Chapter 56
FIFTY-SIX
Katie raced to the crime scene, which appeared to be a vehicle crash. There were several fire trucks, an ambulance, two trucks, and three police cars. As Katie approached, she slowed and opted to park the farthest away. She cut the engine and sat, not immediately getting out.
“What’s up, partner?” said McGaven as he unhooked his seatbelt.
“I don’t want to see this.”
“It’s what we do.”
“No, I mean I don’t want to see another woman who has been dismembered.”
“I can go,” he said, sensing her anxious energy.
“No. We’re partners and we have to work this case.”
“Let’s do it then.”
Katie and McGaven got out of the police sedan and walked toward the scene. A fire lieutenant was the first to approach them.
“Detectives Scott and McGaven?”
“Yes,” she said.
“We’ve received information that the deceased was part of your investigation.”
“What happened?” she said.
“It appears the car took the turn too fast, overcompensated, and ended up in the gully.”
“Can we access the car and driver?”
“The deceased isn’t the driver,” said the lieutenant.
“What?”
“The passenger was killed. The driver appears to have fled.”
McGaven looked at Katie.
“Any witnesses?” she asked.
“No one has come forward, but this area isn’t usually busy with traffic.”
“Thank you,” she said and began walking toward the gully.
“Detectives, it’s a bit dicey,” the lieutenant called. “I want one of my guys to go with you.”
Katie nodded as a firefighter came to escort them. She felt her throat tighten and her nerves go on notice.
How could that be?
The cold air felt more invasive as they reached the tree-lined area. She zipped up her jacket closer to her neck and re-adjusted her ponytail. For some reason the autopsy for Sills entered her mind.
Katie and McGaven stood at street level, looking down about twenty feet at where the car rested against a large tree.
Apparently, the car had lost control and veered off into the gully.
The first thing Katie thought was there were no visible skid marks—which seemed impossible.
However, the front end of the car was crumpled; the driver’s door open.
“That’s Tyler’s car,” she said. It was a blue late-model four-door Honda.
“That’s why we called you because of the BOLO put out on it,” said their accompanying firefighter.
Katie looked at McGaven. “What’s going on?”
“It looks like your unidentified man might be cleaning house,” said McGaven.
“Let’s check it out,” she said pulling on gloves. Making her orders known, she added, “No one touches the car or anything inside.”
Katie carefully made her way down to the vehicle.
It was slippery, but she managed the descent without any problem.
McGaven followed close behind her. The firefighter waited to give any assistance needed.
She succeeded in getting to the driver’s door, holding it for balance.
She could see blood on the steering wheel and dappled across the seat.
The airbag had deployed but had mostly deflated.
Katie felt her partner behind her. She leaned in and could see a man’s body slumped forward, covered in blood.
Her first thought was to wonder if he had all his appendages—which he seemed to.
It was difficult to see his face, but he had brown hair consistent with the young man they had interviewed earlier at Shelby’s home.
She slowly reached in and pushed his shoulder so he flopped back.
His chest was bloody with gaping holes, consistent with a knife plunged into the body several times.
He had a tattoo of a wolf on his left inner arm.
“It’s Tyler Brandt,” she said.
“You sure?” said McGaven.
“Yes. But of course they’ll have to make an official identification.”
McGaven peered in behind her. “Are those stab wounds?”
“I think so.” Katie stood up. “We need this area taped off and forensics need to process this scene for fingerprints of the driver and whatever other evidence is in the car.”
McGaven climbed back up and made their orders known as he called in for forensics.
Chris was one of the deputies on the scene already and came to meet them. “What do you want me to do?” he said to McGaven.
“Make sure the scene stays protected until forensics gets here.”
“On it.”
Katie stayed at the car for a moment. She wanted to try to work out which way the driver might have fled—the road would be too visible. She surmised he had to have gone through the woods.
“Coming up,” she said to McGaven.
Katie watched everyone go to work. She released the fire department and ambulance. It would give the crime scene van and morgue places to park. Then the tow truck would be called to bring the car back to the department for a proper search.
She walked out into the street. It was quiet, only a couple of cars had passed during the time she was there. She saw a white SUV slow down as it approached. It read “K9 Blitz” on the back window and she realized it was Arson Investigator Luke Ames.
Katie walked straight into the street and put her hand up, indicating for him to stop.
He rolled down his window. “What’s up, Detective?” he said with a smile, as if he didn’t have a care in the world. His left arm casually rested on the doorframe, showing his heavy scar.
Katie kept her composure. “There’s no fire here and nothing for you to investigate.”
“Heard the call.”
“We have everything under control.”
“I also heard about the incident not far from here concerning the dead body and murder scene.”
Katie remained stoic. “It’s part of our investigation. Thanks for your concern. We’ve got it from here.” She went back across the street. She heard Ames drive on as the fire trucks left the scene.
She didn’t have time to worry about men like him. The detectives had their work cut out for them—there were still more questions than answers.