Открыть фик целиком в отдельном окне
O.S.I.R. Mobile lab – Central Boston
“So, what do we know?” Case Manager Connor Doyle folded his legs and looked at his team in turn around the table.
“According to background checks,” Lindsay opened her folder and scanned the documents, her golden hair framing her face as she tucked wayward strands behind her ear, “local police have uncovered the bodies of seven young men in the greater Boston area.”
“Why call us?” Peter Axon frowned as he leaned into the table.
“According to my sources on the homicide squad, there were disturbing marks on the bodies along with a toxin that their lab could not identify.” Ray Donohue spoke as he entered the conference room and pulled out a chair. The former cop hated unsolved murders and he resented all the unsaid implications in the reports in his hands.
“Yes, but, We” Peter continued. “are not a violent crimes task force and surely this matter would be better handled by the FBI.”
“Agreed, however,” Connor headed off the flow of dissention before it had a chance to grow into full blown rebellion. “the marks that were found on the bodies, along with the toxin in their systems, indicates the working’s of a sacrificial cult within the area. And that makes it our business.” He paused before continuing, seeing the increasing tension in Axon. Doyle made a mental note of asking him about it privately. “We’ve been called in as backup by the local PD. Anton is evaluating the crime scene reports and the toxin has been sent to central lab for analysis. In the meantime, Lindsay, I want a complete background check on the identified victims along with reports of their activities for the forty-eight hours before they died. I want to know where they went, who they saw, and what common denominator, if any, ties them together.”
“I have some of that now.” Lindsay pointed the remote to the large wall screen in the onsite conference room and flipped the switch. Seven faces swam into view, all of them dark-haired, mid to late thirties, and good looking. Axon visibly paled.
“Ah, Connor…they all look like you,” Donohue intoned.
“Yeah, frightening,” Peter answered; and, before anyone could object to the flippant statement, they all saw the tension in his body pull tighter.
“Apart from a physical aspect, what else do they have in common?” Connor asked, the thought disturbing him more than he was prepared to admit at this moment.
“They are all well educated, come from society or well placed families, all single, and all gay.”
“Which indicates this cult could be working within either the gay or society circles. See which of them they moved in, look for a common link – a person or place that they may have in common,” Connor advised.
“Check email logs,” Peter added and Lindsay turned to him.
“Say what?”
“A lot of the groups or subcultures run boards or groups. They may be members of the same list or subculture.”
“I am not even going to ask how you know that.” Lindsay smiled as she leaned back.
“Probably wise.” Peter’s voice was soft as he looked back down at the page. “Preliminary reports indicate the toxin is plant based and ingested. Anton and Claire are working on the full report now. With luck, the supply will also be specific. However, it appears to dissipate within forty-eight hours of death; the last victim was found just in time for the samples and swabs to be taken.”
“Good, so we have a couple of leads.” Connor nodded.
“There is something else.” Donohue was grave as he looked around the room.
“And that is?” Lindsay prompted.
“Local PD says the bodies were all found in a similar area and there was evidence of sexual abuse.”
“You mean they had sex,” Peter corrected.
“No, systematic sexual abuse.”
“What?” Connor came back to the table and frowned as he took the documents.
“Most of the abuse occurred, according to the coroner, whilst they were alive,” Ray continued. Connor paled in shock as he read the reports and handed them to Peter. Anton took that moment to enter the room, a large file under his arm, complete with crime scene photos and a detailed coroner’s report.
“I see Ray has already appraised you,” Anton said, coolly professional. Not a lot bothered him, however abuse on this scale set his teeth on edge. “Not pleasant, and the FBI people concur this is the work of a cult of some kind. The medical report is almost identical in each case. External genitalia showed extensive contusions, hematomas, and edema consistent with repeated battering. Each victim suffered extensive rectal lacerations; these lacerations were caused by multiple insertions with sharpened instruments. Each of the victims’ prostate glands was torn and lacerated, again apparently by the insertion of a knife or sharpened object. There was considerable tearing of the anal sphincters; it is unknown if the implements used to sodomize the victims were the causative agents at this time or if the many rapes caused the damage. There was no evidence of lubricating substances found in any of the victims. DNA analysis of the semen taken from the victims indicated there were 11 assailants. The DNA is being run through the national database now. The victims would have likely been conscious throughout the ordeal. Once the rapes were over and the body had been impaled, each victim was bound and their testicles were excised from the scrotal sac. There was no attempt to stop the bleeding; cause of death in each case was exsanguination. Oh…and while the victims were slowly bleeding to death…their penises were cut and branded.”
“Jesus Christ!” Peter exclaimed as Lindsey bolted from the room, her face white, and the faint sounds of retching could be heard as she barely got the bathroom door closed in time. “I’ll go check on her.” Peter headed towards the bathroom and left Anton and Connor alone with Donohue.
Страница 1 - 1 из 26
Начало | Пред. | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 | След. | Конец
