CHAPTER 33
NIYAH
Niyah stepped under the police tape and looked for the highest-ranking officer on the scene.
She spotted a white shirt with a lieutenant's bar on the shoulder, so she walked over. After glancing at his nametag, Niyah attempted to introduce herself. But the lieutenant didn’t give her a chance.
Apparently, he already knew who she was.
“Can you notify the detectives on-scene that the ME has arrived?”
The lieutenant waved toward the well-kept brick bungalow. “We got one dead female inside.”
The lieutenant wasn’t much for small talk, so Niyah made her way toward the crime scene.
She looked around at the worried white faces of the wealthy Gold Coast residents.
Fortunately for them, the Gold Coast community hadn’t experienced the violent crimes that Chicago was known for, which would explain the abnormal amount of people lined up behind the crime-scene tape.
It also explained the excess number of reporters vying for comments from law enforcement officials.
Niyah ignored all questions directed at her and walked up to the brownstone.
She greeted a few officers before leaning against the building to slip covers over her shoes.
Once done, she pulled a pair of latex gloves from her back pocket and entered the residence.
The decor was stunning, not a pillow out of place.
Judging from the slate flooring, the chic furniture, and the art on the wall, the occupants not only had a great deal of money, but they also had impeccable taste.
Niyah was thinking about redesigning her condo when a detective called from the hall. “The body is back here.”
Niyah followed the detective down a hall that led to a kitchen that could’ve been featured on Top Chef. So far, the immaculate house showed no indication that a murder or any crime at all had been committed there.
Through the kitchen and down another hall led to a large bedroom that was a complete contradiction to the rest of the house.
Even before she entered the room, the blood spatter nearly told the story.
A naked female victim was lying facedown on the California-king bed.
The bed, like the walls and floor, was covered in blood.
Niyah leaned over to inspect the body. Cracks in the victim’s skull indicated blunt-force trauma. Closer inspection revealed at least four spherical lacerations that could’ve easily been cause of death. “Looks like a hammer,” she told the detective.
“Good eye, Doc. We have the murder weapon. It is indeed a hammer.”
It amused Niyah how surprised police personnel seemed when she was able to pinpoint cause of death, murder weapons, or time of death.
Did they not know that it was her job to know these things?
Deep down, they must’ve assumed that only detectives had perfected their craft.
Maybe they thought all ME and forensic pathologists were simply guessing.
A quick examination revealed that the victim had been dead approximately eight to twelve hours. And fluid on her buttocks and thighs hinted that there had been a sexual assault.
“Detective, so far, we have a sexual assault with blunt-force trauma to the head. The victim was killed less than twenty-four hours ago. She’s ready for transport. I’ll do a full workup once I get her on my table.”
“10-4, Doc. Thanks.”
Niyah nodded and then stood. She took a step back to observe a moment of silence like she did for all the homicide victims she’d examined. After a sigh, she pulled the gloves from her hand and left the detective to do what detectives do.
***
Niyah pulled into the parking lot and parked her county vehicle in the spot reserved for the Cook County Medical Examiner.
She grabbed her bag and purse and climbed out.
After making her way through the crossing garage, she entered the building, longing for the silence of her office.
A few seconds in the hallway, led her to her office.
She fished her keys out of her bag to open the door, but it wasn’t locked.
Either her assistant or her intern had left her office door unlocked.
Niyah pushed inside and dropped her bag by the door.
She inhaled a breath, reveling in the tranquility of her office.
Passing her desk, she made her way across the room and dropped down on the sofa.
She closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath.
There had been so much going on. If she had one wish, Niyah would wish for one moment when she could totally forget about her sister in relation to the gangbanger serial killings.
The onset of a headache prompted Niyah to massage her temples, but a shuffle across the room opened her eyes. To Niyah’s horror, she wasn’t alone. Belladonna Deveraux was standing in the corner of her office. The accusatory glint in her eyes triggered level of anxiety that snatched Niyah upright.
“W-what are you doing here? Are... are you back at work?” Niyah asked, fumbling nervously as Bella pushed off the wall and closed the distance between them.
She leaned over Niyah and glared at her through narrowed lids. “Why the fuck are you lying to me?”