CHAPTER TEN
The Search for Clues
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Andrew and Kara walked down the hall of the abandoned car dealership that was now serving as the Angel Valley Police Station. The department had to find a new temporary workspace, as their previous station had been damaged in the recent attack by the Datatron and was undergoing repairs. The abandoned car dealership was the best option available and was quickly converted into a makeshift police station. Despite the new location not being ideal, the officers were determined to continue their work and serve the community. The air inside the dealership was musty and damp, with the smell of old car oil still lingering in the air. The department had set up makeshift offices and a conference room, trying to make the best of the situation. The hum of computers and the sound of officers talking on phones filled the air as they went about their daily tasks. Andrew and Kara could still work on the case, even in less-than-optimal conditions.
The recent robot attack had claimed the life of one of their own and injured several others. The atmosphere was somber, and everyone was on high alert, still trying to process what had happened.
“I can’t believe this happened,” Kara said, shaking her head. “One minute we’re just doing our job, and the next thing you know, there’s a robot trying to kill us.”
Andrew nodded, his expression serious. “It’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Kara nodded, her eyes filled with concern. “It’s a tragedy,” she said. “I just hope the injured officers make a full recovery.”
“Yeah,” Andrew agreed. “But we have a job to do, and we need to focus on that.”
“I just heard from the lab. The DNA testing might be delayed because of the robot attack,” Andrew said, sighing. “This case is going to take longer than we thought.”
Andrew and Kara were seated at a desk in the makeshift office, surrounded by piles of case files. They were both focused on their latest case, the mysterious Jane Doe found at the lake.
“Let me see that,” Andrew asked as he gestured towards the Rhys’ file in Kara’s hands.
Kara handed over the file and watched as Andrew flipped through the pages, his brow furrowed in concentration. “We need to check up on John Dorian, the medical examiner,” he said, pointing to a section of the report.
“Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing,” Kara nodded. “They sent the body to John for a full examination. If anyone can shed some light on this case, it’ll be him.”
“I have a feeling this case is going to be more complicated than we thought,” Andrew said with a sigh.
“You’re telling me,” Kara replied. “But we’re a good team. We’ll figure it out.”
Andrew smiled at her words of encouragement. Despite the pressure of the case, he felt grateful for Kara’s partnership. They had been friends for years and worked well together, each bringing a unique perspective to the table.
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“Yeah, we will,” he said, tapping the file with a determined look. “Let’s go see John and see what he’s found out.”
Andrew and Kara left the temporary police station and headed to the hospital to meet with the medical examiner. On the drive over, they discussed their findings and theories about the Jane Doe case, hoping that they would find some answers at the hospital. As they drove, they reflected on the recent robot attack that had devastated their community and how it might impact their case.
Andrew and Kara arrived at John Dorian Medical, a well-known medical examiner’s office. They walked up to the front desk and introduced themselves to the receptionist.
“Good morning, we’re here to see John Dorian,” Andrew said, showing his badge.
“Of course, Detective. He’s expecting you. Please, follow me,” the receptionist said, leading them down a sterile white hallway to John’s office.
John was a middle-aged man with graying hair and a friendly smile. He welcomed the detectives and offered them seats at his desk.
“What can I help you with today, Detectives?” John asked, leaning back in his chair.
“We’re here about the Jane Doe case that was brought in a few days ago,” Kara explained. “We’re hoping you might have some information for us.”
John nodded and opened a file on his desk. “Yes, I remember that case. I performed the autopsy and have the results here. But I must warn you, the results are not exactly what you might be expecting.”
Andrew and Kara exchanged a look, both feeling a sense of unease. “What do you mean?” Andrew asked.
John sighed and leaned forward. “The body was in advanced stages of decomposition, making it difficult to determine a cause of death. However, I found some unusual markings on the body that suggest foul play.”
Andrew raised an eyebrow. “Unusual markings?”
John nodded. “Yes, it looks like the victim may have been tied up or restrained. And there were also signs of blunt force trauma to the head, which could have been the cause of death.” John turned to Andrew and said, “Now Andrew, take a look at her,” referring to the Jane Doe. “Fair skin, brown hair. Bonded and drowned. You know what I’m going to say.”
Andrew nodded in agreement, “I know Claude Rhys.” John nodded and went into detail about the examination and the results he had found.
He explained the bond marks and the drowning, both of which pointed toward Claude being the perpetrator. Andrew listened intently, taking notes as John spoke, while Kara looked on with a sense of understanding.
They stepped out of John Dorian’s office, and Andrew explained the history of Claude Rhys to Kara. “Ten years ago, there was a string of murders up near Haze Park.” Andrew continued, “The media dubbed him the ‘Haze Park Killer.’ But we finally caught him and put him away. The evidence was strong, including the pictures he took of his victims.”
Kara nodded, listening intently. “So, what’s our next step?”
“We need to see if there are any other cases that match the MO of the Haze Park murders,” Andrew replied as they walked towards their car. “With this new Jane Doe case, I have a feeling that he may have had an accomplice all along.”
Kara nodded in agreement. “Let’s go talk to Claude, see if he’ll give us anything. He’s probably feeling pretty cocky, considering he’s been behind bars for all these years. He might slip up and give us something we can use.”
Andrew smiled. “I like the way you think, Kara.”
“This is definitely a significant development in the case,” Kara said, taking notes. “We’ll have to follow up on this lead and see if we can connect Claude to the victim.”
“Exactly,” Andrew added.
John nodded. “I’ll send over the full autopsy report to the department. It should be of great help in your investigation.”
“Thank you, John,” Kara said. “You’ve been an enormous help.” Andrew and Kara left the medical examiner’s office with a new lead in the case. As they walked back to their car, they discussed their next steps and how they would go about investigating Claude.