Syd Parker - The Killing Ground

Rebecca stood opposite the M.E., watching her make her first visual pass of Elizabeth Hudson’s body. They still had not located her husband, which hadn’t bothered Rebecca at first, but seemed eerily suspicious now.

There was a camera recording the entire process, and the M.E. noted every step of the autopsy. “Date of the autopsy is November 19 th, 2011, 10:53 AM. Performed by Sylvia Knowles, Medical Examiner. Manner of death is homicide. Cause of death is exsanguination due to an incise wound in the neck, severing the carotid arteries and an incision in the abdomen. Victim is a Caucasian female, approximately thirty-four years old. Generalized pallor and evidence of exsanguination, bi-lateral incision across the neck and abdomen. Left lower lateral chest-wall abrasions and contusions, consistent with injuries sustained.”

Rebecca watched Sylvia study the body, noting every bruise, cut or other mark that appeared out of place. When she mentioned the pregnancy and subsequent loss of the child, Rebecca bit back tears. She couldn’t help but see the woman Elizabeth Hudson was just hours before, filled with energy and no doubt ecstatic about her upcoming birth. Now, she was a pale shadow of her former self, the blood that was once life-giving had been shed heartlessly. The life that, until recently, had flourished within her was gone.

“I’m going to do the rape kit next. Wanna stick around?” Sylvia watched for her reply behind her glasses. “I know we won’t get anything, but I have to do it anyway.”

Rebecca’s belt vibrated loudly, and she pulled her pager out checking the display. “Nah, I got to make a call. Just call me when you finish.”

Sylvia nodded, her attention already focused on the victim again.

Rebecca shook her head as she walked out. It took a special person to be a Medical Examiner. She knew without a doubt it was a calling that she would never have answered. Despite her hard-ass exterior, the hardest part of the job was separating herself from the victims, trying not to figure out their story. She knew she couldn’t look at a person lying on the table and detach herself. It wasn't in her make up.

Rebecca pulled her phone out and dialed the number on her pager. “Foxx.”

“Detective, it’s Special Agent Gray. We tracked down Elizabeth Hudson’s husband.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, Special Agent Gray.” Her voice was razor sharp. “But I was unaware that the FBI was tracking anyone down.”

“I just assumed that given the wide scope of the FBI’s reach and your full plate, you would appreciate some assistance.” Jordan hoped her tone didn’t sound as sarcastic as she felt.

“You need to stop assuming that we need the FBI to swoop in and save the day. I can assure you that my team can handle this.” Rebecca’s tone had tempered some, but she was still on edge. No matter how long she had been at it, no matter how good a detective she was, there was always some invisible voice whispering in her ear that she just wasn’t good enough. Usually it was some dick reminding her that she was a woman, and women are never as good as men. Today, it was Jordan’s voice taunting her. The FBI had managed to do what the CDD hadn’t. It tracked down Elizabeth Hudson’s missing husband. It was just another reminder she had grown up amongst her father and brothers, who somehow always managed to be better than she was. It wasn't that they competed with her. It was her own insecurity and need to be something she wasn't. Rather than accept that she could succeed as a woman, she had lived in a self-imposed shadow of doubt and some unattainable goal that haunted her every day.

“So, does that mean you don’t want to know where he is?” Jordan could tell she was baiting her, and she didn’t really want to stoop that low, but damn it, that woman got under her skin. Did she want to catch the killer or not? And something as simple as tracking someone down shouldn’t raise her ire as much as it did.

Rebecca let out a loud sigh. “Tell me what you got.”

“Well, I’ll assume you already know his name.”

The smile in Jordan’s voice was obvious, and it at least got Rebecca to loosen up some. “Yes, I do." Rebecca answered smugly. "Richard. Works for some law firm here in the city.”

“Yep. Apparently, the law firm he works for handles a lot of overseas clients. He travels a lot, and my people picked him up at O’Hare. Guy was getting ready to fly to Singapore.”

“Interesting considering his wife was killed last night.” Rebecca’s sixth sense was starting to act up, a sign that maybe she finally had a lead.

“Exactly what we thought.” Jordan concurred quickly.

Rebecca pinched the bridge of her nose, her brain working on overtime. “Did he happen to mention where he was or why he didn’t answer his phone?”

“Oh, he was very forthcoming with that. Had an early flight out of O’Hare, and apparently he hates traffic, so he spends the night at a hotel near the airport. Didn’t answer his phone because it was off.”

The hair on the back of Rebecca’s neck was standing on end. “That’s convenient. Did you tell him about Elizabeth?”

“Nope, I figured you would want to see his face when we told him.” Jordan had thrown we in hoping that maybe, just maybe, with the help she and the FBI were able to give in tracking down Richard Hudson, Rebecca would return the favor and let her sit in when they told him about his wife.

“We?” Rebecca chuckled sarcastically. “You just think your part of my team now, huh?”

“Wishful thinking.” It was true. She was wishing she could spend more time with the enigmatic Detective Foxx. She wanted it to be about the case only, but a more personal reason was starting to creep into her consciousness. “Besides, it might help to have backup.”

“And why might I need backup? Detective Jones has covered my ass this long, and I’m still alive.”

“Because of the second part of the news I wanted to tell you. Richard Hudson has a rap sheet.”

“Whoa…what do you mean?” Rebecca’s tone belied her disbelief. “We didn’t find anything.”

“And now do you see why I’m important to you?” Jordan asked smugly.

Rebecca begrudgingly admitted to herself that maybe having the FBI around wasn’t too bad. “So what did you find on him?”

“You didn’t find it because his record has been expunged. Dad evidently had money and knew someone in the DA’s office. Apparently, this guy has a bit of a temper. Put his ex-wife in the hospital a couple of times. She tried to file for divorce, but he messed her up really badly. Bad enough that she filed for a restraining order.”

The wheels in Rebecca’s mind were spinning rapidly. “Think we can talk to her?”

“I wish.” Jordan said ruefully. “She died six years ago.”

Rebecca's heart stopped. “How did she die?”

“Funny you ask.” Jordan’s tone suggested it was anything but funny. “Attacked in an alley, had her throat sliced. Killer was never found.”

Rebecca’s interest peaked. The same MO as their current perp. Certainly it wasn’t a coincidence. “And Mr. Hudson?”

“Alibied out. Can you believe that?” Jordan's incredulous tone suggested she believed that his alibi had been of a very convenient and much too suspicious nature to be a coincidence.

“Nothing surprises me nowadays.” Rebecca grabbed her coat off a chair. She tucked her phone under her chin and shoved her arms into her coat.

“So, you wanna meet me at headquarters?” Jordan asked hopefully. “I think it’s about time we tell Mr. Hudson what an unlucky fellow he is.”

“Sure. Will Detective Riley be joining us?” For some reason, Rebecca had the oddest feeling of wanting to be alone with Jordan. The thought of Detective Riley joining them seemed like more of an inconvenience then a benefit.