Crossing Mia

3 - THRUST

THE car key fell on the table with a loud thud when Mia threw it. It was before nine in the morning, yet frustration was already creeping up her spine.

She carelessly sat on the swivel chair. It made a creaking sound when her weight fell on it.

Mia heaved a loud sigh.

“Aaaahhhh….!” She eventually uttered louder than necessary after staring at the black monitor of computer for a couple of minutes.

“You alright, detective?”

“No.” She answered her colleague without looking at him. Her voice maybe calm but it was far from the turmoil in her head.

“Coffee?”

She finally glanced at him. He was standing in front of her desk holding a steaming coffee in his right hand. At this distance, she could smell the strong aroma of the caffeine.

He was the new officer seated a couple of chairs from hers.

She nodded at him before standing. She walked past him and headed to the pantry.

The coffee at the precinct was always hot and available. One of the staff appointed himself as the coffee-in-charge. He was blessing for everyone especially those who are working late.

The man made sure that there was coffee before he leave for the day.

Mia picked up one of the mugs with the precinct’s logo on it. She filled it with black coffee and put two packets of sugar. She also added two creamers.

When she went back to her desk, she fired up the computer and opened the files that has been sent to her.

Jenny already sent her the pictures from the crime scene. The woman arranged it altogether before she went home last night.

Images from the crime scene paraded before her eyes. Rarely blinking, she stared at every photograph thoroughly as the coffee slowly vanished from the mug.

“Smith, to my office.”

Her focus went to the man who passed by her. It was the Chief.

Mia heaved another deep sigh.

He just arrived at the precinct.

A while ago, she did not see his car in the space allotted for him when she parked. The knowledge gave her time to organize her thoughts about the recent case, but now that he was here, the pressure on her shoulder weighed even more.

She exited the file before she followed the boss to his office.

The chief had his back to her when she entered. He was looking outside the window where the parking area was located.

It was deserted when Mia peeked.

“What’s the update on the River case, Mia?”

She cleared her throat. “We don’t have a suspect, Sir.”

Slowly, the forty-something police officer turned to the female detective. His forehead was knotted. His aura darkened at her statement.

“The only suspect that we have posted a bail. ” Mia explained. “He presented an alibi.”

He swore after he heard that.

“Work fast, Mia. We don’t tolerate this kind of crime in our town. This should never happen in my town.” The chief grimly. “Check his alibi. We need to present a suspect. The town’s people are going crazy.”

“Yes, sir.”

On a daily basis, the chief often went to the diner for his coffee and breakfast before going to the office. In this manner, he was able to speak with some people and may have been able to grasp some gossip as well.

Saint Vincent was a small town. The town’s people know each other. News travelled fast.

The morning after the gruesome killing of the Rivers, it was already the talk of the town. Many speculations has been disclosed. Most of them came from fear and opinions.

More frustrated than earlier, she went back to her desk and grabbed the jacket from the back of the swivel chair. She also picked up the key to her car.

She need to visit the place where Oswald River work.

The alibi that he presented was, he was at work when the crime happened. Mia will verify if it was indeed true.

CCTV footage would give her that.

She has to see them before he escape town.

“Detective, the coroner asked for you.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled at the desk officer. The message was right on time.

She needs to know the cause of death of the Rivers. The coroner’s findings would shed light on this crime.

Since it was just a small town and sophistication was still out of the sight, the morgue and the coroner's office was not in the same building nor location as the precinct. It was a few miles away and near the town’s only hospital.

“You are just right on town, detective.” The old doctor greeted Mia when she opened the door of the morgue.

It was a mistake that she did not bring the jacket at this time. The cold room embraced Mia’s bare skin.

“You have to see this, girly.” The female coroner motioned Mia to drew near. The older woman pushed the spectacle between her eyes when it slid down to her nose.

The doctor was standing near a table with a cadaver covered in a white cloth. There were three other tables there, and only one was empty. It was easy to assume that all three were members of the River family.

The white cloth was removed from the cadaver. The face of the oldest River son appeared before them.

Mia did not cringe. It was not the first time that she saw a dead body. However, it was a first that she has to investigate a case that involved a murder of the whole family.

“See this?” The coroner pointed at the whole on the child’s chest. “The weapon that has been used was very pointed and very sharp. It was at least two inches to tear through the heart.”

She looked at Mia in the eyes. “He did not suffer a bit. This angel died instantly.”

“How about the others?”

The old woman put the white cloth back on the young boy small body. They approached the table next to them.

It must be the younger boy since it has a smaller bulk compared to the other cadaver on the other side.

“This sweet boy was not as lucky as his brother. The same weapon has been used though.”

Three long lines were on the youngest River. It was under his chest down to his stomach. The lacerations were splayed over his middle.

“He lost so much blood. That was the primary cause of his death. His liver has been pierced, too.”

“How about the mother?”

They proceed to the last cadaver.

The female River has a huge gash on her temple down to the back of her ear. Just one thrust. Hair were chopped because of it. Mia saw it in the file.

The cut hair can be seen where the woman was lying down.

“The same weapon. Her stomach and spleen were both grazed by the weapon when she was stabbed on her middle. Just like her youngest son, the cause of death was the loss of blood. She may have fainted when she was hit in the head. That was after the sharp weapon was thrust into her stomach.” The coroner disclosed. “I will send you the paper after this. I just want to show you.”

“Thank you, Dr. Baker.”

“Glad to be of help, detective.” She sent Mia a sad smile. “I hope you find the son of b*tch who did this.”

She nodded at the older woman before she went out of the morgue.

As she sauntered towards the car, her mind went to the conversation she had with Dr. Baker.

The weapon used was consistent.

It was a sharp. Possibly a knife with at least two inches long.

She and Jenny perused the River’s cabin but they did not find any weapon that was used to kill the three members of the family. There were no other blood splatter in the area aside from where the victims were. There were no footprints either.

Mia revved the engine.

She will visit the work place of the only suspect in this crime. She have to make sure that he was at work when the killing of his family took place.

Otherwise, she has to start over again in order to find the murderer in this town.