2020-05-04 - The Betting Pool and the Dead Man in the Water - APD

The rain beat lightly on the windows of the Alexandra police department windows and the coffee machine beeped to indicate it was ready. Darcy Lynch had been waiting, staring the machine down with her cup at the ready in her hand. She poured now and then sipped slowly and watched a tear of rain slide down the window to the outside of the sill.

Ryan Yamada was at his desk, sharpening pencils. He loved a new sharp pencil and people kept stealing them. He had a brand new pack. The pandemic had really brought out his need for control since it felt so out of control. He also had a very special collection of pens he bought himself and had ordered more. The cheap bic pens the station supplies just got all gummy in the notebooks. It was unacceptable. He scanned the feeds on his reports and sharpened away meticulously. The scratch of the circular motion was rhythmic.

Tamela walked by Ryan before heading out to follow up on a  lead across town “Oooh nice...can I snag one of those from ya Yamada?” She already knew the answer.

Ryan looked like a cat about to hiss at her “Will I get it back?”

Before he could catch her she swiped one “Maybe. Laters bitches….” And she was gone, clipboard in hand.

Ryan glared after her “No respect for my system……”

Chris cracked up at Ryan and Tamela and then wandered to get a coffee too, passing Darcy who was deep in thought and didn’t say anything as she made her way to her desk.

Sam Wright grins at the play.  For him the APD is an extended family.  Now more than ever.  He is ambivalent about Alexandra lifting the stay-at-home order, but he accepted the mayor’s decision.  However, he had not moved back into his place above his brother and Rain.  It was something they all still needed to discuss.  Stopping at Darcy’s desk, he pats her on the shoulder.  “I saw Tony Penhall walking to school with a regular little flock behind him.”  he tells her, not keeping his voice down.  “It was like old times again … when Vincent had his own little flock following him.”  he pauses.  “Why does that make me feel old?”

Michael Reinhardt laughs at Ryan.  He expects that the lifting of the quarantine, or whatever people wanted to call it, was right on time.  India was starting to chafe under Ryan’s OCD.  He then looks at his morning paperwork and takes in a deep breath, then cracks his knuckles and starts typing.  Michael is a stunning typist.  Looking at him, you’d think he’d be a slow hunt and peck kind of a guy, but he’s fast.

Frank Sharp is at the copier, making some copies and murmuring sweet nothing to the machine, which is now old.  However with the returning to the world, immediately followed by the pandemic, the old copier simply could not yet be replaced.  Sams words reach her ears and she turns to look at him and Darcy.  “I remember those days.  Vincent followed by .. who .. it was Daisy Dale and Noelle Snow and another half dozen of them.  A new generation.”  she laughs.

Josh Green is at the coffee maker, getting himself another cup of coffee.  He is now bald as a cue, but in many ways both looks and feels younger since his granddaughter came to live with him.  He waits for Chris to get his cup and then speaks as he pours his own.  “Spring is in the air, Wright.  Young girls chasing after blooming musicians.”  he reaches for the sugar.  “And unless my eyesight is completely off … I do believe I saw Peterson walking towards the school this morning with Noelle and Blaze Snow.”  he adds some creamer, still speaking very casually.  “Has that girl finally thawed towards you, Peterson?”  he wonders, finally stepping back to effectively review all of the troops in his line of sight.  He has also gotten closer with all of the men and women under his command than he had been before the Earthquake and fog.

Darcy looks up at Sam’s hand on her shoulder and tales about Tony. She laughs at the reference to Vincent “Oh my god...we ARE old Sam. But these cycles keep repeating. That was a great version of Fame though.  God I had such a crush on Debbie Allen...until I realized it was reruns and she was as old as my Grandma!”

Ryan retorts defensively at Micheal’s laughing at him “What? Oh fuck off…..” He listens in on Frank. He knew his nephew Tristan was pals with Tony but he hadn’t really known as many details about the earlier crop of Alexandra teens as they were new to the island then. But he did know the name Noelle Snow and his gaze drifted to Chris Peterson.

Chris finished his pour and then stepped back for the Chief so he had room “Thank you Sir.” He had been vaguely listening and his ear perked up at Noelle’s name. When Josh called him out on walking Noelle and Blaze he just about spit out his first sip of coffee and then cleared his throat and blushed, just admitting it “Yes Sir. Noelle and I…” He suddenly saw all the heads in the room turn towards him and it got frightfully quiet “we’re a thing now.” He gives a little shrug and sips, trying to be cool about it.

Sam looks at his Chief and then at Chris.  He smiles as if he’s just won the lottery.  He claps his hands.  “Pay up!  I do believe I win both the ‘before New Year 2021’ and the ‘before the Ferry gets running again’ pool!”  he pulls out his phone and waits for those who owe him to pay him electronically.  “And congratulations Chris.  I knew it would happen.  You two are meant to be a thing and I wish you every happiness … Mazel Tov!”

Michael raises his brows and looks at Chris.  “Well, I’ll be damned!”  he pulls out his phone.  “I have to admit, I put my money on 2022.”  … He pulls out his phone and does some tapping.  “Congrats, kid.  I’m just kinda glad it's not Shay and Daisy. I like Daisy but … our family is gonna take over Canada, my uncle tells me … and even if Shay develops some common fucking sense, he won’t commit until …”  he considers and looks around.  “Hell we can just start a new pool.”

Frank snorts and pulls out her phone.  “I put most of my money on having to arrest her for kneeing you in the balls for offering to carry her groceries home … again.”  she informs Chris.  “But it looks like that tenaciousness of yours finally paid off ... “  she taps and glances at Michael.  “Bets on when Shay will commit to Daisy?  With or without a shotgun involved, because I’d give Daisy one just to see it happen.”  then she shakes her head.  “Nah … Shay will be young, dumb and full of cum into his 30’s.”  she predicts.  “Better odds on the date Owen will overshoot the markers and skate into the water from the inlet ice next winter.”  she won last year's bet on that, so she's more confident.

Josh watches with a grin under his greying mustache.  “Congratulations, son.”  he claps Chris on the shoulder.  Sam’s phone is beeping and finally he does more tapping on his own.  In Josh’s pocket his own phone goes off and he pulls it out with one hand and looks at it.  “Let me add my twenty….”  he taps with his thumb.  “There .. that’s nearly a hundred bucks for your next date or whatever.”  Chris’s phone goes off and Josh looks at him.  “Noelle Snow is a good kid.  Reminds me of Rachel.”  Josh pauses, giving his daughter a quick thought.  “Don’t make me get paternal, Peterson.  God knows her own father won’t look out for her, and now I don't have to worry as much because she’s with you.”  he stands straight and sips his coffee, thoughtfully.

Darcy had begrudgingly transferred to Sam and now was putting away her phone and laughing. She wiggles her brows at Frank “You mean Seamus...is….you know...a man?” She shoots a sarcastic look unapologetically around at her mostly male coworkers. As an after thought she gives Chris a nod “Congrats….don’t fuck it up.”

Ryan holds his phone up and then sets it down “I didn’t bet. I had faith in your Chris. Good on ya.” He boasts a bit and then hears Frank and Darcy “Ouch! I mean true...but ouch.” He silently laughs and then keeps typing at his computer.

Chris looks a combination of mortified, amused and touched “You guys bet on my love life? Jesus we need a casino in this town.” He looks especially overwhelmed by Josh’s words “You guys….um thanks.” He gets the gravity of the statement about Rachel and nods at Josh “Thanks everyone. It’s...uh...I don’t even know…” he laughs and pats Josh on the shoulder.

Sam just sort of snorts about Seamus Reinhardt.  “Well a man NOW … well … a man SOMEDAY?”  he shrugs and looks between Darcy and Frank, then finally at Chris.  “This is a small town.  When it’s lively, it’s really lively … but when it’s not we take bets on each other’s love life and the towns goings on.  And we have understanding Chiefs and a mayor who don’t put us all in jail for illegal gambling.”  he smiles at Josh.

Michael snorts.  “Shay is … a sixteen year old man-child.”  he argues.  Then again, I would have thought that he would still be playing Lego without a care in the world and running all over town chasing Owen on his skateboard.  But nope…”  he throws up his hands.  “Shay is a horn dog that everyone would have sworn would be a father to at least one kid by now … but turns out its Owen.  Owen …”  he looks at Frank, who he knows loves to make bets regarding Owens clumsiness.  He can’t blame her … he does too.  “Is the one manning up.”  he looks at Chris and nods.

Frank laughs at the men, her eyes finally landing on Chris.  “What Darcy said.”  She agrees and then looks at Darcy.  “I’m one of the teachers in the school and I have heard things about Seamus Reinhardt …  There isn’t enough therapy in the WORLD.”  she glares at Michael as if he said something dirty to her.  She smirks when Chris mentions that they bet on his love life.  “Don’t knock it.  And don’t think we’re the worst.  I understand they also take bets on your brother’s love life.  Who he will ask out next and what the result will be.  It’s May and he’s only been slapped once for being late and laughed at twice for asking women who find that sort of thing hilarious.”  she smirks at Sam.  “Like Kitty Carmichael.”

Josh chuckles at his crew.  “Reinhadt, don’t ever try and predict what kids will do.”  he cautions.  “They’ll surprise you every time.  For good or ill.”  his voice softens a bit and he sips at his coffee.

Darcy winces at Frank’s  words. She did not want to know any of that therapy inducing stuff. It was enough for her to notice condoms in her teenage son’s garbage once upon a  time and have a mini heart attack. God they started young nowadays compared to her youth “Did you say Owen’s having a  kid? Is that what you mean by manning up Mike?” She squints at her computer screen, tries to backstep on one word of a report and deletes her entire document. She  stares at the screen like she might throw it out the window. “Why am I cursed with these fucking computers?!” She barks and misses what would be a retort on Patrick Peterson asking out Kitty..

Ryan laughs and shakes his head and then leans away from Darcy’s desk “Patrick asked out Kitty? He aims high...I’ll give him that…” He jokes. He knew about Shay and Owen and kept that commentary for India in private. He did note Josh’s comment about kids surprising you and pondered what they’d all be saying when his little girl was a teenager. He felt a sudden tightness in his chest at the idea.

Chris facepalms “I am not responsible for the escapades of my brother…...man…” He has to laugh. He was all too aware of Owen and Shay’s lives as of late. They were an interesting contrast in some ways to he and Pat….not twins but the whole Irish triplet thing. He gives Josh a nod and then head to his desk, ready to get to work. His day began with a pile of phone messages about neighbour complaints. These were not serious crimes. He sighed “Mrs. Norris….again…..she thinks she has a prowler…..who’s stealing her knitting needles….” He looks up “She needs supervision…….this is dementia for sure isn’t it?”

Sam opens his mouth to speak but is distracted by Darcy and her computer.  He moves to her side.  "Hands up."  he orders and if she lifts her hands he will tap one key, then another and finally a third.  The document miraculously reappears.  "Slow and steady, Darc.'' They've danced this dance before.

Michael nods and looks at Darcy as Sam fixes her computer.  "He met a girl on the mainland, got her pregnant literally the first time they had sex and now she's moving here to make the family complete." he reports.  "You may be the last to know."  he teases. He chuckles, thinking of Kitty. "Go big or go home ... I guess."

Frank nods and snorts, unsurprised that Darcy hadn't heard the rumor yet.  "Yea.  And she's ten years older with a kid of her own."  she shakes her head.  "And he's gonna be a man about it ...  and that is just ... fucking impressive."

Josh chuckles.  "You two were always a trip."  he remembers, thinking on the Peterson twins.  Then Chris mentions Mrs.  Norris.  "The last time someone stole some petty thing from her, it turned out to be kids."  he tells them.  "She wanted an arrest, but I have better things to do with my cells, so the kids got lectures and sent home to their parents."  he snorts.  "Ursula Norris is younger than I am, son.  She just looks twenty years older than ZIlpha Ainsworth."

Ulick Fitzpatrick comes walking across the parking lot of the cop shop holding a bakers box.  He holds it steady while he opens the door.  This was his first day on the job as the new APD receptionist and Alexandra 911 dispatcher., and he was glad to be of service.  His body nearly fills the doorway as he moves through it.  “I bring cookies!” he announces.  He is not yelling, but his voice booms through the building.  He goes to Chris’s desk and puts the box on it.  “Congratulations on getting the girl, son.  From your Chief.”

Josh … has vanished into his office, closing the door behind him.

Sadie Taggart walks up from the basement carrying more paper for the old trustie copier. She blows a stray brown strand of hair that's making its regular bit for freedom from her simple bun at the back of her head. She  attempts to get it out of her green eyes before she trips over the stairs or her own two feet . she abit clumsy at times . she listening to podcast about aliens and ufo theories as she goes up to restock the office . “did i hear cookies.. ‘ she squeaks . her voice mousy . she doesnt look intimidating with her mousy hair and voice. And stature but she was very nimble mainly from the practice of recovering from her clutzy self

Most of her collars underestimated her . she had a  calm and cool head in the face of danger and that cool head help her get the jump  on them . she loved her job and she loved protecting the fair citizens of alexandra

Darcy raised her hands and looked gratefully at Sam and as usual felt a little stupid for her battles with technology. “Thanks again Sam….you’re a lifesaver.” She glances up as Michael explains the rest of the tale of Owen and Frank fills in the rest. Josh was right, kids will surprise you. As Uilick comes in she can’t help but look a little amused by their new 911 operator. It was a Reinhardt invasion. She knew technically Uilick wasn’t a Reinhardt but he was of the clan. But at least they brought cookies. She hears a scuffle from the basement stairs and then sees Sadie emerge, glad she didn’t send all the paperwork flying. Darcy was in no rush to dive in on the cookies. Let Chris have his moment whether he liked it or not. This staff was lovingly invested in one another’s lives but she honestly didn’t envy him the spotlight.

Ryan was concentrating on inputting some notes from a traffic accident report by the time Uilick walked in with the cookies. He chuckles about the big man with the small pastry box and then looks down at the diagram of the accident scene and back up at his screen “I think they meant left not right…” He mutters and mimes his hands into the positions of two vehicles where one turns into another. Ryan was in the zone.

Chris notices the interaction between Darcy and Sam and smiles. Sam had a knack. He overheard Micheal and Frank talking but it focussed on Josh addressing him. He smiles a bit about the comment on he and his brother and then looks surprised that Mrs. Norris is younger than his boss. That woman was just eternally ancient, ancient and angry. As Josh walks away he poises to give Mrs. Norris a courtesy call and flags down Frank as Sadie passes by his desk. She looks a little harried as usual. And then before he can say a word to Frank the largest and loudest new member of the staff comes in offering cookies and brings them right to his desk, from Josh. Josh’s door closes and Chris is once again overwhelmed “Holy shit you guys…..Ho Uilick...welcome...and thank you. K seriously come get some of these. And can someone else get a date or have a baby or bar mitzvah or something so I’m not on the hot spot all week…seriously though, thank you. I’ll thank Josh later when his door opens again.” He laughs. Sadie was closets so he gestured at the box in offering.

George Arnett and his old dog Kester were out on a nice long walk. They had the time and George was thankful Kester still had the energy. They’d had a scare recently with some lumps around the dog’s neck but they had turned out to be benign. Now they were ambling along the water, the sea spray soaking George’s beard. Kester was wading in and out fetching a stick like he had done since he was a pup and running back to his human to deliver it and of course shake on him. George laughed and threw again, this time a little further. There was a mass of seaweed or something a ways down the beach and of course the stick landed just past it. Kester ran for it but then stopped short at it and started barking and barking, looking back at George. Had the stick gotten stuck? “Come on boy, dig…” George jogged a little to catch up with the old dog and then a smell hit him that made him instantly nauseous. It was something covered in seaweed and debris….it was something dead. George held his shirt collar over his nose and mouth and walked around it and then jumped back in horror. It was a human body….or what was left of one. He could see a face in the mix. It appeared to be a man. The body was swollen, charred, where skin was uncharred it was a horrible combination of raw purple and rotting green. The eyes were open and glassed over and the mouth askew was black inside. George succumbed to the nausea and the bile burned his throat as he turned and bent, losing his breakfast into the ocean. Coughing, he padded his pockets for his phone as he tried to catch his breath. Walking away from the body he dials 911.

Ulick chuckles softly to himself as he sits in the receptionists chair.  His job was simple, as he was a civilian and so he did not have a uniform, but was still dressed very professionally.  In front of him are forms and pens and, of course, pencils.  But for the most part, he expected his job to be about as exciting as the potato farming he’d retired from several years back to come to Canada and find his favorite sibling ... and only sister.  He glances out of the glass wall/window of the shop at the light rain.  It didn’t hamper his mood.  When he looks back at his desk, he notes that there is a single red light flashing.  One of the towns three lines dedicated to 911 calls.  On his first day, no less.  He picks up the receiver and presses the flashing red button, which automatically starts the recording equipment under the counter.  Ulick speaks in a muted tone that will still carry throughout the small cop shop.  “911, what is your emergency?”  He picks up a pencil and listens, taking down the information even as he does as he was trained to do.  “Body on the beach.  Yes, sir.  Someone will be out there straight away.”  he hangs up, ending the recording and then speaks aloud.   “Kester found a body on the beach.  George Arnett thinks the man might be dead.”  He glances at the closed door of the police chief, knowing it will open at any moment.

Josh had left the bullpen because he wanted to avoid any thank yous from Chris.  He had, indeed, softened over the years, but he still had that gruff hard as nails side to him that had made him such a good cop for so many years.  But no sooner did his butt hit his chair then he hears Ulick pick up on a 911 call.  He had hired Ulick for many reasons, but his voice was near the top of the list.  Like Mertyl Payne before him, Ulick aacted as an early warning system.  Even as Ulick spoke, Josh was standing and heading out of his office.  “Sharp and Peterson.  You’re on Mrs Norris.”  he looks at them both as he speaks.  Then, having had those seconds to consider, he made the decision of who to send to the beach.  “Lynch.  You take Taggart to the beach.  Reinhardt…”  he pauses and blinks, realizing they had two Rainhardts now.  “Ulick, get the EMT’s to the beach.”  he looks at Darcy, who will, as always be the senior on the case .. in charge.  She’ll know to call the coroner if the body is indeed deceased.  And in his head, he does an inventory thinking who in their little town may have fallen in the inlet and drowned.

Sam glances up with Ulicks melodious voice pipes up.  He backs away from Darcy’s desk, giving her plenty of room to get moving and heads for his own esh.  He has paperwork and is rather glad of it.  Dead bodies were not his favorite part of the job.

Michael moves to his desk, near Ryan.  He pulls a form out of its pile, steaks a freshly sharpened pencil and begins to write.

Frank nods as Josh speaks to her.  “Come on, kid.  Time to get a report healthily peppered with religious bigotry.”  she snorts and heads for the door and preparing herself for the homophobic rants Ursula Noris was infamous for.

Sadie just sets down the bundle of paper next to the copier as she hears the word body and dead. She nods her head looking determined at her senior officer Darcy . “alright chief ‘ she squeaks softly as she makes ready . She has abit concern wondering which of their citizen had fallen in peril but she makes ready getting her notebook and pen . She looks over to Darcy “Ready Lynch. ‘ she states with resolve as she mentally prepared to see a gruesome body hoping it was alive but prepared to fine it dead. Dead bodies didnt bother her . she was a scientist at heart but it still distrubed her that maybe other citizen had met the chilly hand of the
Grim

George hung up the phone and couldn’t look at the body behind him. He called Kester to him and leashed his dog once he could reach him. Kester protested the loss of freedom at first but then fell in line walking with George a short distance away to sit down on a log facing the other direction. George was ashen faced and shaking from head to toe, trying to calm himself by petting Kester. The dog put his head on George’s lap, sensing his human’s upset.

Darcy nodded at Sam and thn Josh “Yes Sir.” She conceded and then she looked at Sadie, connecting on their task, and grabbed the kit and the keys. She would almost take a body ID over fighting with the computer but she sure didn’t wish any of Alexandra’s residents dead. Her curiosity about it was peeking though. Darcy had seen a lot of death, too much. It had desensitized her a bit but when she shifted to the biology of it it helped her process. She also prefered hands on physical tasks to paperwork and computer work so today was giving her that.

Ryan heard Uilick and then Josh and exhaled quietly at his report. He was glad not to be on that assignment. He could do it, but it would haunt him. He wondered who it might be. He’s vaguely aware of Michael’s movements and then looks suspiciously at his pencil “Did you just take one of mine?”

Chris sunk into himself with a worried expression at the news of the dead body. He hoped it wasn’t anyone he knew and loved. Growing up here made those parts of the job so hard and personal. When he and Frank got their assignment he cringed a little and then nodded “Yes Chief. And thanks for the cookies.” He moved towards Frank and muttered so only she could hear “Fuck me….I hate that woman….and her hate…”

Sadie crosses over to Darcy as she readies herself ‘God i hate this part of the job .. ‘ he say in her mouse like voice.  It sound cartoonish but fill of depth and emotion.. ‘I just hope .. maybe theyre ok? ‘ she sounded hopefully but realistic .

Darcy looks doubtful as they head to the car but doesn’t express it and kill Sadie’s hope. Life would do that for her. She nodded “Only way out is through it. You just got to face it straight on...whatever’s at that beach.” She drove in silence for the rest of the way arriving to see the ambulance pull up at the same time. She noticed George Arnett off to the side looking not at all OK and looked to Sadie. This might be a good task for the softer hearted of the two of them and darcy perceives that might be Sadie.

“Taggart, can you go check in with our witness….take a statement. See how we can best support him. If he’s in shock ask one of the EMT’s for a blanket for him. They’ll probably check him as well.”

She parks and cuts the engine, stepping out and looking around.

Gareth is a passenger today as Logan drove. He drummed on the dash with his fingers a bit until the rig was stopped and then hopped out and headed for the back to grab some gear. Craning around he wondered out loud to Logan “Is that George Arnett over there?”

Logan Reinhardt stopped and parked the ambulance and got out, taking a cursory look around.  At Gareth’s words, he looks at the figure.  His back is to them, but Kester is all the identification he needs.  “Yea.  Maybe he found the body?”  he winces.  They both know George’s age and he knows they should check him out.  “Do you want George, or the John Doe?”  he asks.

Sadie's usually expression filled face wears her emotions clear. She was always a heart on her sleeve kind of lady but her compassionate demeanor served her well in this line of work. She nods and squeaks out ‘uhum” She knew this job had it grisly bits. Though hopeful she was smart to know that life wasn't all a bed of rose.   She looks concerned for her Partner as they ride in silence as she mentally prepares herself .
She nods as Darcy gives out the orders respecting her as her elder officers in the car  as she disembarks . She makes a beeline for Kester “hey ya boy..  She pets the dog then turns to George. “Hello sir.? ‘ she says in a calming but concerned tone checking to see his mental status as she calms the dog as well scratching his behind his ear.

Kester was a friendly dog and sniffed at the police officer, wagging his tail excitedly and licking her arm. He then went back and put his head on George’s lap. They were connected these two and Kester read his master well.

George was petrified and looked up at the officer with wide eyes “He’s dead……” he shuddered through his whole body and started rocking a bit “His skin…...his skin………” George's breathing was rapid and his pupils were dilated. His face was still ashen.

Darcy gloved up and headed right for the mass on the beach which she knew was the body. She had the kit and the wet sand shifted under her boots as she tried to keep her steps in an even measure. The smell hit her before she saw the full scene but she had been expecting that and she grit her teeth through it. She had a pretty strong stomach but as she rounded and saw the corpse even she felt it lurch a bit. What had happened here? The body was in a state like she’d never seen. Horrified and fascinated she knelt and began her examination, just the visual. She noticed the EMTs getting out and knew she’d have company shortly.

Gareth looks between the two options and then in assessment at Logan “Are you up for taking point on the body? I mean I’ll join you shortly...” Gareth felt called towards George today, called towards caring for his old teacher who had always been so kind. He picked up a blanket from the pile and waited for Logan’s reply.

Logan looked at his partner.  “Yea.  Vancouver gets a lot of … “  he pauses and just continues.  “I’m up for it.”  Vancouver was not Alexandra.  In his two years on the Vancouver Fire Department as an EMT he’d seen quite a bit.  Fire damage, shootings, stabbings, drug overdoses and, of course drownings.  He gets the drug box, just in case and heads for Darcy and the deaf guy.  There was a morbid sitcom for you.  He can see from several feet away that the man didn’t need anything in his drug boc, but he puts on his gloves and kneels beside him, knowing this should be official.  He reaches for a pulse.  Jugular first and then from the man's wrist.  As he does, he glances at Darcy.  “Officer Lynch.”  He keeps it professional, even though this woman was going to be part of their ever growing clan.  From the man, he gets nothing.  “DOA.”  he tells her, as if she needed telling.

Sadiwme looks sympathetic  to the man  her old teacher thats in clear distress letting  him gather himself "mind if sit mr arnett. She motions to sit beside  him as shw chose  her words wisely "yes. I know it must be horrible she see the smt pull up and Gareth walking up "emt Durham is going  to check you out  and ill be right here when you're ready, Sir to get your statement okay sir"  she say calmly and heartfelt in her small mousey voice.she gets a whiff of the scent of the body as the odor floats to her. She doesn't hide that it smells as she tries to relate to the distraught  man.

Gareth smiles at Sadie “Officer Taggart.” He wraps the blanket around George’s shoulders “Mr. Arnett?” He tries to make eye contact but George is not present to the cue so Gareth glances at Sadie and then starts taking George’s vitals “Mr. Arnett I’m just going to roll up this sleeve here on your right hand if that’s ok Sir….” He starts taking the man’s blood pressure after doing the pulse.

Kester Wags his tail again and greets Gareth, sticking his nose right in Gareth’s crotch as he takes his master’s blood pressure.

Gareth shifts a bit and laughs “Uh Kester……” the dog backs off after a moment or two.

George snaps back to the world as his dog acts up “Oh goodness Kester….sorry. Oh Gareth…..hello.” He looks to the officer beside him. He’s taught pretty much everyone over the years “Sadie…” It’s like he’s just noticed they’re fully here but then remembers why and starts to shake again “I’ve only ever seen one dead body…..my lovely wife…” He chokes up “But this….”

Gareth rolls the sleeve back down “I know Mr. Arnett...just breathe nice and slow for me ok….”

Darcy smiles wryly at Logan “Hi there. Not a local, thankfully, but holy hell theis guys’ had a bad day..or maybe a week...from the smell.” She uses one of her little wooden dispensers now and pokes around the clothing….looking at the neck, chest cavity and torso “I think he’s been shot…..look at this Logan...and the burns...I mean...what the hell?” She’s truly baffled “Susan’s going to have a fun one here.”

Logan nods, also noting it isn’t anyone from the island.  He pulls his pen out of his uniform pocket and uses it as a pointer.  “And look here … “  he motions to the shirt towards the back of the body.  “Sliced … he’s been stabbed.  What the fu … heck.” he blinks.  “I’ll let Dr McKinney know.”  he pulls his radio off of his hip and calls the doctor.  “Alexandra Clinic, this is Medic A1.  We have two victims.”  he knows that Gareth will be able to hear him through his own radio.  “A1’s victim is DOA, apparently drowned, burned, shot and stabbed.  Wait One on A2’s victim.”

A moment later Susan’s voice can be heard.  “Ten four A1.  Transport the DOA as soon as possible.”

Logan replies.  “Ten four Clinic.”  he looks at Darcy.  “Br right back with the body bag.”  and he takes the drug box back to the ambulance and brings back a body bag in less than a minute.

Sadie goes to comfort her former teacher as Gareth takes his vitals giving him a side hug if she allowed knowing it must be hard for him to see a dead body after his beloved wife.. "Like Durham says.. just nice and easy sir.. . She looks at  inspecting Gareth trading glances before looking down where Logan and Darcy where before looking back at Mr. Arnett  in supporting manner . This town was like a big extended family  to her and she cared about  everyone even the ones that teased  her about her sniffles the mouse voice she was given.

Gareth’s radio chirped the relay of messages out from his left shoulder. He finished taking Geoge’s vitals but then felt at his skin, around the forehead and down the face and neck “Mr. Arnett. I think you’re in shock. It’s ok though. We’ll have you checked out at the clinic. Are you on any medications we should be aware of?” He let his gaze drift briefly to Sadie and her little voice which he actually found rather adorable and then looked back at his patient.

George nodded “I take diuretics...thiazide…….and naproxen for my arthritis….”

Gareth nods “And have you taken these today already?”

“Yes, with breakfast, every day.” George confirms. He looks frightened by what came over the radio.

Gareth makes a note of these “Ok. Just keep breathing . Officer Taggart and I are right here for you. Do you feel any dizziness, or nausea?”

Geoge nods “I vomited earlier when I saw the dead man.” Kester was beside him, digging in the sand for what could be a clam.

Darcy leans and turns to see the stab wound and blinks “I can’t even. What did this guy do to get so messed up?” She pauses while Logan goes to get the body bag and then asks him “Is this like some kinda hit where they kill you super thoroughly?” She inwardly speculates but doesn’t verbalize about the Bittetos.

Logan returns with the body bag and rolls it out beside the corpse.  “I have NO idea.”  he replies to the first.  “But I hope I never piss anyone off this bad.”  he blows out a breath.  “The mafia .. I guess they do … all of this just … not to usually all at once on the same person ….”  he shakes his head as he unzips the bag.  “Can you give me a hand?”  he asks, preparing to put the body in the bag.  “You got all the evidence and all, right?”  it's a standard question not meant to insult.  Darcy can present it to the doctor when they arrive with the body.

Sadie just ponders abit watch Gareth work appreciatively  and just rubs Mr. Arnett back.

"Its warranted.   It stinks bad.. anyone would puke when they're  not used to it . Its taking all i got now to lose uilick's cookie and i got a steel stimach.  " she states tryimg to lighten  the tone and sympathize  with the man . She watches kester abit."dont know how kester does it" . She looks back at Gareth try to hide her shock but failing horrible as she overhears the radio  focusing on Gareth mouthing what the hell.

Gareth gives Sadie a knowing look but tries not to react to the information from the radio so as not to add to George’s shock. He had heard it too of course. “Uilick brought in cookies?” He tries to shift and distract to see if they can engage George in conversation “I’m sure you heard a new voice when you called 911. Mr. Uilick Fitzpatrick, Logan’s great uncle.”

George smiles a bit and nods “Well that’s nice for him.” His awareness and presence are emerging and he turns his head just as the body bag goes by being carried by Logan “Oh dear lord…” And his breathing goes almost right back to a full pant.

Gareth pulls the blanket tighter around Mr. Arnett’s shoulders “Don’t look that way….slow it down again….” He makes himself an example breathing slowly in front of him with exaggeration.

Darcy throws up her hands “The evidence is just him. I couldn’t find anything else around him….I’m assuming this…” she gestures to his entire body. ”Happened somewhere else….just and educated guess.” She gets ready to hoist or roll her side of the body into the bag, taking Logan’s lead on the task.

Logan snorts.  “I don’t envy the doc.”  he murmurs and nods at the educated guess.  “And I thought I’d never see anything new coming back here to work.”  he kneels and gets a decent hops on the body.  “On three ….  One ….  Two ….  Three.”  and he lifts with Darcy, getting the man on and in the gag.  Once it’s zipped up, he will now ask.  “Help me get him in the gurney?”

Sadie sees what Gareth  is attempting and plays along with him . Fortunately her squeaky voice could make American horror story sound cute" yeah those were some good cookies.. really sweet and gooey.  Mmm' she say as Darcy  and logan prepare  the body bag

"Hey.. mr Arnett  can you tell that interesting  story you're always talking about  in class. Ya know i just can't get enough  of that. She say with real interest  hoping he latch on ti the diversion

Gareth raises an eyebrow at Sadie but sees where this could go and asks a more specific question “Hey Mr. Arnett, what was that legend about the lake monster in the Okanagan?”

George brightens a bit “Oh...the Ogopogo! Or the Naitaka as the Indigenous people of the area sometimes called it. It’s our Lochness monster they say.” Suddenly he’s back in the classroom leaning in towards the students in their desks with dramatic flare “Imagine if you will…..gliding across the glassy lake in your birchbark canoe.” He points vaguely right “You hear a loon call….over there…” He pauses and looks at them both “and suddenly it’s tail whips out and up around the bow of your canoe pulling you down to the depths of Lake Okanagan…...the water demon has struck…”

George goes on a bit about specific tribes and how the details of the legend vary and Gareth gives Sadie a little wink and steps slowly away to radio Susan. “Alexandra Clinic, this is Medic A2. We’ll be bringing in Mr. George Arnett on the transport along with

the DOA from A1. Do you copy?”

Susan replies immediately, as if she’d been expecting the call.  “George Arnett?  What’s his condition.  Vitals.  Over.”

Gareth replies “Vitals are good. Patient has signs of shock. Over.”

Susan’s voice comes back on the line.  “Start an IV with saline, oxygen and transport.”  she pauses.  “In the cab of the ambulance.  He doesn’t need to share the back with A1.  “Over.”

Gareth chimes in for one last relay “Check on all that.Police are waiting ona   statement from him but I think Officer Taggart might be able to get that soon. He’s more lucid now. Over.”

Susan again replies immediately.  “Just get him in here ASAP. A1.  Over and out.”  and the line goes dead.

She glances with Gareth  as mr Arnett  tells his tale then hearing the radio talk . She nods to Gareth  like i got this

Sadie smiles as she listens intently to his regaling of his story . She truly did enjoy  it and it showed. She giggles  cutely "oh i always like hearing  about our own personal loch ness and about the natives. Thanks for that Mr Arnett "she switches the conversation  gently " hey can you tell all that happened  from the time that you got to the beach to when you found the body. "She raises her pen and notebook" for my report  ,please sir " she cock her head giving i know its a bother  look but looks sympathetic to him smiling encouragingly

George was encouraged by having an audience for his story yet again and was eager now to share the tale of today “Well, Kester and I walked in from over there…” He points. “We played some fetch…….he’s still got it the good boy.” He pets the dog who’s now panting “Then the stick landed by the body and Kester barked and barked…...:” We were the only ones here…..maybe half past nine? I guess the station will have the call time too.”

Darcy hoisted on the count and helped with the gurney too. Her field medic training kicking in “Oooof they’re heavy when they get waterlogged……” She commented. It looked like Sadie had the statement and Gareth was standing by to get Mr, Arnett sorted.

Logan snorted and grunted as they lifted the body.  “Oh yes they do….”  he agrees and together they get the body to the ambulance, on the gurney, loaded and locked securely inside.  Having heard the doctor, he climbs in the back just waiting on George and Gareth to get in front to drive to the clinic.

Darcy gives the EMTs and George a wave and walks over to collect Sadie and the info she gathered, having a short conversation about the statement before she does one last walk around where the body was with Sadie. There’s nothing there but the imprint, literally no clue as to why this mutilated dead man ended up on Alexandra’s shores. They watch the waves wash in and out, just as they had done to John Doe…. Bringing them a body, but taking what felt like all of the evidence and washing it out to sea, where no one could collect or examine it.