Chapter 47: Twice Dead

Chapter 47: Twice Dead

Solomon stood up. A murder!?

The woman nodded.

There hasnt been a murder since Potts earliest days. The people here would never hurt their fellow deadmen!

Kit leaned forward and looked at the woman. Was it a fight that got out of hand? Do we know who the culprit is?

The white robe shook her head. No. A body was found in the Western part of town. Its Miss Lydia.

I didnt know who that was, but I saw Mamas eyes turn downward at the name.

Lead me to the body, I said, putting the information into the R.A.S. to open an investigation.

The white robe looked at the Honored Dead.

Do it, said Mama, answering her look.

We cant let Donovan do that. We still havent even voted on whether or not to exile him. Besides, he doesnt live here with us, he doesnt remember our ways, said Jim, Solomon nodding in approval next to him as he spoke.

Who else could we ask? offered Julian. You may not like him, but the system has granted him the Marshall job and he has more experience with murder and death than anyone else here. We could certainly ask Nico, or have some Undertakers take a look, but lets be honest, this is beyond their expertise.

Solomon sighed. Agreed. He turned his gaze to me. Who better to catch a killer than another killer after all. You may investigate.

I returned his gaze. I wasnt asking your permission. This is my jurisdiction. I turned to the white robe and gestured for her to lead the way. This time, she didnt look to the Honored Dead for permission.

The woman lead the way back out of the mausoleum and onto the street. I could hear panicked voices and even crying as we wove down the paths between buildings and got closer to where the body had been found. Around it, a massive crowd was gathered, and we were unable to push our way through to the body.

I looked into her black eyes. I know.

She crouched back down to look at the body, and I continued my search around. Eventually I found a pair of bloody handprints on the walls of one of the buildings that formed the alley. They were massive, showing hands easily twice the size of my own, but I couldn't tell if that was the result of smeared blood, or that was their actual size. I looked around the prints and noticed two more, though there was less blood on this print so it almost looked as if the hands had shrunk as theyd reached the next point. I began picking at my teeth. Whoever the killer was, had climbed up the side of the building to make his escape. It made sense, the buildings were all domes so it was possible, if difficult, to scale them. I remember Deux actually breaking his leg climbing halfway up one when we were both at the orphanage.

I approached Nix. Did you know her?

She nodded. Yes. Lydia was picked up by the same Undertaker caravan as me. We havent spoken in some time though. Last I talked to her was a month ago.

Any enemies?

Nix looked up at me with a sad smile. No one has enemies in Potts.

Other friends then? Maybe some people who wouldve spoken with her more recently?

Nix nodded. She mentioned shed been shacking up with another woman. A white robe named Deliliah? Or maybe Deborah?

I nodded, taking mental notes. Id have to go back to the Mausoleum next to see if I could find that woman. I looked at the body. We should probably have her moved. I dont think well get any more information from the corpse.

Nix nodded. Ill have someone grab some cloth to wrap her in and well take her to the graves.

I looked around. Ill need to ask around to see if anyone saw another deadman covered in blood. Or anyone with large enough hands that might fit this print. Theres no way an attack like this wouldnt result in someone getting more than a little blood splatter.

Ill have some of my Undertakers handle it.

Thanks

She shook her head. A murderer in Potts is not something were really equipped to handle. The quicker we get this solved, the stabler things stay, and stability at home is what Undertakers need to do their jobs.

I nodded and left her to it, making my way toward the Mausoleum. It was getting dark, but that didnt mean much for the people of Potts. The murder had happened while it was still light out, when most people were busy working. The murderer had left the scene of the crime over the domes, likely to avoid being seen covered in Lydias blood. The murderer was at least moderately clever. The murder itself seemed to be a thing of wild abandon, but once it was done the killer found a smart method of retreat, and hed managed to keep himself in check long enough to make sure his target was isolated and out of sight before he struck. Motive was what I needed. A crime with such extreme violence was likely done out of passion. I couldnt even think of another reason for such a thing to happen in Potts. Everyone had food, shelter, and a family in their fellow citizens. Sure sometimes work drama would lead to things spinning out of control, but this this could only have been the result of much more highly elevated feelings than that.