Bad Shout

Tom and Steve were slowly cruising back to base at Coffs. It was the end of a long and hectic shift, and they were both dog-tired.

They were in sight of the station when their radio cracked into life. "Shit!" Steve exclaimed, "Why us?"

Tom answered the controller, telling him they were almost back to base, and frowned at the reply.

"Just one more shout, lads. Sorry, it’s a bad one. Seems there’s a body to pick up…looks like foul play."

Tom sighed, "Where to, boss?"

"A bit close to home for you, Tom. It’s where you bought your new place…The Glen."

"Holy shit!" Steve exclaimed, looking over at Tom. Good job you haven’t moved in yet, mate."

"Too right," Tom replied. "We’re on our way, boss."

"Blues and two’s?" Steve asked.

"Well, our pickup isn’t going anywhere, but it will get us there a bit faster won’t it."

The lights and siren got them through Coffs in double quick time, and they motored alone towards The Glen, hoping that the usual 30/40-minute drive would be cut. Twenty minutes later, they were on the outskirts of the little town and wondering just where the body was.

It didn’t take long to locate them; the sheriff’s deputy waved them down and pointed to the location. As Steve pulled up, John Biebe approached the ambo.

"G’Day, Sheriff," Tom said, stepping down from the passenger side. "This a bad situation."

"It sure is, Tom. You’re ex police, so you know the drill. Wait a bit until we finish cataloguing the crime scene, then she’s all yours."

"She?"

"Yep. Don’t expect you ever saw her, as you’ve not moved in yet. Her name is Marce, and she was the skinhead’s girlfriend."

"Bugger" Hope you find who did it before he does then, or there won’t be too much left for you to arrest."

"You think he didn’t do it, Tom?"

"Why would he kill his own woman? I think that’s jumping to conclusions, don’t you?"

"I just collect the evidence and put it forward to the prosecutor."

"But you’re looking for someone apart from him, right?"

"Why you asking, Tom?"

"Tori and I are hoping to move in as soon as Steve and I finish decorating, and we get the plumbing sorted out. I don’t want to bring her close to any danger."

"Don’t blame you, Tom. Between you and me, I’m not convinced Hando had anything to do with it. He was the one that called in her disappearance in the first place. Might be better to keep your apartment in Coffs until we get this sorted."

"Thanks, sheriff. I’ll do that."

Just then the doc gave Tom a signal. He and Steve took out the stretcher from the back of the ambo and went over to the body. Tom had a couple of paper bags in his hand, along with some tape.

"Thought it might be best to bag her hands until the ME can get the trace for you."

"Good thinking, Tom. I just had my basic medical bag with me so nowhere to store trace," M replied smiling at Tom.

After taping the bags onto her hands to preserve the trace evidence under her nails, they gently lifted Marce’s limp body onto the gurney and pushed her back to the ambo, for her final journey into Coffs.