Ice Where There Was None Page 4

  “This is, by definition, an emergency! I am the county medical examiner, and if I need a damn freezer, I get the damn freezer! Now, move out of the way, or help. I don’t care which, but this body is going in that freezer now!”

  “I’m calling the mayor!”

  “Fine! Just send some people to help while you do!”

  The man with emergency services stormed off. A couple of other personnel were standing nearby and offered to help on their own. With an expression of thanks, the ME and the assistant opened the freezer truck bay door.

  It took less time to remove the secure strapping on the gurney from the walls than it did to secure it, so they were on their way quickly. The two personnel were helpful in directing the way to the freezer.

  “Why are you helping after that guy made such a big deal?” Nick asked when they were on their way down the hall.

  One of them chuckled, turned and smiled at the other. “We don’t really like him. This’ll just piss him off.”

  The assistant let out a smile of his own.

  “There it is,” the service woman in the front said as they rounded a corner. They could see the large metal door indicative of most freezer rooms.

  “Please, we don’t have time to spare,” the ME said as he pushed a little faster. They reached the door, one of the personnel holding it open, and pushed the gurney inside. The immediate drop in temperature made the ME relax just a little.

  Once positioned inside the nearly empty freezer, aside from a few unmarked boxes in the far corner, the ME turned to the closest emergency services person.

  “Ma’am, it would be so helpful if you could find me a table or something I can use?”

  She nodded, grabbed the arm of the other, and walked out of the freezer. The door shut behind them, leaving the ME, assistant, and body inside an ice block in the very-cold freezer.

  “Doctor, um, I don’t mean to be a naysayer, but we can’t work in here without some protection. This is nuts,” Nick said, shivering and gripping his arms.

  “Oh, yes, of course. We just needed to make sure she made it in here. Let’s go get what we need. I’m sure they have the necessary gear here. We will also need some tools to pick our way through the ice.”

  The assistant did a double take. “Wait, what?” His eyes grew big with realization and questioning. “We are going to chip her out of there?!”

  Heading for the door, the ME said, “Yes, and we better get moving.”

  Glad to leave the freezer, the assistant joined the ME out in the hall just as the angry man from earlier stormed towards them. He was very unhappy to hear from the mayor that the ME could very well do what he had just done and that he should extend to the ME every convenience needed. The ME took him up on this immediately, requesting the necessary gear and tools to work in such an extreme environment. Without a word, the man turned and stormed back down the hall. A few minutes later, one of the personnel from earlier returned with coats, gloves, and caps. Her fellow also returned with a good-size rolling steel table.

  When they left to find the requested tools, the ME and assistant began putting on their new environmental gear. It was then that the assistant decided to ask again what he was still confused about from earlier.

  “Why are we refreezing her? And why are we chipping her out? And what in the hell is this about her eyes being glass?”

  The ME sighed heavily as he pulled the coat on. “What is inside that block of ice isn’t a person. Someone, with a very scary skillset, made a model of her. Like a taxidermist makes a model of deer. The reason I wanted her frozen again is that I am fairly certain that is still her skin. I’m worried that if she thaws, the skin could deform or damage and potentially ruin any chance of finding clues.”

  Nick said nothing because he knew there wasn’t a very good response to this sort of thing.

  The tools came, then they set to work slowly chipping away at the ice surrounding the victim.

  It took nearly four hours due to a regular need to break and retreat from the cold to warm up their hands and limbs. When they finally broke through the ice to her, the ME asked if Nick was filming.

  A quick expletive escaped through his lips as the assistant rushed out to his bag, grabbed his gear and powered on the camera as he returned inside. Giving the ME a thumb’s up to let him know the film was rolling, he settled in over his shoulder to catch all that unfolded.

  The ME grabbed a chunk of the ice and slowly pulled it away from the skin. The skin didn’t appear to be frozen to the ice, which puzzled the ME greatly. Taking one of his insulated gloves off, his now exposed fingers feeling the rush of cold, he quickly probed the victim’s skin.

  “What is it, Doctor?” Nick asked through the camera’s viewfinder.

  “It’s … it’s … leather.”

  Zooming in with his camera, the assistant focused on the exposed patch of skin. It had a sheen like the others had, but they had had the sheen when the ice was still in place. When it melted, their skin became dull and labored like a typical cadaver. This one hadn’t. It had kept its sheen.

  “I’ve never seen anything … this is unreal. I …”

  “Doctor, your fingers are starting to blue, put your glove back on.”

  “What? Oh, yes, yes,” he said as he slipped his glove on. “This means I was right about what you saw earlier. What I suspected. This is a recreation of someone. The spot you saw was a stitched seam under her arm.”

  A look of disgust filled the assistant’s face. “Seriously? That is truly messed up.”

  The ME nodded and set to work on more of the body. When he reached the head, he worked as gently as he could to separate the ice and her hair. He left most of the ice intact there, but did what he could to remove it from her face. Working his way down, past the eyes, which he confirmed were indeed glass, he stopped at the mouth.

  “That’s odd.”

  “You seriously need to redefine that word, Doc.”

  “No, the mouth. Look. The lips are glued shut. Get a shot of this. I’m going to have to use this pick to try and get the lips apart.”

  “Wait,” the assistant said. “Look, there in her nose. Something is inside both her nostrils.”

  “You’re right. Good eye.”

  Working his gloved hands around the ice pick, the ME pulled the ice away from her nose as gently as he could. When he did, two small strips of white plastic followed, attached to the ice.

  Bringing the chunk and strips over to the table, he had Nick brought the camera closer so he could use the light on the front to see better. Carefully turning the piece over, he could see they were rolled up strips. Using his pick again, he gently broke the two pieces away from the ice. Removing both gloves, he quickly grabbed a pair of nitrile gloves from his pocket and hastily put them on. He unrolled each piece, one at a time.

  Nick gasped when he read the words.

  The ME shook his head in bewilderment. “What in the hell does this mean?”

  The two strips had printed words, not handwriting. They each said the same thing in very small font.

  ‘Joe and Ben, this waiting is killing me. Or rather them. Why won’t you find me? Don’t you want to anymore?’

  Chapter Seven

  I seriously don’t know what I see in you two.

  What more can I do?

  I mean, don’t get me wrong. I think I have the capabilities for much more.

  Much, much more.

  You don’t think they are ignoring me, do you?

  Do you?

  Answer ME.

  I’m sorry.

  That was too strong.

  But, seriously, I want to hear you answer.

  Please, go on.

  Nothing?

  You have nothing to say?

  Don’t mumble.

  I said don’t mumble.

  Oh my gosh!

  I’m so sorry, that was entirely my fault.

  Here, let me cut the glue.

  Better?

  Good … yo
u were saying?

  Psycho?

  What?

  Who me? I’m psycho?

  How am I psycho?

  No, no, NO!

  You don’t get to call me psycho.

  Nuh uh, nope. You are getting the glue again.

  Because you are wrong and wrong girls get the glue, that’s why.

  I know, I know … that was cheesy and didn’t make sense.

  But the glue is going back on.

  You’ve proven to not be helpful.

  I’m just going to talk at you, instead. I don’t want your response.

  Don’t give me those eyes. This is on you.

  Now … I will work through this.

  They are right there.

  My Joe.

  My Ben.

  Stop looking around like that. You’re going to draw attention.

  I said stop.

  Better.

  I don’t know why they eat at Flipper’s. I mean the pizza is fine, but everyone knows the better pizza is over at Lazy Moon.

  Right?

  Damn straight I’m right.

  I just hope they decided to eat at this pizza place, if you can call it that, because it is near me.

  I really hope that is what it is.

  They eat here because it is close to me.

  I have given them everything.

  Everything.

  They have to know it is me by now, right?

  Come on, finish your food, guys.

  Joe, that is too big of a bite …

  … and it fit … hmm? Impressive.

  What?

  It really is tough to hear you with that glue, but it isn’t coming off.

  Fool me once and all that.

  Say it slow.

  Them?

  No, no, they can’t see us.

  Oh, you said hear us. No, they can’t do that either.

  Why? Were you going to yell for help?

  Ha! That would have been a sight.

  I can just see them now: ‘Was that the sound of someone yelling through glued lips? We better go rescue them!’

  Stupid.

  Apparently, not as stupid as these two, though.

  I don’t know what else I can do other than tell them, ‘Hey dummies! I live in that house over there. Come see me; you’re late!’

  The bodies. The clothes. The locations. The notes in the nose.

  By the way, you won’t have that. Don’t worry. That was a one-time thing. Even I was kinda grossed out about that one. Not natural to shove things up a nose like that.

  Where was I?

  Right. All the things I sent them. Seriously, though, what else do I have to do?

  Maybe I’ll kill someone in their family.

  Would that do it, do you think?

  Killing someone close to them … maybe?

  I don’t know. It is so tough to come up with new ideas.

  Again, don’t worry. I’m not indecisive about you.

  With you I know exactly what I’m doing.

  I was waiting for you for a while.

  You’re a good one.

  A good sign.

  A good note.

  You should get the attention of these two knuckleheads.

  Man, there is no way they are this slow. They’ve gotta be playing me.

  Just gotta.

  That’s it. They really are eating at this sub-par pizza place just to be close by.

  But what are they waiting for?

  Why aren’t they just coming to see me instead of playing these stupid games?

  I mean look at him.

  No, the other one.

  He is way too bright to be this dumb.

  They must have a plan for something.

  Oh, my, that is it and that is good. They have a plan, and they want to surprise me.

  I’m sorry, you two. I’m sorry for thinking you weren’t getting it. I am just being impatient. Impatient for when we come together. Gotta stop that.

  Have to stop being impatient.

  Shut up. You don’t know what you are talking about.

  No, I know what you are saying. I don’t need to unglue your lips to know.

  Everybody knows what you mean and it isn’t true.

  It isn’t true.

  No, don’t mock me or I swear I will drop you off right here.

  Do you want me to do that?

  Hmm?

  Oh, now you are silent.

  Fine.

  My two guys have a plan.

  My two guys have a plan.

  My two guys have a plan.

  A plan.

  A plan for me.

  This is awesome.

  What?

  Oh, yeah, well you are just going to have to trust them like I do.

  I trust them. Implicitly.

  How could I not?

  Right?

  They saved me. They saved me, and I told them I was grateful.

  Who turns down gratitude?

  Right? They aren’t monsters.

  No, they know I was grateful for them.

  For what they did.

  They saved me from that guy.

  That guy would have killed me.

  I know it. I know it like I know my own thoughts.

  These two rushed in at the eleventh hour and saved me.

  What? Are you asking what happened to the guy?

  Yeah, well, he died instead of me.

  I guess you could say he started me on my road to the end with these guys, but he didn’t need to be around to see that end.

  Yeah, he didn’t even make his first court date.

  Oh, well. I know I’m not sad, and judging by the way my two guys over there are scarfing down the pizza, they aren’t losing much sleep over it either.

  Come on, let’s get home. I don’t know if tonight is the night they will enact their plan, but I’d like to be ready just in case.

  Besides, and I don’t mean this to be insensitive, but you are making a mess.

  Really, you are. It’s not so much your fault, but you’re dripping all over my seat, and I like to keep my car very clean.

  I said it isn’t your fault, no need to look at me with those puppy dog eyes. It’ll be OK. I’ll clean it up.

  Come on, let’s get you back with your body. It’s gotta be ready by now.

  Chapter Eight

  “What do you mean?”

  Joe looked at his partner, Ben, and sighed.

  “Seriously? You going to make me say it?”

  Ben tried to put the sincerest look of genuine curiosity and confusion on his face, but Joe saw right through it.

  “Dude, come on. That isn’t funny. I’m serious. We should do it.”

  Ben broke character, smiled and looked out the window of their cruiser as they made their way down International Drive. “OK, say if I wanted to … if I wanted to do this insanely stupid and reckless idea, why should I do it with someone like you?”

  “Ohhhhh!”

  Still smiling, Ben continued, “I mean, if I’m going to sign up for something crazy like SWAT, the last thing I would need is to bring crazy along with—”

  His sentence was cut off when Joe swerved deliberately and Ben bumped the door.

  “Hey!”

  Now it was Joe’s turn to return Ben’s previous feigned expression.

  “Whhaatt?” he asked in an overly elongated way.

  “See? That’s what I’m talking about,” Ben said pointing his finger at his partner. “That’s the crazy I don’t need more of in my life.”

  Joe laughed and said, “Ben, brother … you need all the crazy in your life I can muster.”

  Ben replied by punching Joe in the shoulder.

  “Now, actions like that, Officer Obvari, are exactly why you won’t have to worry about making it in with me. They’ll take one look at you and say, ‘Nah, we don’t need violent offenders like that one. We should only pick officers like Salk. He is the best example—’”

  Joe’s mock conversation was int
errupted by a second, harder punch.

  They drove on a little ways, settling into the quiet comfort of not having to fill the air with idle conversation that only comes when two people know each other this well.

  “Seriously,” Joe broke the silence. “Will you apply with me?”

  “Like I’d let you go anywhere that I couldn’t watch your sorry ass.”

  “Aw, buddy, didn’t know you noticed. Thanks.”

  “Shut up.”

  Before Joe could throw back a retort of his own, their car radio squawked to life.

  “Car nineteen, copy.”

  Ben reached over, grabbed the handheld mic and replied, “Car nineteen, Dispatch, over.”

  “Car nineteen, possible domestic disturbance in public view in your vicinity. Advise a drive by to assess situation and report. Over”

  “Copy,” he said as he replaced the mic and looked at the onboard laptop propped between him and Joe. Dispatch sent the address and their GPS started calculating directions by the time Joe pulled off the line at a stoplight.

  “Hey, I know we were joking, but in all seriousness, we need to get our applications in by Thursday if we want to be considered.”

  Ben spun his head around to look at Joe. “What? Seriously? That’s in two days. Why are you just telling me this now?”

  “Because I like for you to panic as much as humanly possible. It’s good for your heart.”

  A third punch in the same spot. Joe wondered if he would have a bruise by the end of the shift.

  “Alright, fine, but don’t get your hopes up. These assignments are cherry and they don’t take a lot of first-time applicants.”

  “Yeah, I know, but I was speaking with Sergeant Jeffers at the range about this—”

  “My God, man. Did you speak to everyone before me?”

  Joe sighed, “As I was saying … I spoke to Sergeant Jeffers at the range and he said because of our scores out there, we would likely receive a lot of consideration. Not many officers shoot as well as we do and certainly not as a team like we do. Most spotters and snipers take a while to figure out how to work together. We don’t have to worry about that since our animosity keeps us in sync—”

  Fourth punch.

  “OK, Joe, I said I’d do it. Now let’s get our head in the game. Our stop’s coming up.”

  Like a switch had been turned in them both, the smiles and jovial nature they’d just exhibited shut off and professional officers now sat in their place. They weren’t cold or distant, but they were serious about their work and it showed.