"Ok! Ok!" The incident room was abuzz as officers sat and talked amongst themselves.

Glen Pavardy waited until the noise settled. "We've had a call from the Drug Squad. They've found a body out at the Trappes place."

"Finally!" Kelly exclaimed. "Is it our body?"

"Not sure, Kelly." Glen looked at his team. "I've just got off the phone with Paul Winters from DS. The body was buried in the middle of the marijuana field. He's got Forensics on the way. I've asked them not to move anything until Sean and I get there for a look."

He studied each of his officers. "You four have worked hard on this so if anyone else wants to take a ride feel free, though..." Glen lifted the corner of his mouth and focused on Carmen and Kelly. "Winters says it's not a pretty sight."

"Yeah, bugger that." Carmen shook her head. "I'm out. Can't stand the smell." She smirked and nudged her head. "Take us a pic hey, boss."

The team laughed. Glen grinned. "What about you, Kel?"

"Nah... not for me, boss. I'm with Carmen on this one. The smell stays with you forever."

Pete shook his head. "I'm out too, Glen. Sorry if I can avoid it I will."

"No worries, Pete. Alex. What about you?"

"Yep. I'll backseat drive."

Glen covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief. "Any answers yet, Patty?"

The Chief Forensics Officer, Patty Rapid, stood and pulled her face mask down. "At a guess, Glen, I'd say he's been here up to eight months. Give or take. Decomposition depends on lots of factors. Temperature, moisture, exposure. He was covered so it can all make a difference. Laying on his side also creates differences in the decay rate from one side to the other. Some skin is still intact. Maybe sixty per cent and we have hair attached to what's left of the skull. Odours in the mid-range. Decomposition is still active."

"You're sure it's a man?"

"Yes. The pelvis is exposed. He's around six-four maybe five inches." She crouched and pointed. "There are markings on the upper right shoulder. I can't be positive until I get him back to the lab but I'd say it's a tattoo." Patty grimaced. "Well... what's left of one?" She continued, "The hair appears to be fair and what looks like a bullet hole in the centre of his forehead. The back of the skull has been blown apart." Patty stood and gave Glen a shrug. "I'll be able to tell you definite details in a day or two."

"Thanks, Patty. Appreciate it." Glen made to turn and then stopped. He scratched his ear. "Clothes. I can't see any material."

"Yeah... this one died naked. However, there are clothes." Patty jerked her head at a black plastic bag. "We've bagged them. They were thrown on top of the body before burial."

Glen climbed into the SUV. At the main gate news crews tried to get past the police. They swarmed like bees towards the car. Glen wasn't fast enough to close his window.

A mic was shoved through the gap.

"Is it true a body's been found?"

"No comment." Glen pushed the mic away and finished winding up the window as Sean wove through the crowd.

Alex huffed. "Fuck they're quick. The media are bloody predators."

"A big drug find is headline news but a dead body hits the big time in their world," Sean said as he looked both ways before pulling out onto the main road. "I wonder who tipped them off," he said. "Gotta be someone in the Drug Squad. Makes our job a lot harder."

Before Glen had a chance to sit at his desk the phone rang. He looked at the caller ID. Front office. He frowned, picked up the receiver and said, "Pavardy."

"Hey, sir. It's Constable Barry at the front desk. I have Richard and Patricia Hawkins here. They'd like to speak with you." The phone went quiet then Barry added, "They look pretty distraught, sir."

Glen sighed into the mouthpiece. He hadn't had time to think about contacting them. The news had got to them fast. "Can you send them up?"

Moments later the couple knocked on his door. "Richard, Patricia." Glen ushered them inside and noticed Patricia's red eyes. Richard looked hollow and drawn. Glen ran a hand up the back of his head as he said, "I'm taking it you've heard about the body found out near Delaney Road?"

Richard nodded. "We had a bloody news reporter knock on the door an hour ago asking us all sorts of questions." He looked at Glen bewildered. "Why haven't you contacted us?"

"Please take a seat." Glen drew in his chair. "Man... fu... damn... reporters." He sucked in a breath. "I'm so sorry they've done this to you. We found the body a few hours ago. Forensics is still on the scene. We don't know if it's Beau." Glen pushed the jug of water and two glasses across the desk. "Patricia, please. I hate seeing you this upset. I don't want to see you distressed without cause. Nothing's concrete but the media have jumped the gun as usual."

"So, what do you know?" Richard folded his arms and eyed Glen across the desk.

"Not much to be honest. The body is male. Approximately six foot three or four, with markings on the right shoulder. Perhaps a tattoo."

Patricia wretched. Richard grabbed her arm.

"Please, Patricia, it's not confirmed." Glen leaned forward. "We won't know more until forensics complete their investigations. Forty-eight hours maybe a week until we have all the results. That's all I can tell you at the moment."

"How... how... did he die?" Patricia grasped her throat and fought back tears.

"I don't want to tell you that. Not yet."

"Tell us," Richard demanded. "You've never held back before and we'll find out anyway. We'd rather it wasn't from the media."

Glen ran his large hands over the top of his head and nodded. "It looks like he was shot."

Patricia crumbled in Richard's arms. They clung to each other.

Glen rounded the table and put a hand on each of their shoulders. "Please. I know how this looks but we shouldn't jump to conclusions. I'm so sorry."

Things are starting to come together.  I hope Detective Parvardy can solve this soon for poor Patricia and Richard.

Sorry about the gruesome pic :( It's more decomposed than I wanted but...

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