The Sigma Code

The camera clicked again and the high pitched whine of the recharging flash gun pierced the air. The dawn silence had been shattered by police sirens and the few people who could be bothered were now looking from their windows into the alley below.  Patrol cars, ambulances and teams of uniformed men milled around, dodging the trash cans, busying themselves with the gathering of physical evidence and the taking of photographs.  The flashguns bounced light off the rusting fire escapes which crept like metal ivy up the sides of the tall tenements.

The large scruffy frame of Lieutenant Martin Harris heaved out of his car and strolled down the street to the flashing blue lights. The rotating lights on the roofs of the cars hurt his eyes and intensified the pain in his head.  He stank of cheap sour mash whisky.

‘What we got?’ He asked a tall, overweight, grey haired man in a smart suit.

‘It's another one Martin.’  He said turning to Harris. ‘Just like the McLaughlin girl last week. Jesus H. Christ’, he said. ‘You look like shit. I thought you were easing up on the sauce. You’re turning into a goddamn stereotype Martin’.

‘What I look like is peanuts to what I feel like.’ He said. ‘What were you saying about another one?’

‘We have a female caucasian, about sixteen, seventeen maybe. She was found here by a guy coming home from night duty on the subway.’

‘Was she dead when he found her?’ Harris asked.

‘Martin, she had a real number done on her. She was cut from her pelvis up to her ribs. Her insides were found draped all over her torso, just like the girl in Revere. No doubt about it. Same M.O. Someone took their time over this girl, just like the other one. Are you up to taking a look?’

‘No but I guess I better.’ He walked over to the plastic sheeting covering the girl's body.  The photographer had finished and was packing away his equipment. Beads of sweat trickled down his face. He turned to Harris and smiled as though it took every ounce of strength to do so, and muttered to himself as he shook his head.

‘I have got to get myself a different job.' He said.