Chapter 5 The body belongs to who!

On Monday morning, after kissing her family goodbye, Motun headed straight for Clara's office.

"I- I- I don't understand."

Motun rolled her eyes wondering what was so complex about her question. Why was Clara stuttering by the way? "I'll repeat my question once again. Can you explain to me what your hair clip was doing in Stella Coker's house?"

"What hair clip?"

"The yellow one. This." Motun brought it out from her pocket.

"It's not mine."

Placing her left hand under her chin, Motun stared in awe. How could someone lie like that? Where was the online personality, perfect image Clara? This one acted like a clown. She flexed her index finger, pointing at Clara's hair and scoffed. "You do realize you're using them right now, right?"

Clara's hands went to her hair by reflex. Realising her folly, she kept mute.

Motun wasn't done with her. ""And when exactly were you planning to tell me that your patient was- and could still be- suicidal?"

Clara almost jumped from her seat in surprise. "What?!"

Motun stared at Clara- not batting an eyelid- like someone who finally found her favorite movie of all time.

Embarrassed, Clara looked sideways. "I- I didn't think it was necessary."

"Which is it? You didn't think it was necessary to answer my question about how you met correctly or didn't think it was necessary to tell me everything I needed to know when I clearly requested that you do so."

Clara started stuttering again. "I- I- " Then, as if possessed by something, her face became calmer. "Well, surely you have heard of the confidentiality role of medical practitioners. I couldn't just blow it out there that my patient is- was- suicidal."

"Really? Well, the same rule says there are exceptions. When it comes to missing patients, you are expected to give information that would be useful in finding them to the appropriate person."

Motun knew she had Clara cornered but then, the latter's look turned sinister.

"I take it your boss doesn't know you are here. Given the fact that even your partner is not here."

Motun gave a stiff smile. Clara actually thought she could counterattack her with a threat like that? I CAN BE PETTY TOO, CLARA. LET'S SEE WHO LAUGHS LAST. Then she shifted on her chair so she could rest her arms on the table.

"You know, unlike me, you're quite popular. How do you think fining you for justice obstruction and leaking such news to the press would go for your career?"

As for her, it wasn't the first time she'd broken rules- in fact, she was well known for that- but Clara's face had gotten red that Motun almost burst into laughter.

"I'll be on my way now. Clara." She smiled mischievously, satisfied with the effect the last word had on Clara.

* * *

"Hi, James." Motun said to her partner as she walked to her office.

James smiled. "Hello, troublemaker"

She frowned. "Troublemaker? Wha-"

"-Detective Motunrola Bankole, into my office. Now!"

Motun raised a brow at James trying to ask what was wrong.

He only shrugged and grinned at her.

Motun rolled her eyes and shook her head. She would deal with James later. Right now, she had to find out why Dorathy called her by her official name. She knocked the office door before entering.

"Hi, Chief." Like a child preparing to be reprimanded, she cossed her hands behind her back and gave a frozen grin.

Dorathy looked up and stopped writing. "Sit down." She crossed her arms and gave Motun a piercing look. "Have you ever wondered why I've always liked you?"

Motun was finally a hundred percent sure she was in trouble. "Because I get the job done?" She said, her answer sounding more like a question.

Dorathy shook her head. "No. It's because I've always trusted your hunches."

What was she driving at now?

Then Dorathy glared. "And because I know I can trust you with witnesses. You don't cross the line with them, neither do you allow your EMOTIONS cloud your REASONING." She emphasized on Emotions and reasoning.

CLARA, REALLY?

"Now, the report I'm getting from Dr Adichie is something I don't want to believe. But seeing the look on your face, I take it the report is true." Dorathy relaxed in her chair. "Can you explain to me your visit to Clara Adichie's office on an early Monday morning- without your partner?"

Motun bit her lower lip. "I hope she told you she withheld important information that is crucial to the case." Because if she did not...

"It doesn't matter. Look, I know how these people can be. I also know you are disappointed because you expected more from Clara but you should understand her too. See it as her being ignorant about the law. Plus, doctors take issues of confidentiality seriously."

Fine. "I'm sorry."

Dorathy smiled. "No, you're not."

Dorathy was one of the few people who knew Motun and she was right. Motun was not in the least bit sorry for what she did to Clara. She was only sorry for the trouble it caused Dorathy.

"I don't want another call reporting you crossing lines with witnesses again."

"Copy that."

"Now, I'm officially putting you and James on this case. And give me a detailed report so far."

"What?!" She and James?

"Got a problem with that?"

What reason would she give? That she had a forbidden crush on James and she didn't want to share desks with him let alone being a partner?

"N-nothing"

Oblivious of Motun's fight with her emotions, Dorathy said "Good."

She was about asking if someone else could be her partner, but before she could say as much as a word, Dorathy snapped her fingers.

"How is it going with the G.R.A. body?"

Motun took that as Dorathy's sign for no-questions-will-be-ntertained. James-is your-partner-and-that's-final. So she replied,

"Forensics could not find a print or DNA on the body."

Dorathy nodded. "That is expected."

"I sent it to the coroner for autopsy on Thursday."

She frowned. "Today is Monday, why aren't they contacting you with a result?"

Yes, why? She understood that it took about twenty-four hours to perform a full body autopsy and that it was probably close of work on Friday when they finished. But this was almost 11am and-

Her phone rang just then and she checked who it was.

"Looks like we won't be waiting any longer." She said to Dorathy as she picked the call and out the phone on hands-free mode so that both of them will hear what the Coroner had to say.

"Motun Banks speaking."

"Hi Motun, this is John from the Coroner's office."

Motun rolled her eyes. She already saw the caller ID.

"What do you have for me?"

"Did you say the epidermis was scraped off? Well, this goes deeper than that. All that is left of this body is the endodermis, I mean the innermost layer, covered by a very thin sheet of what was left of the dermis."

"What?!"

"Yeah. There is more. From what was left of the dermis, I found signs of burns. Second degree."

"So you're saying the killer burnt the whole body and scraped it off?"

"No. It will take a whole lot more than gasoline and lighter to achieve this type of burn. The killer didn't do the burning. The burning scar dated back to about five years ago. It had to be from a huge fire disaster."

"The whole body?"

"Yes, all except the back. Only the epidermis of the back was scraped. Plus the back was not as badly burnt as the other parts of the body. Your victim was probably lying on a bed when the accident happened."

"Are you saying we are dealing with a killer who enjoys scraping off burns?"

"That is for you to decide. But that stands like a weird *MO to me."

The weirdness was of little importance to Motun, she had seen so many weird MOs since she became a detective. But this was indeed strange.

"Thank you very much, John. Anything yet on the ID?"

"Oh, sorry. I forgot. Dental records and the database shows the body belongs to a Stella Coker."

"Oh ok. Thank you John. Do have a good day."

"Thanks."

Motun hung up the call.

"Now, what's left is finding out who Stella Coker is, right? I guess I'll leave you and James to do that."

"Yes, I'll put out a-" Motun frowned. That name, Stella Coker, sounded familiar. She repeated the ID in her head. Stella Coker, victim of a fire accident dated to about five years ago. Realisation dawned on her. Her eyes widened in horror.

"Oh my God!"

Dorathy raised a brow. "Are you okay? What's wrong with-"

She seemed to realize too because her eyes widened as well before she said "Shit!"

[MO is the acronym for 'modus operandi' which approximately means mode of operation]