Chapter 8

  When Douglas and James made their way back to their car they got a call over the radio, “Car Sixty?”

  “Car Sixty responding.” Jim responded.

  “Detective, Coroner says that the autopsy on Victim from the apartments is completed and for you to visit him. Over.”

  “ Roger Dispatch. Over and out.”

  The drive Fellows and Sons office in Midtown, Manhattan to the Bronx morgue took them roughly half an hour. The sun was just starting to beginning to set when they walked through the brick building to Dr. Wilhelm's office.

  “Good evening Detectives. I have to thank you, the two of you have given me the most interesting autopsy of my entire career.” The small German doctor said as he spun around in his chair when Douglas and Jim walked in.

  “Interesting how?” Jim asked.

  Walking the two detectives into the lab, where Grace Fletcher lay covered in a white sheet, he explained what he meant by “Interesting”.

  “Do you remember that I mentioned how the wounds on her face gave the impression of a fall from some height?”

  “Yes, you asked us did we move her or found her in the bed.”

  Clapping his hands together Dr. Wilhelm continued, “Exactly! Being able to take a closer look I was correct, this poor women did have fall. However that fall happened post mortum as did most of the trauma.” Taking a pen from pocket he began to post out different signs of trauma on her body. “These marks around the neck were caused by a thick rope, the cuts on her abdomen were also caused after her death. Over ninety percent of all the visible damage on her body was caused after she had already died. There is also signs of her having sexual intercourse sometime before her death, bruising on her vagina and cervix.”

  Douglas was confused as he looked at the young woman's corpse. “So if the fall and all this damage happened after she died, what did kill her?”

  “That is the most intriguing part young Douglas, she was poisoned! The contents were coated all on the inside of her stomach.”

  “So someone poisoned her and then went through the trouble of beating the shit out of her? That doesn't make a lick of sense, Doc.” Jim chimed in his two cents.

  “The reason why is not for me to uncover Mr. Swinger, that is on you. All I can provide is the how and in this that was poison. Hemlock specifically. Not the most common poison used now a days but just as potent. Based on the level that was still in her stomach I would say she consumed it less than eight hours before her death, also she had a very large amount in her stomach. Miss. Fletcher consumed over twice the amount that would be required to kill someone of her figure.”

  Douglas had heard of hemlock poisoning before but that was all in books of Victorian women killing their rich husbands not a young women in the Bronx. “Any idea how she could have consumed so much?”

  “Oh yes young Douglas, the plant was mixed with salad greens. Wild hemlock shares an appearance with wild carrot so if she did not know the difference.”

  “Would she have had any symptoms?”

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  “Vomiting, sweating, and muscle discomfort. There are no symptoms that would give the impression that you have been poisoned until it is too late.” Dr. Wilhelm pulled the white sheet back over the pearl white skin of Grace Fletcher.

  “Detectives, there is an urgent phone call at the desk for you. It is the Lieutenant.” Said one of the lab assistants from the double doors that separated the lab from the rest of the building.

  “I'll go get it Douglas.” Jim said as he went out of the room to take the call. When he reached the phone he picked up the headset, “Detective Swinger speaking.”

  “Jim, it's Sal. We have a problem.” The voice was that of Lieutenant Salvatore Giancarlo.

  “What's wrong Sal?” Jim imagine it was something to do with the once over he had worked on Maxwell earlier in the day, the Department was trying to crackdown on that style of policing.

  “Your perp just taken to Sinai, he just started vomiting blood in Holding.” Lieutenant Salvatore said with the voice of a man who would not be going home on time under a mountain of paperwork.

  “Shit, any idea what happened?” That was worse news then Jim wanted.

  “No idea, he was in Holding then a bunch of the other guys in there start yelling and making a fuss so some of the boys went in to check it out and found him on his hands and knees with blood just pouring from his mouth. You didn't do anything that could have caused that did you Jim?”

  “Aw shit Sal, you know I didn't. One of his coworkers did say they he was drinking pretty heavy last night. Doug and I will be right over.”

  “Make it quick boys, I think the Three Stooges just got here.” Salvatore put the receiver back down leaving Jim to hear the harsh ringing.

  Walking back into the lab Jim could hear that Douglas and The Doc were having a conversation about hemlock. “Sorry to interrupt the botany lesson Doc. Doug, we gotta get back to the house. Now.” Douglas did not need any further explanation, he could see from his partner's face that this was something serious.

  “I will get the report typed up and have it sent over to you boys as soon as I can.” Doctor Wilhelm said as he watched the two walk out of the room, taking one last look at Grace Fletcher he covered her face, “What hell you went through.”

  Out in front of the Morgue, Douglas and Jim hurried into the car before Douglas spoke. “What's going on Jim?”

  “Maxwell is now sitting in Sinai, starting throwing up blood all over Holding. On top of that, the Three Stooges showed up when I was on he phone with the Lieutenant.”

  “Shit.”

  “Shit doesn't even explain the half of it Dougie.”

  It was a ten minute drive from the Morgue to the Twenty-third, Jim did it five. Douglas and Jim hit the ground at a run as they made their way back inside the station house. They both started heading for Holding when they were interrupted by three overtly expensively dressed men.

  Ross, Greene, and Baker.

  “Oh what a pleasure it is to see you two again. Care to explain why our client is currently at Sinai?” Simon Ross asked as he stood at the Desk Sargent, his textured leather briefcase accenting his dark green suit.

  “Mr. Ross, who would have expected you three to grace us with your presence. Detective Swinger and myself only just were informed of Mr. Stillwater's health. We are just as much in the dark as yourselves.” Douglas said in the most civil way he could muster.

  It was John Baker who spoke up in retort, “It wouldn't have anything to do with the broken nose he suffered in your custody would it?”

  “He fell. Fresh wax and such.” James Swinger responded with a smirk.

  “I'm sure, this place looks so-” Simon looked around the station, “well maintained. We will be speaking later Detectives, we are going to check on our client.”

  Douglas and Jim watched as the three lawyers, three of the highest profile in the city, walked out into the setting afternoon sun.

  “Boys! My office now.” Lieutenant Salvatore called from his doorway. The two experienced detectives did not waste any time joining the Lieutenant. “Those three assholes came in here trying to stir some shit up. Boys, you had better tell me that we got an open and shit on this shit.”

  “Well Sir-”

  “Cut the pleasantry, do I call the D.A.?”

  “We have enough to charge.”

  “That is good enough for me god damn.”

  A knock at the door came drew all three of their attentions, it was the Desk Sargent. “Chief, Sinai's on hold for you.”

  The Lieutenant rubbed the bridge of his nose hard between his thumb and forefinger before picking up the phone. “Uh huh. Yes. Thank you for calling.”

  The Lieutenant placed the receiver back down and rubbed his temples until deep seated imprints were left.

  “Stillwater is dead.”