CHAPTER SIX -- REAPERS ARE THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN

  1

  The water-stained ceiling, faded wallpaper and aged thrift-store furniture gave a mid-century tenement vibe to Dodd’s apartment. Dodd and Ross watched a western film on an ancient black-and-white TV. Despite the tinfoil balls on the rabbit ears, the grainy picture rolled constantly.

  "What happens to reapers who…?” Ross asked, trailing off as he watched for Dodd’s reaction.

  “Die? We're already dead, so we don't really die again. But when our bodies receive an overwhelming amount of damage, we cease to function. I guess that’s when we're truly dead.”

  “What did Graves mean when she said those stairs were listed as a potential hazard in Ronoba's file?” Ross inquired.

  “The same process that predicts each person’s death also knows every detail of the surroundings during the event. Each case file lists hazards and how to avoid them at the site of the reaping.”

  Ross mulled it over. “Like if you had to reap someone in a burning building, you'd know where to walk to avoid the flames?”

  “Exactly. We rarely need warnings, but occasionally the location presents a danger that could harm us,” Dodd replied.

  When Dodd's rotary landline phone rang, he went into the kitchen to answer. Peering around Dodd’s spartanly-furnished apartment, Ross spotted a picture frame on the end table.

  Ross looked at the picture and saw an old photo of Graves dressed in evening wear and standing in the hazy glow of an old streetlight that is only seen in black-and-white detective movies. Her stoic, businesslike attitude was replaced with a grin. But she wasn’t just smiling, she was beaming. Surprised, Ross arched an eyebrow and muttered, “Someone's sweet on his boss lady.”

  In the kitchen, Dodd finished his conversation hung up the phone. Ross assumed a nonchalant pose as Dodd returned to report, “Graves said they're all done processing the scene.”

  “But it's only been an hour,” Ross said. “I’m no detective, but that seems rather rushed.”

  “Sappert is a lazy idiot. I don't know why Skulton put him in charge,” Dodd fumed.

  “Two dead reapers this week. That can’t be a coincidence. We should take a look for ourselves.”

  Dodd mulled it over as he regarded Ross. “Why are you so suddenly fired up about this?”

  “If something strange is going on, then someone is behind it. And that someone may know what happened to Toth's Scythe pistol and my soul,” Ross responded with a stony glare.

  2

  Unnoticed by the homeless denizens, Ross and Dodd used flashlights to search the area in the abandoned building where Ronoba was ambushed by Morton.

  “It's too bad neither of us were cops in life, this might be easier,” Dodd stated with a sigh.

  “Since Ronoba died outside, there shouldn't be any of her blood in here, right?” Ross asked.

  Dodd joined Ross as he examined dried black stains splattered on the dirty floor where Ronoba was attacked. “It could be reaper blood, let's get a sample to bring to Dr. Dee,” Dodd said.

  “How could Sappert miss possible bloodstains? He must be braindead,” Ross muttered.

  Dodd picked up Morton's discarded knit cap and pulled a lengthy strand of dark red hair out of it.

  Ross peered at the hair. “A long red hair? That can't be another coincidence, can it?”

  Alerted by a soft crinkling sound, Ross and Dodd whirled around and pointed their flashlights into the shadows to reveal Sappert watching them as he munched on a candy bar.

  “Skulton specifically told you to stay away from my investigation,” Sappert snarled as he approached them. “What are you doing here?”

  “Your job, apparently,” Ross retorted.

  After taking the cap and hair strand from Dodd, Sappert gave them and the black stains on the floor a cursory once-over. Squinting at them with his piggy eyes, he shrugged, unimpressed.

  “Those stains and the cap with the hair are pretty significant pieces of evidence,” Ross stated.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Sappert squared his shoulders. “I'm going to have to ask you ladies to leave my accident scene.”

  “You really believe it was an accident?” Dodd asked.

  Sappert replied with a dismissive wave, “Of course. What else could it be?”

  “You should consider the possibility it may have been done on purpose,” Dodd answered.

  “Do you seriously think one of us killed Toth and Ronoba because of some dirt smudges on the floor and a red hair? Why would anyone want to kill them?” Sappert scoffed.

  “Just because we don't know the motive doesn't mean there isn't one. Or maybe it wasn't even a reaper who murdered them. What if it was someone else?” Ross asked.

  Sappert grinned. “Reapers are the top of the food chain. Apex predators. There is no one else.”

  3

  Bleary-eyed and exhausted, Theda analyzed data on her computer at the Sotanaht Systems Research Center’s modest virology laboratory. It was quiet, late at night and everyone else had gone home. Focused on her work, she was startled when the door banged open.

  Morton, wearing janitor’s coveralls, pushed a cleaning cart into the lab. Loud music blared from his earbuds. Both of them were surprised by the unexpected presence of the other. Morton killed his music and pulled out his earbuds. “Sorry, Doc. I can come back later if you want.”

  “Please, go ahead. I don't mind.” Theda adopted a polite smile. “You don’t need to call me Doc. I’m still a few years away from that. I’m just a research technician. Kind of a glorified assistant.”

  “All you mad scientists look the same to me,” Morton chuckled as he emptied the wastepaper baskets in the room. “I didn't know anyone worked nights here at the lab. Is that normal?”

  “I prefer working nights because that way my boyfriend and I are on the same crazy schedule. He's a paramedic.” Theda sniffled, verging on tears.

  Morton noticed Theda was losing her battle to remain composed. “Are you okay?”

  “I'm going through a tough time right now. I have a houseful of concerned friends and family and I just need to get away from everything for a little while,” Theda answered between sobs.

  Morton feigned sympathy with a pained grimace and an awkward nod of faux understanding.

  Theda wiped at her eyes and asked, “Where's Walt?” Morton looked at her, confused. “Walt. He's the regular guy who works this floor every night,” she explained.

  “I don’t know anything about that. He just stopped coming in. I think he quit with no notice. I took his shift,” Morton answered, barely suppressing a private laugh as he began to mop.

  “I guess I'll be seeing you a lot. I'm Theodora, but please call me Theda.”

  “I'm Morton, just call me Morton.” He looked through the large windows into the sealed containment room adjacent to the main lab. “Is it safe to work around here?”

  “Yes, it's safe,” Theda replied. “Anything dangerous is stored in the containment room.”

  “Do you have to wear one of those space suits in there?” Morton asked warily.

  “Sometimes. It depends on what we're dealing with,” she replied.

  Morton peered at her computer screen. “Are you working on a cure for cancer?”

  “Nothing so noble as that. I'm just analyzing strains of influenza. It's kind of side project for me.”

  “Are you going to cure the common flu?” Morton inquired with a mocking smirk.

  “That's the plan,” Theda said wistfully.

  Morton resumed mopping. “Man plans, God laughs.”

  4

  Ross, Dodd, Sappert and the other reapers were assembled for morning roll call in the reaper station’s meeting room. Skulton stood at his podium with Graves nearby.

  Skulton announced, “And remember, we're having a memorial to Ronoba in here at noon. Anyone not otherwise engaged in a case at that time is invited to attend.”

  Dodd inquired, “How's the investigation going?”

  “It's done. I've examined all the evidence thoroughly,” Skulton stated. “I've ruled it an accident.” Dodd’s protest was cut short by the Chief’s declaration, “My decision is final.”

  “Clearly Ronoba ignored the hazard warnings in her case file. The stairs were destined to collapse,” Sappert added. “She was always careless.”

  Dodd frowned in disbelief. “First Toth, now Ronoba. Don't you think it's a strange coincidence?”

  “I think it's strange that you're looking for a connection where none exists,” Skulton replied. “Maybe you hope to exonerate Toth.”

  “Did you examine the stairs?” Ross interjected. “Maybe she wasn't on them when they fell.”

  Skulton regarded Dodd and Ross with a withering glare. “We will continue this in my office.”

  Chief Skulton led Ross and Dodd into his office. The large room was decorated with expensive artwork, ornate glass cases filled with medieval weapons and a large statue of a Grim Reaper with the words "OUR FOUNDER" chiseled into the base.

  Skulton stated, “Sappert told me about you two interfering with his investigation.”

  “We had no choice. Sappert is incompetent and lazy,” Dodd retorted.

  “You have to stop positing your ridiculous theory of someone causing these two accidents. Someone downtown might hear it. We don’t need that. Especially not now,” the chief warned.

  “You based your decision on whatever would cause you the least amount of trouble with your superiors,” Dodd accused.

  Skulton stiffened. “I made up my mind based on the evidence. The reaper blood you found was tracked in by people walking through the accident scene. And that red hair is meaningless.”

  “I saw a redheaded man at the park who wasn't listed in Toth's file,” Ross offered.

  “That is probably due to a simple clerical error,” Skulton countered.

  “Let's find him. Maybe he knows what happened to Toth's gun and my soul,” Ross argued.

  “We're strictly prohibited from any interaction with the living. You two will stop playing detective,” Skulton admonished. “This foolishness ends now. Go get your cases from Graves.”

  Ross and Dodd walked into a dingy gymnasium containing some archaic fitness equipment and worn-out exercise mats. In the center area, a few reapers watched as Graves battled a young, clean-cut man, Hallson. The two fought using nonlethal versions of scythes with wooden blades.

  Ross pointed at the scythes. “I thought you guys don't use those anymore.”

  “Not to reap,” Dodd explained. “But we do train with them to maintain physical fitness. Our dead bodies would atrophy quickly if we didn't keep active.”

  Hallson was highly proficient with the primitive farming implement, but still was no match for Graves. He backpedaled furiously, desperate to fend off her blistering attack routine.

  “Damn, Graves is pretty good,” Ross said, impressed.

  “She's actually going easy on him,” Dodd said as they joined Dr. Dee to watch the match.

  Dodd gestured at Hallson. “Doc, who's the dead meat?”

  Dr. Dee replied, “That's the new guy, Hallson. Just got here, fresh from the academy.”

  “It looks like he's getting a real education on his first day,” Ross said.

  When Graves saw Dodd, she ended the practice fight with a spinning kick to Hallson's chest that dropped the young reaper to the floor. She followed this with a downward stroke from her training scythe and stopping the wooden blade mere inches from his stunned face.

  “I thought I was unbeatable with the scythe,” Hallson admitted. “Thank you for disabusing me of that misconception.” Graves laughed as she helped him to his feet.

  Graves stalked over to Ross, Dodd and Dr. Dee. “Dodd, if Skulton's done chewing your ass out, want to have a go? It’s been weeks since we dueled.”

  Dodd demurred, “I'm just here for today's cases.”

  Disappointed, she handed him a stack of file folders. “Skulton wants you to stay busy, so he assigned you some extra ones.”

  Dodd scowled as he examined the pile of assignments. “That bony bastard. This is too many.”

  “Your first case is in two hours,” Graves said. “We have plenty of time for a match.”

  “I don't know,” Dodd muttered, eyeing Graves. “There are so many cases for me to do today.”

  “Fine. Same stakes as usual. If I win, I'll do one of your cases. If you win, I'll do half of them.”

  Dodd slowly stroked his chin, manufacturing suspense as he considered her offer. He finally nodded his agreement; Graves grinned in delight. After removing his jacket and rolling up his sleeves, Dodd grabbed a wooden scythe and followed her to the center of the room for their duel.

  Ross said, “This should be interesting.”

  “You should've seen when they were together,” Dr. Dee replied. “Those battles were epic.”

  “Together, like dating?” Ross asked with eyebrows arched in amused surprise.

  “Yes, about twenty years ago,” Dr. Dee said, smiling wistfully.

  “Really? What happened?”

  Dr. Dee leaned in to whisper to Ross, “Skulton was promoted to chief and asked Graves to be his assistant. But she had to give up Dodd because she wouldn't be allowed to date a subordinate.”

  “She dumped him for a promotion?” Ross asked as Dodd and Graves bowed before their match.

  “Yes. She was always too ambitious,” Dr. Dee replied sadly. “The worst part is that Dodd was actually offered the job first, but he turned it down because he didn't want to lose Graves.”