Warm Blood Cold Case - Part 5

The revelation seemed to momentarily stun Rick, who opened his mouth and then closed it again, clearly processing the fact that after three years of partnership, he was only now learning the most basic details about her family.

"Seven siblings," he finally managed. "That's... a lot of politics."

"You have no idea," Casie murmured, turning her attention back to the body. She needed to examine the scene before more people arrived, needed to catch any supernatural details that would be invisible to human investigators.

She crouched beside the body, careful to avoid the blood channels carved into the concrete. The pattern was deliberate—a containment circle that would prevent the victim's essence from dispersing. Ancient magic designed to harvest fear and pain at the moment of death.

"The killer's escalating," she said, professional mask firmly in place. "Becoming more elaborate. The first victims were practice; this one's a statement."

Rick knelt on the opposite side of the body, his trained eyes scanning the scene. "A statement to you, specifically. Someone with a grudge against your family?"

"Possibly." She studied the symbols, recognizing elements from Elias's portfolio. "The method is consistent with the other killings, but this staging is new."

The sound of footsteps echoed through the warehouse—more officers arriving, along with the medical examiner. Casie rose quickly, pulling Rick aside.

"I need you to trust me," she said quietly. "When Elias arrives, we'll have more answers. But for now, we keep the personal connection quiet. If the killer's watching, I don't want them to know they've gotten my attention."

Rick's expression hardened. "You're already in this killer's crosshairs, Casie. If they're targeting you or your family—"

"Then it's my problem to handle," she cut him off. "Please, Rick. Just follow my lead on this."

After a moment of tension, he nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But when this is over, we're having a long conversation about partners and trust."

"Deal," she agreed, though she had no idea how she'd explain any of this once the case was closed.

The ME approached, pulling on gloves. "Detective Blackwood, O'Connor. This is becoming a habit I don't particularly enjoy."

"Dr. Patel," Casie acknowledged. "Any preliminary observations?"

The medical examiner studied the body with clinical detachment. "Time of death approximately four to six hours ago. The cause appears to be exsanguination from the neck wound, though I'll need to confirm during autopsy. The other wounds—" she gestured to the symbols carved into the palms and chest "—were inflicted ante-mortem."

"He was alive when they carved into him," Rick translated grimly.

"Yes. And given the lack of defensive wounds, I'd say he was restrained or drugged." Dr. Patel leaned closer to examine the neck. "The precision here is... unusual and a lot more confident than the other three. As for the name, the Blackwood family is old money. If one of their heirs is returning, someone might have been looking for them for a long time. Well known for their antique and large art collections worldwide.”

Casie's mind raced as she tried to maintain her composure. The doctor's casual mention of her family name made her realise how thin the barrier between her worlds had become. Old money, art collections—polite fictions the Blackwood family had crafted over generations to explain their wealth and influence in human society.

"Any toxicology results from the previous victims?" she asked, deflecting attention from the family connection.

"Nothing conclusive," Dr. Patel replied. "No common sedatives or paralytics, though there were unusual compounds I couldn't identify. I've sent samples to a specialised lab."

Compounds that wouldn't show up in standard tests, Casie thought grimly. Supernatural venom or secretions could affect humans without leaving traces that medical science could detect.

"Thank you, Doctor. We'll need the full report as soon as possible." She stepped back, allowing the ME and her team to begin processing the body.

Rick moved closer, lowering his voice. "So your family's 'old money'? That's another detail you never mentioned."

"It's complicated," she replied, scanning the warehouse for anything out of place. "And not relevant to who I am now."

"Seems pretty relevant when a killer's carving your family name into victims."

Before she could respond, her phone vibrated. A text from Elias: *At the precinct. Captain Mendoza is interviewing me now. Where are you?*

"We need to head back," she told Rick. "My brother's arrived."

The drive back to the precinct was tense, filled with the weight of unasked questions. Casie could sense Rick's frustration building with each passing minute, but she needed time to figure out how much to reveal without endangering him.

Captain Mendoza was waiting when they arrived, his expression a mixture of curiosity and annoyance. "Blackwood, O'Connor. My office, now."

Elias sat in one of the chairs facing the captain's desk, looking impossibly out of place in the cluttered police environment. He stood when Casie entered, and she noticed Rick watching their interaction closely.

"Detective Blackwood," Elias greeted her formally, extending his hand. "Thank you for bringing me into the investigation."

She took his hand, the brief contact sending a jolt of familiarity through her—pack recognising pack, even after all these years. "Mr. Blackwood has expertise in historical ritualistic practices," she explained to Mendoza. "Given the nature of the killings, his insight could be valuable."

"So I've been told," Mendoza replied, gesturing for everyone to sit. "Your brother's credentials are impressive, but I'm more concerned with why our killer seems to have a personal interest in your family."

Casie felt three pairs of eyes on her, waiting for an explanation. "The Blackwood family has an extensive collection of historical artifacts," she began carefully. "Some dealing with ancient religious practices. It's possible the killer has an eye on something my family owns but I’m a disgraced heiress that has had no contact with family until I rang Elias earlier today regarding the symbols on the third victim I have no idea what they could be after I left one month after I turned 18.”