Moth(9)

Given the fact that I’m DEA, I don’t waste time making calls. The police barracks are a few miles from my dad’s house. After commandeering his old Ford pickup, I pay the station a visit just to make sure he wasn’t involved in something criminal.

I flash my badge to the woman seated at the front entrance. She smiles but then rolls her eyes, like I’m just a bastard trying to pull my weight around. “I’m looking into a case that may involve a recent death. Can you point me in the right direction as to who might be handling that?”

“Yeah, take a seat. Just a minute.” She points in the direction of where two women are already seated. They’re obviously waiting for someone. One holds her purse close to her body as if she feels threatened by my presence. I think it’s funny my appearance offends so many people. I fit right in while doing my job in Guatemala. Nonetheless, I take a seat nearby and wait my turn.

It’s too early to get pushy, and since I don’t know how my brother died I decided to give her a second so I don’t piss anyone off.

At first I don’t recognize the detective as he approaches me. I show him my badge as I stand. “Special Agent Douglas. I’m looking into a possible homicide or accidental death of…”

He doesn’t let me finish. “James Douglas. Wow, Tim, I didn’t even recognize you.”

I give him a once over. He’s familiar, but I can’t seem to put a name to the face.

He helps me out. “Stebbins. Josh. We played ball together. Damn, I heard you were deep in the government. DEA. You must see a hell of a lot.”

I snicker. He acts like I’m James Bond or some shit like that. “I’m just a better paid cop,” I tease. “Sorry I didn’t recognize you. It’s been a long couple of days.”

“I get it. You’ve got a lot on your mind. I’m sorry to hear about your brother.”

“I do. Settle my suspicions and tell me my brother died accidentally. Dad wasn’t forthcoming, and I’m wondering why that could be.”

He shakes his head. “I wasn’t working the night shift when it happened. Look, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but it looks like it’s an overdose. It’s definitely drug related. They found him with a needle in his arm. I’m not sure if he was a user, but the location he was found is known to be a hotspot for drug deals. It’s too soon to speculate, and since I’m not on the case I don’t know much more.”

I’m sure my mouth drops to the floor. “Bullshit. You’re pulling my chain, right?”

“I’m afraid not. I wouldn’t joke about that. I can show you the body if you want. The case file is upstairs if you’d rather take a look for yourself. The autopsy will probably be done within the next several days. That’s all I know so far. My buddy is the lead detective. You can certainly get his feedback if you’re interested.”

I nod. I didn’t know my brother well at all, but my gut was telling me my father might be right. Jamie wouldn’t ruin a promising career by using anything he could stick in his arm with a needle. He sure as hell wouldn’t be lurking around dark alleys to score from dealers. This is absurd. I feel like I’m about to lose my shit if I don’t find out what the hell is going on.

I’m led upstairs to a full room of police officers. The half-walled cubicles line the vicinity. Stebbins pulls a file off someone’s desk named Clark, and hands it to me. “He’s probably not done typing it all up. His handwriting is shit. I’m getting better at reading it if you need my help.”

I open it up and talk as I’m beginning to read. “Is there a place I can sit?”

Stebbins leads me to an empty cubicle and slides a chair in my direction. “Have at it, man. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Where’s the coffee?”

He gives me a look as I turn to ask. “Yeah, I wouldn’t recommend the tar they serve us here. There’s a Dunkin Donuts a block over.”

“The tar is fine. I’ve had worse, I’m sure.”

There isn’t much to look at. Jamie was found by police at nine in the morning three days ago. He was discovered without identification, in an abandoned warehouse. A missing person’s report was filed by a Windy Lewis the day before. It states that she was his girlfriend and had been out of town when the death occurred. So far the detective has it listed as a possible overdose pending the autopsy report. I start shuffling through the crime scene photos and my heart stops when I see something familiar laying beside my brother’s dead body. It’s a heroin wrapper with a raccoon and crossbones, the same heroin I’ve been trying to chase down for two years.

I slam the manila folder shut and rub my temples. This can’t be related. That heroin is all over the world. It’s just a coincidence. There’s no way Alizar tracked down my estranged brother and murdered him to get to me. We weren’t even close. I didn’t even know the kid’s phone number.

I’m given a personal escort to the morgue where Jamie is being kept until his autopsy is complete. I recognize the smell as soon as I walk inside of the lab. Two attendees look up, but Stebbins waves them away so I’m not to be bothered. He gives the name and a female points to the slot they’re keeping my brother’s cold dead body.

I watch Stebbins open the drawer and reveal the body. He’s gray in color, his eyes still open. I don’t turn away. I can’t. I’ve seen a lot of dead people, but this is different. This is my flesh and blood. A part of me is lying in front of me and I have to know why. I don’t have gloves, so I do the best inspection I can without touching and tampering with the ongoing investigation. His arms are in a position I’m unable to see the common area addicts shoot up, but from the look of his eyes I know he definitely died from the narcotics. Now I need to figure out how and why.