The Damaged

Athen Brooks, famed homicide detective of the NYPD… tall, brunette, and charming. Everyone loves him…. Even though he’s a complete and total IDIOT. Then there’s me, his partner…. Ellie Brooks. Yeah, working with my brother is quite... frustrating. See he’s famous for ‘’solving’’ some major cases, he’s also bloody rich... Dare I add, because of ME. I have the highest solve rate in the NYPD, and my brother takes full credit. He’s a total prick.

“Ellie, we got one!” Athen announces.

“Yeah Athen, I’ve been trying to get your attention for the last five minutes.”

Sometimes he’s just so stupid, then again when isn’t he. Family is family, no matter how annoying, and stupid they are. Slowly I rise from my desk, and put my book, Tess of the D’Urbervilles, down. I grab my keys and meet Athen, who looks totally clueless.

“Come on idiot,” I growl as I open the door.

“What?” he asks.

“Nevermind, get in the damn car.” I scowl and take a seat, he’s totally clueless as to what homicide means. For the sake of him I wrote it down, “Here take this, maybe you can figure out what homicide means.”

“Uh… Okay? I mean I totally know.” he says with a smug look.

“Oh? Really. What does it mean then, and don’t look at the paper.”

“I-It means breaking the law?” he says.

“IDIOT! It means the deliberate and unlawful killing of one person by another; murder.” He glances at me hurt, I think he’s going to say something but he shuts up.

I drive through the busy New York streets, my brother’s black Chevrolet corvette’s engine purrs. It’s not his only car, from Ferrari’s to the 1962 Chevrolet Corvette C1 vintage. Finally, we pull into the crime scene, where Detective Gabriel Stone is waiting to give us the rundown. He’s my best friend and has a great taste for British lit. Average height, grey-green eyes, dark brown hair, calm and collected. My kind of guy, he’s fun but kind and free-spirited. I step out of the car and ask,” Alright. Stone give me the rundown.”

Yes, Ma’am. Our victim is Alexis Free, age twenty-three, single, and Calluin is working on cause, time of death.”

Calluin walks up to me, he is a forensic scientist at the NYPD. For such a brutal job, he always has a smile on his face.

“Hey, Calluin,” I say, smiling.

“Oh, Good day Ellie!” He says, with his usual grin.

“So,” I say “Details?” Calluin smiles and walks me to the site of the homicide. He lifts the yellow police tape and counters,” After you.”

I chuckle and walk under the tape. “Alright, Cal. Details.”

“Always eager to solve a crime aye, El,” he says, I stare at him.

“Okay, Okay. Alexis Free, age twenty-three, single, cause of death is two gun-shots to the chest. There was nothing stolen, so not a mugging. The blood here--”

I really don’t listen to the gory details, I block his words from my head.

“Poor girl, she’s been dead for at least five hours.”

I nod. “Okay, I’m gonna look around.”

My brother is off messing with police tape, I walk over to scold him when a soft glint catches my eye. I step backward and crouch down. It’s a bullet casing, I glove my hands and pick it up. From here the killer has a perfect shot of our vic.

“Calluin!” I call him over, he can tell me the deets on the bullet casing. I glance up and around, I’m looking for security cameras. I spot one, “Hm. This might just be an easy close for me.” I mutter.

“Yeah Ell-- oh! Great find detective,” he says.

He takes the casing, “Looks like a nine mm… handgun, that really narrows down our suspect list.”

“Say, I forgot to ask. Any witnesses?” I inquiry.

“No ma’am, the guy who found her body is down at the station already.”

“Thanks. Oh, and Cal.”

“Yeah?” he says.

“See if you can get the footage on that camera up there.” I point to the alley wall. He nods.

“It all seems too easy....” I whisper to myself.

I walk back under the yellow tape, remembering Athen I whistle and he comes jogging to the car. Could he be any more of a puppy,” Come on Lameo.” I growl.

He sits in the car and I turn the keys. We are on our way back to the station before I know it. You know I thought the crime rate would go down after 9/11, It’s been three years. For 2004 it seems to have skyrocketed in the last month I have closed fourteen homicide cases. The crime rate for homicide is eight hundred eighty-nine, it’s just ridiculous.

I pull into the station, park the car and get out. Athen mimics the motion and follows my lead, he looks very smug.

“Penny for your thoughts?” I ask, though I know the answer.

He chuckles,” Like you would care Ellie.” Athen replies.

“Your right, I don’t. I already know what you’re about to do.” I growl.

“I’ve become predictable…” he says, shocked, maybe a little hurt.

“Yes. You’re gonna walk in there and say “something something found a bullet casing, and some footage” once more taking credit for ALL of my work.” I pull my hair out of its braid and run my fingers through it.

“Anyway while you do that I’ll be in the questioning room with Stone.”

We walk down the stairs, where everyone is waiting to hear Athen’s story.

Someone asks,” Athen, Athen! What did you find, is it murder, a robbery gone wrong, a crime of passion?” My brother stops in his tracks and goes to answer their questions.

I ignore him and walk over to my desk, set down the case file and walk towards the questioning room. Hopefully, the guy hasn’t lawyered up on us yet.