing both, Levi scanned the general area.

He took note of the portable scene lights, a few of them placed in the surrounding area, for a better view of the crime scene.

The ground was dry around the area, a few large patches of overgrown weeds here and there. Not unusual with abandoned properties, especially those only waiting to be demolished.

But the ground where the body was lying was clear.

Levi approached the body, scanning it taking notes of everything as he stood over her in a safe distance. Marco and Davies watched on the sideline giving him the space to do his work.

Marco shot Davies beside him a stunned look, after noticing something unusual on the body. Davies' silent reply was a nod of confirmation, that yes, he was right, he was seeing what he thought he was seeing.

That the victim's skin was white, like alabaster.

And unlike the previous 'natural caused murders' this was obviously not. This is the effect of CID's little conference the previous month. The killer was now taunting them, Levi thought.

The woman was sprawled on the ground, posed. Levi fished his penlight from his breast pocket, analyzing the woman's face. Even the way her hair was placed, his arms positioned to her side.

She had had mid-length dark brown hair, and her lifeless emerald eyes were wide open, staring straight. Her blue colored lips parted slightly. Wearing a denim jacket over her red shirt, black pants, and maroon boots. She had a pair of hoop earrings, a bracelet around her right wrist, and a black strapped swatch watch. Levi noted that both the earring and the bracelet were fake.

From Levi's estimate, the victim was between 20-25years old. She was young enough to fight back, but there were no signs of defensive wounds on her body. She was most likely drugged, he thought.

And by the way, she was dressed, it looked like she was meeting someone. Was it the suspect? Or a group of friends?

He sniffed the air near the body and he could identify the faint scent of alcohol, vodka? No, definitely not.

What is it? He wondered, mentally racking himself.

I'm Irish this should come easy!

WINE!

What kind?

Red wine.

Levi looked closer to the collar of her red shirt and noticed a slight change in color, most likely from the stain that came from the wine.

"Was she....drained??" Marco asked, from where he stood.

"I believe so," Levi answers nonchalantly, staring at the clear signs of needle marks on both forearms.

Levi starts checking the victim's denim jacket pockets, nothing inside.

He raised an intrigued brow after he felt something hard under the jacket's right side, he flipped it open and his eyes widened for a fraction of a second. Turning the jacket close once more.

Marco noted how his friend clenched his jaw, and his hazel eyes flashed with anger.

Levi's head whiplashed towards the Inspector, standing across him. Davies gave him a nod saying he'd seen it too.

Marco shifted to the two's silent exchanges. "What--what is it?" he asks.

Levi simply beckoned for him to come closer, and he did so, and the blond psychologist flipped the jacket open once again.

Under the jacket was a sewn photo of Sam Gray, wearing a white shirt under her red jacket and black pants. On the printed photo was a handwritten message. Red bold letters from a marker, from Levi's observation.

The message says, 'HELLO, DR. GRAY'.

Marco gasped, and a cuss left his mouth "Fuck."