Blood and Breath 03, McKenzie

McKenzie held up her badge and waited for the patrolman to let her pass. He nodded and stepped aside. McKenzie walked down the hall, and turned left through double doors leading into the living room, following the soft familiar voice.

“McKenzie, finally,” said Captain Valize, pressing the end button on his mobile phone. He was a large man with dark Hispanic skin. He moved slowly and deliberately, and a smile was never far from his face. His eyes, however, were haunted by decades of police work and too many funerals.

“Sorry,” said McKenzie, “I was in church.”

Valize raised his gray eyebrows and pursed his lips. McKenzie smiled and shook her head gently.

“No,” she said, “I’m afraid I am not coming back to the fold.”

“My shepherd still has room in his flock,” said Valize.

“As always,” said McKenzie, nodding.

“Then what were you doing in a church?” asked Valize. “Absconding with some candle sticks?”

“No,” said McKenzie, smirking. “But, I do like the candles.”

“Aha,” said Valize, his voice remaining soft and deep. “I knew it was the candle sticks.”

McKenzie paused, then said solemnly, “Witski will be gone one year on Tuesday.”

Valize looked down at the floor, pursing his lips, then he looked into McKenzie’s eyes and said, “I know. He has been in my prayers this week.”

“Am I in your prayers, Captain?” asked Mckenzie.

“Always,” said Valize.

Valize looked down at the floor, sighed heavily, then said, gesturing towards the bathroom, “There is much blood.”

McKenzie shrugged. “I’ve seen blood.”

“And parts,” said Valize, quietly, respectfully.

“Okay,” said McKenzie, “Now that freaks me out.”

“Yes,” said Valize.

“Have you taken a look?” asked McKenzie.

“Oh, no,” said Valize, “I received a verbal report. Fortunately it is my job to delegate.”

“What am I in for?” asked McKenzie.

“Well, for starters,” said Valize, “The murder appears to have taken place in the bathroom. There is no blood anywhere else in the apartment. In fact, there isn’t even a fingerprint. The place has been meticulously wiped down. The bathroom, however, is completely covered with blood. Every tile, every corner, every crack was smeared.”

“And the . . .” McKenzie couldn’t finish the sentence.

“In the Bathtub,” said Valize.

McKenzie nodded, then turned towards the bathroom doorway. The door was open, but a patrolman in blue stood with his back to the blood. Behind the patrolman, McKenzie could see the blood was splattered everywhere and on everything.

The patrolman stepped aside when McKenzie approached, but McKenzie didn’t move through the doorway. She stood at the threshold and stared at the dim room. Blood had been smeared on the floor and wall tiles. Even the sheet of glass covering the florescent lights embedded in the ceiling was smeared. The blood was drying, turning rusty brown, blocking the light from lighting up the room properly. McKenzie took one step back and turned to look at Valize with a sideways glance.

“This was recent,” said McKenzie.

“Yes, very,” replied Valize.

“Who found this?” asked McKenzie.

“Someone called the police emergency line from this room and screamed,” explained Valize. “There was no more communication, but the line stayed connected. The dispatcher had the call traced. The police officers that arrived found the door open. They took one look at the bathroom and called for backup.”

McKenzie turned her head to look back into the bathroom. Her sight landed on the tub. The shower curtain was gone, but all she could see was a hand, its fingers curving gently over the edge of the tub. McKenzie could feel her heart racing. She consciously controlled her breathing, but her adrenaline had already kicked in. Her mouth was dry and her skin was cold. Her hands began to shake.

“Get video and photographs,” said McKenzie. “Also, check out the bathroom with ultraviolet lights. Have a cleaning crew wipe the bathroom down with water only. I don’t want to lose any clues that might be underneath the blood.”

“You aren’t staying?” asked Valize.

“No,” said McKenzie. “The forensic team will get more information from the scene than I could. Get me the media and I will try to piece something together from that.”