Entry 17

"Hate to break it to you," Lestrade began, her arms folded across her chest. "But that seems to be the consensus. I had several coroners perform autopsies and that's what they all said."

Shirleigh and I visited the morgue at Lestrade's behest a few days . She handed over a large folder containing multiple autopsy reports on the victim from Rye and they all came to the same conclusion.

"This doesn't make any sense," Shirleigh grumbled. "Of course, she died due to external haemorrhaging, that is obvious to anyone. What was it that killed her?"

"We don't know," Lestrade shrugged. "The coroners said that a long, thin instrument was used to drain the blood, but you know that already. We were unable to locate anything that matched that description at the scene or on the victim's person. There were no murder weapons or anything to determine that it may have been an accident."

"It wasn't an accident! She was murdered. Why do you insist on bringing up the possibility of an accident?"

"Because we do not have proof that she was murdered."

"Of course you have proof, your coroners even noted it all down for you, plain as can be. How would she inflict such a precise wound upon her person? If you are able to somehow explain this, what caused it? I would perhaps even consider suicide before entertaining the thought of an accident. However, the coroners have noted that there is bruising on either shoulder. If you would observe..."

Shirleigh pulled back the blanket that was used to conceal the corpse on the mortuary table.

"What do you make of these?"

Lestrade stared at the indigo patches on the deceased's shoulders and I could almost see the instant the lightbulb lit up.

"They're handprints..."

"Notice their appearance. Someone grabbed her by the shoulders and used something to extract her blood. I presume it was some sort of mortuary apparatus."

"Okay... But that still doesn't explain the rest of the trauma."

"The...rest of the trauma...?" I wondered.

"The coroner also noted that there was trauma to the back of her head and her upper back. Almost like she fell from a high location."

"So, our culprit not only drained the victim of all of her blood but also...pushed her lifeless body from a roof...?"

I turned to Shirleigh to see what her opinion on the matter was but instead found her standing completely still and looking as though she had seen a ghost.

"You alright?" Lestrade asked then chuckled to herself. "If this body's giving you trouble, you'd hate to hear that another has been found almost identical to this one."

"Another one?" I gasped. "Another blood-drained victim?"

Lestrade nodded. "Found her this morning in Battle, not too far from Rye. The body is being held in the room next door."

It was quiet as we stared at the victim's lifeless form on the mortuary table. To think that there was another just like her... It sent chills down my spine.

"Would you be so kind as to allow me to take a look around?" Shirleigh suddenly asked breaking the silence.

"Uh...I'm not the one you should be asking," Lestrade said raising an eyebrow as Shirleigh rummaged through the drawers. "You have to ask one of the coroners who works here."

"Just tell them that I'm looking around on your way out then, thank you."

Lestrade frowned and threw me a glance that told me to keep an eye on my companion. I gave an apologetic smile in return before she left the room.

The sound of metal instruments clanked as Shirleigh took them from their respective places and tossed them onto the countertops. I wanted to ask what had crossed her mind a few moments ago but it was apparent that she was preoccupied with her search. She stepped back from the drawers and her head twitched to one side, which I found she often did when she grew frustrated. What exactly did she come to realise?

"I don't think—"

"It doesn't make sense. What could leave behind such a distinguishable wound that is so..." Shirleigh waved her hands around. "...Indistinguishable?"

"Well," I started, hoping that I could provide some helpful insight. "In phlebotomy, there are several types of needles used to draw blood. Blood is usually drawn and stored in a vacutainer. Oh! Maybe we could pay a visit to Morstan's medical practice. He may possess such supplies. If you feel it would be worth looking into, of course."

Her back was turned to me but I saw her head perk up and nod.

"Perhaps we should do so," she said, placing her hands on her hips. "Let us go."

She glided past me, leaving everything just where she had left it. Shaking my head, I sighed and turned to follow her out of the morgue.

»»————-　♔　————-««

"Apologies for showing up unannounced," I said when Morstan answered the door. "We were hoping you could assist us."

"Juniper? It's nice to see you again," he smiled brightly and turned to my companion. "I'm Maxwell Morstan. I don't think I properly introduced myself to you the last time we met."

Shirleigh squinted at Morstan before pushing past him.

"Truly sorry, she isn't a big fan of pleasantries, I'm afraid. Shirleigh Holmes is—"

"Wait. She's Shirleigh Holmes?" an expression of amazement decorated his features. "One of my friends told me how she solved a case of hers. She had written a draft for an important document that vanished overnight and Shirleigh Holmes was able to recover it in a matter of days! We still have no idea how she did it."

"Oh, yes, I remember that one," I giggled at his enthusiasm. "I believe I called that one The Double Inkstain."

"So you're partners? Wait, what's the case you're investigating? How can I help?"

"Well, there's rumours of a vampire go—"

"There is no such thing as vampires!" Shirleigh called out from another room.

"I said rumours!" I called back. "Anyhow, a young woman's body was found completely drained of her blood. We were wondering if you had any phlebotomy tools in your possession that we could look at. We believe the culprit may have used such an instrument."

"Yeah, of course. Follow me."

Morstan walked down a hallway of doors, one of which Shirleigh peeked her head from before joining us. The marble floors, white walls, and fluorescent lighting resembled that of a hospital building. I glanced around at the different plaques on the walls, each one noting the accomplishments of the doctors and nurses working in the corresponding rooms.

When I turned my attention to the recently polished floor, I suddenly felt my breath grow shallow and my hands began to tremble. The surrounding sounds muffled and my ears rang with a high frequency.

The sound of a door being closed brought me back to my senses and I noticed both Morstan and Shirleigh giving me rather concerned looks.

"Are you alright?" Morstan placed a glass of water in my hands. "Do you need some air?"

"No," I shook my head. "I'm alright. Thank you."

His gaze lingered on me for a bit longer before turning to open a door. Shirleigh watched me for a moment and her gaze fell to the floor before she followed Morstan into the room.

"This is where we hold blood drives," Morstan told us, motioning around. "We usually keep all of our phlebotomy and venipuncture tools in here. Feel free to look around, I'll see if I can find anything that may help with your search."

"Thank you," I said.

Shirleigh made her way over to a cabinet and stared into the glass. She reached for the knob but I stopped her.

"Gloves, Shirleigh."

She inhaled deeply and reluctantly took the gloves I held toward her. She stared at me listlessly as she dramatically pulled them over her hands and held her arms out.

"Happy?"

"Very."

She opened the cabinet and removed several tubes, some made of plastic and others of glass. She held them just centimetres from her face as she examined them.

"These are for blood collection, yes?"

"Yes, those are the vacutainers," I told her. "They are attached to a butterfly needle with a tube and blood is stored in them when pulled from the veins."

"Hm. You don't happen to have any that would hold around four litres, would you?"

"Uh, no, I don't think so," Morstan answered from across the room. He chuckled. "We don't take that much blood from a single person. I don't think you'll find any larger than those that you're currently looking at."

 Shirleigh grumbled and rummaged through the drawers.

"Hey, I don't know if it'll be much help but," Morstan approached us holding a few needles. "You said 'vampire', right?"

"No vampires," Shirleigh mumbled.

"Well, what if the culprit used two needles? Maybe they used one, drew the victim's blood, collected it in multiple containers, left, and came back with another needle and more containers to draw the rest? Or! Maybe there were two culprits! What if each of them used a needle to extract the victim's blood at the same time?"

Morstan was beaming with spirit and it was very apparent that he truly wanted to do his best to assist us in this strange case. His eagerness shone in his eyes and the way he spoke was rather passionate. When I turned his theories over in my mind, I glanced over at Shirleigh who had the most disapproving look upon her features.

"What do you think?" I asked, knowing very well what she would say.

"I think your hypotheses are utterly ridiculous. Why would the culprit use two different needles? If, as you suggest, they did use multiple of those containers, why would they feel the need to change the needle? Could they not continue to use the same one?"

"What about the other one?"

"The possibility of there being two culprits?" Shirleigh tilted her head to the side. "The least ridiculous of the two theories. Still ridiculous, but it is more plausible than the former."

She closed her eyes and folded her arms. I watched as she rocked back and forth on her heels and drummed her arm in deep thought.

"Even if there were two, one of them held her by the shoulders. They could not have used one of the needles. Which would leave the notion that the other used two needles to draw the blood but why? Again, why not just use one? Why the resemblance of a vampire?"

"Maybe using the two needles made drawing the blood faster?" I suggested in an attempt to keep our potential leads alive.

"The wounds were just over an inch apart from each other meaning that if two needles were being used simultaneously, they were placed relatively in the same area. I doubt that would make for faster blood withdrawal and they would be difficult to handle."

"I hate to say it," I said facing Morstan. "But even if we were to consider your theories, it would have taken a great deal of time to drain the victim of all of their blood using the methods you provided. Someone most certainly would have noticed as well."

"Eh, it was worth a shot."

Morstan shrugged unnerved and I silently apologised.

"Looks like we turned up empty," I said watching as Shirleigh peeled the gloves from her hands. "Maybe we should head back to the flat and get something to eat. We can look over everything we have gathered so far while doing so."

Shirleigh huffed and marched out of the room without so much as another word.

"Thank you for your help," I turned to Morstan. "Apologies for having bothered you."

"Oh, no, it's fine. This was nice."

"Right... I should follow after her. Who knows what she'll get into..."

I removed my gloves and pivoted to exit the room.

"Juniper."

I turned my attention back to Morstan who wore a concerned expression.

"Are you feeling alright? From earlier, I mean."

"Oh," I took a deep breath. "Yes, I am quite alright. It...happens from time to time."

"You know, it's okay to seek out assistance. There are a few wonderful psychiatric nurses who work here."

I lowered my gaze in thought, not entirely sure of how I should respond.

"Thank you," I smiled.

"Oh, and..."

I lifted my eyes.

"Sorry," he lowered his head. "I know I'm holding you up. I was just wondering if...maybe...you wanted to...get coffee sometime...?"

"Oh, um," I glanced behind me and found myself oscillating in the doorway. "I would love to, but uh, maybe sometime in the near future...? This case is really taking up most of my time at the moment, but I shall take you up on that soon."

"Of course. You know where to find me."

When I left the building, Shirleigh was leaning against a lamp post, her arms crossed and her chin upon her breast, eyes closed in contemplation. She looked up as I approached her, removed herself from the post, and let her arms fall to her sides.

"Well?" She said.

"Well?" I echoed.

"Did he ask you?"

"Oh, um, yeah..." I glanced back at the building completely unbothered by the fact that she knew what had happened. "I told him that I wouldn't be available until we close this case, though."

"Hm. I would like to read that novel Moriarty left to you."

"Sure, it's back at the flat. Maybe it would prove to be a nice distraction from this 'vampire' business."

Shirleigh hummed as we walked side by side down the sidewalk.