Page 6 of Random in Death
“Jake said they’re fierce about that issue.”
Maybe, she thought again.
The Sober-Up and the air whipping through the open windows cleared her head and gave her a nagging yen for coffee. She used the in-dash AutoChef to program some for both of them.
“You wouldn’t know the max capacity for this club, would you?”
“I wouldn’t, but recalling the size of it, I wouldn’t say over two hundred.”
“Two hundred teenage suspects, great.”
“Some of those would be staff, maybe some parents.”
“We’re going to need Child Services,” she said, and pulled out her ’link. “Even if it looks like an accidental OD, we’ll need someone. Two’s better.”
“Someone else is about to have their Saturday night screwed.”
She spotted the cruiser and the ambulance in front of the club. Easy to recognize the club, she thought, as it had a rainbow sign lit up with the name, and music notes jumping around it.
“Just double it beside the cruiser.”
“Loading zone just there,” he said, and pulled into it. “I’ll get your field kit.”
She flipped on the On Duty light, got out to take a look at the club.
The graffiti on the old brick seemed purposeful. Guitars, drums, a bunch of figures crowded together. Dancing, she decided, and walked to the uniform stationed at the front door.
“Lieutenant,” she said.
“Officer.”
“No one’s attempted to go in or come out since we arrived. The owner, apprised of the situation, is keeping things calm inside by having patrons join the band onstage, like an open mic. Mr. Kincade and Ms. Furst are still in the alley with the victim and the medicals. My partner is there.”
“That works. I’ve notified Child Services to assist with any interviews involving minors. You can direct them to the alley.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Stand by, Officer.”
Taking the field kit from Roarke, Eve walked around the building to the alley.
Halfway down, the medicals stood with the uniform. Nadine stood with Jake, hands linked, a few feet away.
When Nadine spotted her, Eve held up a hand to keep her back.
“Stand by, Officer. What do we have?” Eve asked the MTs.
“Victim’s fifteen to seventeen years old. We didn’t go into her purse for her ID, Lieutenant, to keep the scene as clean as possible.”
“Appreciated.”
“Can’t give you a definite COD, but it looks like an OD. Got a blue tinge to her skin, and the needle mark’s fresh. But I suspect a used needle due to the redness around it. She doesn’t have any other visible marks. Looks to be a healthy weight, decent muscle tone. The ME’ll be able to give you a better picture.
“We responded at twenty-three-oh-four, and she was already gone. Jake, ah, Mr. Kincade was attempting CPR when we arrived. But she was gone.”
“All right. Again, I appreciate you preserving the scene as much as possible. I’ll take it from here.”
The second MT looked over at Jake. “You did everything you could.”