Title: Written in Blood
Author: AstroKender
Pairings: 2+5, 3+4
Rating: action/mystery
Warnings: None in this part
Spoilers: None
Notes: Takes place after the Eve Wars of Endless Waltz. Everyone works for the Preventers.
Disclaimers: I own nothing...not even my computer. So obviously GW isn't mine. Don't sue.
The room they entered was surprisingly well lit in contrast to the dim stairwell. The two Preventer's followed Charles to the far corner of the sterile room, ignoring the various organs floating amongst viscous liquids in unmarked jars. Upon the counter were numerous instruments for God knows what. Looking at a particularly sinister looking pair of tongs, Duo decided he didn't want to know. He hurried to catch up with the Doctor.
"Hey, Charlie. You said the body was burned. Do you mean to say that Seishu was dead before the fire was set?"
Charles stared at the braided boy from the depths of his unkempt beard. The boy was quick. "That's exactly what I meant, sonny."
He turned to the long table beside him and whisked off the white sheet covering the lumpy form underneath. The sickeningly sweet smell of charred flesh permeated the room. Duo involuntarily took a step back.
Charles pointed to the incision in the corpse's chest. Opening it wider he gestured to the lungs. A second incision ran down the right lung and the Doctor pried it open.
"With typical victims of house fires, or any other fires in fact, the heat of the flames is so intense that it sears the lungs as the victim struggles for breath. This chars the throat and lungs from the inside."
"But if the victim was already dead," WuFei picked up the thread quickly. "Then the lungs wouldn't be damaged, because he didn't breath in during the fire."
"Exactly." Charles nodded. "Notice these lungs are still perfectly fine. Not even blackened, which is what would've happened if the Ambassador had breath in even a little of the toxic smoke."
Duo caught the words only vaguely as he stared down at the charred corpse, unable to tear his eyes away. The figure was robed in black...probably killed as he slept. Blistered skin lay withered around scorched eyeballs that seemed to stare straight at him.
"Have you figured out the actual cause of death?" WuFei's voice sounded distorted and far away.
"Not yet. The body just cam in yesterday and I've had my hand's full with the little girl that died in that car crash last week. It's a shame that someone so small..."
Duo registered the Doctor's voice as only a low buzzing in the back of his mind. Indigo eyes were fastened to an object encircling the dead man's throat. Lying there, twinkling mockingly in the florescent light was a small silver cross, apparently undamaged by the fire.
"Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name..."
A charred and broken corpse lying amongst the rubble...
"Maxwell..."
A kind faced woman, body bloodied and torn, eyes staring sightlessly up at the heavens...
"Maxwell..."
Hundreds of bodies surrounding him...Harsh gasps echoing into the heavy, smoke-ridden air...
"Maxwell!"
Duo jerked his gaze away from the cross to meet the worried sloe eyes of his partner. His voice came in ragged pants and he backed up slowly, accidentally overturning a tray full of utensils. He jumped slightly, as they clattered to the tile floor, eyes darting around wildly.
"Maxwell, are you alright?" Strong hand held him in a vice-like grip. "Duo?"
The braided boy shook himself and took a deep, shuddering breath. "A-Aa...WuFei. Daijobu." The Chinese pilot stared at him a moment longer, then released him.
Duo cleared his throat in embarrassment and stared at a spot on the floor. He hated being proven wrong. Clearing his throat again, he spoke up.
"As soon as you find anything else out, give me a call." Duo gave the man a card with his cell phone number. Charles nodded and slipped it into the pocket of his lab coat.
"I'll see you guys to the door then."
Duo said nothing and allowed the old man to guide them back up the stairs. He kept his eyes lowered, avoiding the piercing gaze WuFei seemed to fasten on him.
Basked once more in the welcoming sunshine, the braided boy unconsciously took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air untainted by the smell of smoke and burnt flesh. Birds flew gracefully overhead as squirrels scampered across the grass. All was right in the world. Duo snorted. Keep thinking that, Maxwell, and maybe one day you'll believe it. He couldn't help but think that this whole peace idea was nothing but an illusion, a shiny red peel surrounding a rotten, maggot-filled apple.
He was interrupted from his musings by a warm hand resting on his shoulder. Looking up, his gaze was caught by dark, ebony eyes.
"Are you really okay?"
Duo smiled absently, eyes staring of into the distance. "The cross was unexpected."
"You can't expect that only the people from Maxwell Church believed in Christianity."
"Aa...I know, Wu-man. I just-" The braided boy sighed and lowered his head.
Calloused fingers reached over and tilted his chin upward. Dark eyes shone with understanding that was unexpected coming from WuFei. The American was sure he would be called weak and unprofessional, but he was surprised. Lightly muscled arms wrapped hesitantly around the thin boy's shoulders. Duo though he was dreaming...WuFei was hugging him!
"Come on, Maxwell." WuFei said, pulling away. "I'll buy you lunch."
Duo grinned, good humor restored. "How about an ice cream?"
"Alright, but you're driving this time. I am not stepping a foot behind that wheel unless absolutely necessary."
Violet eyes sparkled. "Deal."
Duo trudged tiredly towards his door. He couldn't decide which weighed more, his feet or his eyelids. His breath clouded faintly in the cool night air and he shivered. Spring was still weeks away.
After a surprisingly enjoyable lunch, he and WuFei had gone down to the Precinct to talk to the chief of police. A more unhelpful bastard Duo had never met. All they got out of the guy was the names of all six victims. He had stated that the causes of death were still under investigation. Duo didn't buy it, but there wasn't anything they could do about it without the permission of Une's superiors. The braided boy believed it was going to be a cold day in Hell for them to be allowed that jurisdiction.
They had returned to the office, empty-handed. Une told them not to worry; this was only their first day on the case. If it could be solved in one day, then she wouldn't of had to send out two of her best investigators. The rest of the day was spent amidst meaningless paperwork. Duo was thankful when eight o'clock rolled around. Twelve-hour workdays were ridiculous.
Numb fingers fumbled with his keys as he slumped against his doorframe in relief. He was going to take a long, hot shower and then go straight to bed. No more late night outings for him.
His key was poised to unlock his apartment when he noticed the door was slightly ajar. Duo's eyes narrowed as he reached into his shoulder holster and pulled out his gun. The door swung open on loose hinges and he entered cautiously.
The room was dark, but Duo's eyes were sharp. Noticing nothing out of place, he reached over and flipped on the lights. His eyes widened. He quickly patrolled the rest of the apartment and decided that the intruder had left. Picking up his cell phone, he quickly dialed WuFei.
"Chang here."
"WuFei, I think you should come over, now."
Hearing the odd note in the American's voice, WuFei grew concerned. "What is it?"
"Someone broke into my apartment and left me a note."
"Is that all?" WuFei sounded irritated.
"It's written in blood." Duo's voice shook slightly.
"Stay there, I'll be right over. Chang out."
Duo stared at his once-white wall in morbid fascination. It was now covered in hastily scrawled letters in the dark brown of dried blood. Little rivers of the stuff had tracked their way down the wall, giving the words an even more sinister appearance. The words pounded into his head as he stared at them, taunting him.
ARE YOU READY FOR THE HUNT?
End Part Three
(:./astrokender/written3)
