QR Code Murders: Two for One

Kim walked around the car and greeted St. Kitts and Darby. In her mind they were equals. She felt that the two agents had a firm grasp on the situation.

“As we were saying, detective, these murders are your home turf. We’re just guests,” Darby said.

“We’re waiting for your word,” St. Kitts said.

Kim sensed something deep and simple all at the same time. In the recesses of her brain, she knew that the agents had something special with the cases. It was like a jolt of electricity that surged through her that let her know that she was supposed to be here. That she could not just run with the boys but lead them down alleyways of darkness with a torch of information. She was capable of finding in her own thoughts strategies and plans to see through the investigation.

She whirled around and kept moving towards the bodies.

“Two for one,” St. Kitts announced. He looked self-assured and the end of the sentence clanged a bit.

“We’ve got two victims with the bicep tattoo removed. Of course, you can still see the line of the laser removal site,” Darby said. He seemed confident and a little overambitious to impress the lady detective. Darby wasn’t trying to show off too much but he wanted to definitely assert dominance in the presence of a woman. Yawquisha kept rolling, switching out batteries and files for the camera like exchanging coins from a candy machine. She did it with such efficiency and ease that it amazed all three law enforcement. Even Kim still, though she’s seen her do this multiple times. The exactness always intrigued the onlookers. Yawquisha just did it almost without even thinking. Kim looked at both victims.

“What was the time that they were found?”

“About four o’clock this morning by a jogger. A Whitney Cloherty. Twenty-six and lives up the block.”

Kim looked around and saw that the two men were standing like human towers over her. Then she stood and she reigned over them.

“We’re going to run the same prints and get the shell casings into forensics for testing,” St. Kitts mentioned.

“That’s good. Also, remember that there’s a gun in the drain just opposite the street. Maybe we should get it before some kid picks it up and thinks it’s a toy.”

The two agents were struck dumb. Kim didn’t gloat. She didn’t have time to do that. She just grinned slightly. That flash of a smile was enough to drive the point home. On her home turf, she could decide just what would happen with her investigation. In the few minutes that she had spent with the two agents, she felt a tiny sense of superiority because of her close proximity to the cases. Wilmington murders investigated by a Wilmingtonian should be directed like a laser guided missile. She had the background, the facts, the deals, and the dishes. She knew what would be happening this entire time.

For Kim, it was like she could surgically remove the cyst of the murders but she chose to use a sledgehammer.

“If you don’t mind, we’re going to go up to the office and try to get some intel on the culprits,” Darby announced.

“Okay. I can take care of this.” The sound of Kim’s voice was like a classic car revving up. The pur in her voice signaled that she was done with the meet and greet and ready for everyone to get down to the task. She wanted to rid the streets of whoever was doing this but she had to rid her mind of the degradation she was experiencing from the feds. In her soul she could feel the bruises of their sarcasm and the one too many looks at her frame. She shrugged and then didn’t think about it anymore.

“You should be able to match that,” Yawquisha said.

“It’ll take a few days to get it. That’s if the serial number hasn’t been scratched off already,” Kim said with pursed lips. She looked down and rifled in her pocket. She took a stick of gum and chewed slowly, methodically.