The “Milli-Cochrane Caper” {Act 1.4}

Posted on Sun 1st Nov, 2020 @ 1:44am by Renato Solis & Commander Paul Graves PsyD

1,718 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Denouement
Location: Brown Sector: Zodiac Deck 2248
Timeline: MD 2, 0845

-Start-

Dr. Eiffyhq, a gray-skinned Zeta Reticulan with large, dark eyes, moved her long, thin fingers above the skin of the corpse. The longest finger on each hand ended in a bulb which functioned as the gray being's organ of smell. After a moment, she nodded, and brought her hands back to her sides. "Computer, autopsy begins in morgue theater nine. Attending physician Eiffyhq; observing in gallery, witness Detective Rickards, civilian sheriff deputy. Holography up."

Detective Rickards had orders to prevent Renato from getting too close. But the man had arrived at several correct points with only simple observation. So, against orders but within his bounds of good judgement Renato found himself invited to the Autopsy of Theophilus Boule. That he should be a silent observer was made very clear. From the small observation gallery the two men observed Eiffyhq's procedure.

Rickards made notes as the doctor spoke, Renato tried to peep but was unsuccessful.

"Initial observation," the Zeta Reticulan coroner dictated as she looked over the corpus delicti, "indicates superficial electrical burns limited to dermal and sub-dermal tissue layers, consistent with a low-voltage burn. Hematoma in surrounding area indicates this burning occurred a minimum of one hour before death."

So far the deductions had panned out, it was the evidence of torture he was awaiting confirmation on and that was proof enough. The station security team had provided the wish list, toxicology, spectral scans, and molecular gas analysis.Rickards had a note as well: He was dragged from another location, what fibers are in his abrasions, is the gas analysis of his lung contents conclusive to station location? Renato alreay knew the answers to that, but he dared not speak, Rickards had him on a tight leash. Spectral analysis would be revealing so it was best to wait for the autopsy to finish.

They watched and waited, Renato memorizing the procedure. There was a developing fascination to finding out about this man, the reasons for his death. It felt familiar, back in his chemical dependency phase there was an anticipation to the moment of use which doubled as anxiety. Certainty of payoff yielded pleasurable build up, but what if he never found out what happened? Paul had given him careful outliers to look for in his recovery to avoid relapse. He felt this was becoming an issue, but similarly his mind argued, Was this not a worthwhile application of those tendencies?

The final report was telling, there was much to consider. Of particular note were two tags of anomalous discoveries.
"Phasing evident in cellular matrix, indicating recent transporter activity," and, "Genetic Trisomer degradation not within given norms for species at subject's age."

The man was transported, something that should exist on station logs. Li's office had ruled that out, Rickards had confirmed as much. Passageways existed, people could move on this station without detection... could they also operate a transporter? Theo had been in Brown Sector, late. Shot in the back once while running, dragged out of sight and shot again.

"Finger impressions on the ankle are spaced...." Renato realized the man dragging Theo was of similar size and build. If held by the ankle, the abrasions and finger spacing pointed to a certain shape and size of the suspect. Theo knew his killer, wearing all new clothes for a clandestine meeting in the Zodiac pointed to criminal involvement. Nearing the end of the examination, Renato took his leave, walking to see Rickards notebook.

Among other juicy tidbits, was the reason Rickards used paper and pencil. A rough sketch of Theophilus Boule was there, with the testimony of one Deputy Kiro Manhy. Kiro had given a description of the ghost that was a close call, Rickards was a fair artist, but the best artists still make choices in their creation. There was even an indication of checking for brain damage, and "confusion?" scribbled into the margin. Rickards eyeballed Renato, and hid his work.

Exiting gracefully, as soon as he turned the corner he downloaded the report, before it had been finished there was no security on the open document. Anyone in gallery could access it, though he would be revoked in a moment. Pages loaded on the padd and he memorized the details. Page 12, was just a Starfleet Delta telling him to contact Medical for further assistance. Retyping all of it up to that point only took a moment. The beginnings of that heady rush were becoming stronger, and established a beachhead in his mind. This was better than he had felt in a long time. He took off in a run, eager to make the next break.

---

{After Autopsy}

Renato held the report, entrusted to him with great trepidation. Elizabeth had connections and was treating Kiro at her clinic for the flash blindness. It was late, more sightings had occurred near the Zodiac, and his instincts told him Kiro held the key. He ignored all else walking to her clinic as a man with a mission. Seeing a closed door annoyed him, but he had the sense to stop and knock.

"Elizabeth, I need to speak with you and a patient you are seeing, it is vitally important!"

Anderson was slightly annoyed at the interruption during a delicate procedure. "Ana, let Renato in, please, but do not allow him in the treatment room yet," she spoke to her assistant. The woman was a treasure she'd found among her Brown Sector clients, and they were already working well together.

Ana opened the door an inch and was pushed aside with gentle insistence. He was careful not to hurt Ana, but Renato was coming in like the determined animal sheltering from the rain. Ana hissed, "Do not enter the sterile field, go sit down or I'll stun you!"

Renato called over to Kiro, "Deputy, the face you saw, I need you to describe it!"

Ana fussed, "Stop it now Renato!" And pushed him into a seat.

They'll match! Kiro saw the face of the ghost and paid for it with is sight and I must know what he saw!

He squirmed in the seat, but Ana had a Nurses grip strength and held his collar firmly.

Elizabeth continued with what she was doing, and after a moment straightened up. "Alright, Mr. Kiro, that should begin the healing, but I can't do it all with mechanical devices. It's too deep. With this start, your eyes should heal normally, and you should be able to see well again in 3-5 weeks.

Kiro grit his teeth, "So I'll just be blind for a month then?" He deep sighted, the news was traumatic, but he couldn't process it for the sounds of Renato chomping at the bit. "Am I supposed to just lay about in the meantime?"

"In the meantime, for the next week, keep this bandage around your eyes, and don't strain them. I don't want you to set back all the work I've just done." She put the regenerator, borrowed surreptitiously from one of the upstairs clinics, into what passed for a somewhat traditional looking doctors black bag. She, of course, intended to return it.

Kiro heard the cursed man shouting from the lobby, "Deputy, the vision you saw, it was a man, dark skinned, Humanoid-ahhh." Kiro presumed Ana had carried out her threat and stunned him.

"Sit here for a few moments, please, as I have very precise instructions for you about the care of your eyes. Let me check on what Mr. Solis wants, and I'll be back."

Kiro sat in a stoic silence, hating how helpless he was. Five weeks was an eternity, so he simply nodded and mumbled his thanks. The clatter of the door hurt his sensitive nerve endings, knowing it was Rennie pissed him off more.

"He's been trying to get me to answer questions, I don't care whatever stupid game he is playing as a cop. I do not want to talk to him."

Renato removed persona desires and rushed into the room as soon as Elizabeth walked out. Proximity was enough, but contact was best. "I'm sorry Elizabeth but there is a murderer and Kiro has seen his face!"

Elizabeth was mid breath to protest as Renato slapped his hand lightly onto Kiro's thigh. Kiro jerked, the pain of the moment, being surprised and the surge of memories provoked by Renato's careless fracking intent set his nerves on fire, and his blood pressure forced small amonts in his eyes to collect and weep bloody tears.

Kiro screamed, reliving the moment as he was blinded by the ghastly image. Renato screamed as well, seeing the vision in Kiro's memory flawlessly. The faces matched, body, specter, apparition. The terror and jubilation created a drug unlike any other for his addled mind.

Renato was so lost in reverie he didn't realize Kiro called for his arrest. In a stupor he recalled sleeping in a cell overnight. Li let him go, Rickards had spoken up mentioned encouraging this behavior and took the blame. The haze of his memory recall faded by morning but try as he might no short term memories were apparent. As it was when he used, and the need to escape flawless memories of tragic lifetimes sundered and squalid forced through
chemical intervention had ruined what was left.

Kya awaited him that next morning. She knew the face of relapse, it didn't matter from where. He felt the familiar shame, and almost forgot why he had come here. The case had left his mind for a moment, seeing Kya whose long time support had kept him clean.

When she asked him, like all the time before though, a certain spark lit within him.

"Was it worth it?"

The faces burned in his mind. The case had brought him here, not addiction. His problems were real, and the wolf was at the door, but this was a real case.

He looked to Kya without tears, "Yes. This is different, and I need your help. I'm not making this up I swear. Help me Kya I can prove it."

As she had decided so many times before, she trusted he would do better with her help, than without it. Kya signed the document releasing custody and took him home, as she had so many times before.

 

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