Thread: The Urban Jungle

Sometimes it was the simple things in life that kept one sane taking a quiet stroll through a park and not having to worry about gunshot or being mugged. Perhaps going to a resturant and not having to fear that the next bite of food you take won't land you in the hospital stricken with some food-borne illness. And other times it was the comfort of your own home where you were protected from the harsh realities of the day to day, the ambience of classical music carrying away the tension of the job and hot water tainted with bubble bath and lavender oil could ease sore muscles and make you forget your worries and troubles for at least five minutes. Then again, life also never ceased it's flow for anyone, not even those who made it a point to work nonstop to solve all the mysteries and crimes this city produced on a daily basis. Some which seemed stranger than fiction as of late though she wasn't going to allow herself to dwell on them as she lowered herself into the hot sudsy water and sighed with relief. The only thing that could make this moment better would be a chilled glass of champagne and maybe the fact that this wasn't her apartment but rather some five star resort located in some exotic location. And maybe a nice cabana boy ready to massage her back and shoulders bearing a pina colada or something after her luxurious soak. Yep, that would definately make this moment a lot better. And a secretary to answer her phone. Answer...her ...phone.... Shit. She swore as she opened her coppery-brown eyes and sat up while her cell phone buzzed and rang angrily as if to let her know it didn't appreciate playing second fiddle to her daydreams and fantasies as she lunged out of the tub and snatched it off the counter. Hello?She asked, instantly regretting that she'd even answered the damn thing in the first place. She was supposed to be off for the next couple of nights after working eighteen straight days in a row but now it looked as if she was in for another long haul as she listened to the strained and tired tone on the phone. Okay, where are you guys?She inquired while wrapping a towel around her lithe form and absentmindedly rubbing her left foot against her right calf to banish some of the suds from her interupted bath. Gimme a bit, I was in the bath. I know..it's not your fault. Uh huh...bye.As she snapped the cellphone shut and glanced at her reflection. Ain't this about a bitch?She asked the face staring back at her before rolling her eyes and exiting the bathroom and padding into her bedroom to find something comfortable and clean admist the piles of neglected laundry. Just one night..it's all I ask.She muttered before glancing at a picture of a man and a woman posing together in their wedding outfits. Her father had been a police officer and her mother a school teacher, much to her mother's dismay, she'd opted to follow a similiar path after her father instead. She liked the thrill of danger, putting together the pieces to bring suspects to justice. Her way of tipping the scale in the good guy's favor when more often than naught, it seemed the bad guy got away. And sometimes the bad guy employed desperate people as she squatted beside the body of someone familiar to her, gloved fingers gently and carefully turning the head of the victim before reverently laying it back on the floor. It was always hard when you knew that the corpse's name and it's family. Much less when that family was yours as she turned her eyes up at her partner and took a moment to find her voice which seemed oddly misplaced in the confines of tight and dry muscles. As much as she wanted to cry, she couldn't do that right now. Time to be a tough girl and get through this. Victoria, you know him don't you?Justice asked as she nodded her dark head and sighed heavily, glancing back at the victim who stared back with lifeless eyes. What an utter waste! Marco was in his prime and instead of doing something productive with his life, he'd been all too easily seduced by the false promises of the street gang life. His poor mother was going to be heart broken when notified that her last remaining child had been taken by the streets just like the other four before him. At least he had a family who would mourn him properly though unlike some of the other victims she'd come across over the months and years who would be processed like slabs of meat and forgotten only to be numbers in the system.. Sorry. Yes, he was a cousin of mine.She answered as she stood and moved out of the way for city officials to step in and remove his body so someone down at the coroner's office could cut him open and find the cause of death after pictures and various samples had been taken. I'm sorry for your loss.Justice muttered as he followed her outside, staying close in case she needed a shoulder to cry on, or someone to hide behind while she got her bearings. However, Victoria wasn't the sort to let sentiment get in the way of her job as she turned to look up into her partner's face with her jaw set stubbornly in place while her eyes danced for a moment with a silent challenge as if daring him to tell her to go home. Sorry you missed the other bodies..Justice began only to mentally berrate himself at how stupid that had to have sounded. The woman just saw a relative dead and the best he could do was apologize for the other victims and not show more compassion. It's okay, just give me the cliff notes version of what they looked like.A touch of empathy in her tone as if she could sense how much her partner was trying to be supportive while not compromising the situation. They were at work, this was what they did. If she wanted sympathy, shoulders and heart-filled hugs while singing kumbaya around a campfire, she was in the wrong line of work. Gently, she pushed the emotional turmoil aside and let cold practicality settle in it's place as they stood outside the house and removed the soiled gloves from her hands. They didn't look nearly as good as...He trailed off for a moment as she hiked her brows up slightly and nodded. So Marco had been spared a far more gruesome death, at least she could take some solace in that she supposed as she mentally shrugged. They looked like they'd been done up with a machete or as weird as it's going to sound, a set of giant claws...Justice shuddered as she gave a dry laugh. Well, that sounds like the other group we came across a month ago.She pointed out to him, folding her arms across her chest while her teeth gently pressed into her lower lip. You remember two years ago when we busted that small drug ring in South Central? Those guys were from South America right? Thought they were hardcore for using machetes to do their victims? I'm starting to think they might be back.She suggested. You think so?He asked as she gave a shrug. Not really, not when the D.A. nailed them to the cross as it were. Sort of sent a message to similiar groups and why would they suddenly surface now? Besides, there were no metal fragments found in the recent victims, remember? But neither were there any fur samples found so it couldn't be some wild animal running around. Whatever cut through those bodies, wasn't human but it wasn't animal either. Someone would see a bear and wild cats can't support themselves on their hind legs long enough to slash into a person's body..As she turned shielded herself as though fending off some unseen attack. When a person is attacked by a dog or animal, what's the first thing they do? They hold up their arms to protect their face, right? Why then didn't the victims have any cuts or bite marks to the arms and wrists? All that was found were slash marks as if someone were using claws, right? Across the throat, chest and torso area, a couple on the back from when they obviously tried to run. What animal doesn't keep mauling it's prey once it's been felled?She asked as Justice scratched his head as though truly stumped. Well, a couple bore bite marks and they were missing some blood, remember? But we didn't find any on the ground to support that they'd bled out there. Like the blood had vanished.He spoke up as they lapsed into heavy silence for several minutes. Either there was a group of gothic kids who had their hands in gang activity..or they were dealing with things far out of their league and depth as she ran a hand through her hair and sighed. I don't know, Justice, vampires? We're in L.A...not Transylvania or wherever they come from. I'm having a bit of a hard time believing that there's some bloodsuckers running around here fighting turf wars like some supernatural gangsters.She snorted even though the first tinglings of doubt had already begun to settle in place. Was it at all unlikely? Given the evidence? This shit was giving her a headache and she wasn't looking forward to calling her Aunt later to tell her about Marco. Definately not the latter before a hand gently placed itself on her shoulder to shake her from her thoughts. Vic, go home.Justice ordered softly as she started to protest only to be silenced by a finger pressed to her lips. Just go home. Nothing more can be done tonight and the only thing left is a bunch of paperwork. You need to rest and let this all sink in. If you're tired, you're just going to wind up making a mistake later.Not one to pull punches even if he was trying to show some compassion. I'm not going because you told me to..She trailed off, struggling not to yawn as the two of them stared into one another's eyes. For a moment, there was a strong tension that built around them and the world seemed to fade before she lost the battle and yawned, breaking the spell of the moment in which both of them looked away quickly as if feeling guilty for that lapse of strength and control. Well, you better call me if there's anything exciting happening. Not like I really do anything on my days off.She spoke quickly, thankful that her dark skin hid the flush of embarassment in the darkness as Justice cleared his throat and nodded rapidly. Take it easy, Vic..see you in a couple of days.He waived before moving away from his partner quickly and striking up conversation with one of the police officers in the area. Victoria smiled at his backside then pivoted on the axis of her heel and approached her vehicle across the street. Once settling in the driver's seat, she took a moment to rest the back of her head against the top of the seat and debated on if she should make that dreaded call now..or wait until she got home. Either way, her Aunt was going to be upset and while she hated waking people normally, especially to deliver bad news, this was going to be a hundred times worse than any of those times. Home.She told herself as she slid the key in the ignition and started the engine, the silver-blue Accord departing it's parking spot and leaving the area while her fingers gripped the wheel tightly to hold it together at least until she got home in Van Nuys. Name Victoria Onika Watts Age Thirty Ethnicity African-American Height 5'6 Weight 165