By the time David and Rose arrived at the crime scene the rain, sleet and snow had settled to just flurries. Rose stepped out of the passenger side of the car and walked over to the crime scene. Slipping on a pair of gloves she kneels down by Odilia, whose body at this point was cold to the touch.
“Any witnesses to the assault?” Rose said looking over to David who stood beside her.
“No, not yet. However, the man who found this woman is still here.” David said pointing to a man who sat at the edge of the outdoor stage.
“I’ll talk to him. Can you see if you can find out who this woman is?” Rose said pulling off her gloves and placing them in a specialized bag to be disposed of later.
“Yeah,” David said then walked away to other officers on the scene.
The man was looking up night sky when Rose approached him.
“Excuse me?” Rose said not wanting to startle the man.
“Oh hi,” the man turned his face towards Rose.
“I’m detective Rose Atwell from Family Violence Sexual Assault Unit and I just want to ask you a few questions about what happened tonight.”
“Sure go ahead.”
Rose took out a mini notepad and pen from her jacket. “Can you tell me your name and what happened?”
“ My name is Martin Upson. I was on the volunteer team tasked with helping the band collect gear and pack it into their vehicles. When the concert had ended I walked around the stage making sure nothing was left behind. When I went to the back I saw some woman’s clothes laying on the ground under the stage. I thought a couple was doing on extreme PDA although when I looked all I was a burlap fabric covering something. There was a dark red stain slowly spreading over the material. I probably shouldn’t have, but I lifted a little bit of the fabric and I saw someone’s feet. I quickly put the fabric back where it was and called the cops.”
“Thank you.” Rose said making a few notes then continued “Did you see anyone acting suspiciously?”
“No. I was just enjoying the concert.”
“Okay. Here’s my card in case you think of anything else.”
“Thanks. Am I free to go?”
“Yeah.”
Rose watched the young man sprint to his car and speed out of the parking lot.
“Poor kid,” David said approaching Rose.
“I know. All he wanted was to go to a concert and he had to find the woman. So did you find out anything more?” Rose said zipping up her jacket.
“Yeah. As the team was collecting evidence they found her driver’s license. The woman’s name is Odilia Zink. She lives about thirty minutes away. I called the caption and he said to go her address to see what we can find.”
“Alright let’s go then.”
****
Rose couldn’t get the argument that Sarah and Chris said out of her head.
“Hey, you okay?” David said placing a hand on her shoulder.
“Yeah. I’m just thinking about what happened with Sarah and Rose.”
“They're working things out.”
“I’m just worried.”
“So am I.”
“Is there anything we can do?”
“Maybe we should just let them work things out themselves. Just be there for Sarah in any way you can. I’m sure she’ll want to talk to you.”
“I guess so,” Rose said looking out of the window.
“We should go to Odilia’s place.”
“Yeah…” Rose said quietly as she stepped out of the car.
The detectives walked up to Odilia’s place knocking three times before an elderly woman answered the door.
“Sorry to bother you ma’am at this time of night. I’m detective David Buckman and this is my partner Rose Atwell. We’re with the Family Violence Assault Unit and we’re wondering if Odilia Zink is home.”
“I’m her grandmother Krystal Zink. She isn’t here. Have you seen her? She was supposed to be home by midnight. I know she’s a grown woman she likes to tell me when she’ll be back. Odilia doesn’t want me to worry.”
“That’s actually what we are here to talk to you about. Can we come in?” David said looking at Krystal then back to Rose.
“Sure. Sorry for all the yarn everywhere. My friend’s here and we’re just talking all things knitting an yarn. You can have a seat on the couch if you’d like.”
“Thank,” Rose said sitting beside David. She hated this part. Telling a family member that a person they loved has passed away. Not only that but with the nature of the FVSA department, the details and cause of death can be quiet gruesome.
David quietly sighed as he clasped his hands together and said: “We have some difficult news to tell you.”
“Go ahead.”
“Ms. Zink. Odilia had passed away.”
“What?! How?” Krystal said gripping the armrest of the chair she sat in.
“I don’t know if you want to know the details.”
“Please, I need to know.”
“Well Ms. Zink we just started our investigation, but it looks as if Odilia was sexually assaulted and murdered.”
“Who would do something like that to her. She’s so sweet.”
“Do you remember if Odilia was with someone recently?”
“I just saw her tonight. She had left for a concert with my friend’s Lucy grandson. In fact, she’s in the other room. Lucy, can you come here please?” Krystal said in a shakey, but loud voice.
A few moments later Lucy comes into the room, “Krystal what do you need?”
“The detectives told me that Odilia is dead.”
“I’m so sorry,” Lucy said walking over closer to Krystal.
“They asked me who Odilia was with last that I can remember.”
“She left with my grandson Greg. Oh hi, Detective Buckman.” Lucy said noticing David in the room.
“Hello, Lucy.”
“Lucy, have you talked to him?” David said.
“No.”
“I’m going to talk with Rose for a moment. We’ll be right back.” David said looking over at Rose.
“I’m sorry again,” Rose said to Krystal then she headed with David outside.
“I think we should call the Captain and try to find Greg,” David said then called the Captain and caught him up on everything. After the call, David continued to talk to Rose “the captain said we need to talk to Greg now. But we shouldn’t go over without backup.”
“What about Lucy?”
“Well tell her not to go to her apartment until it’s all cleared.”
“I’ll let her know. Rose you just wait in the car.”
“Alright. I’ll have Adam meet us there.” Rose turns away David and heads to the car. Hoping that they could catch Greg and see what he knows.
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