Happy PSTP Day 2007!

[Re-titled because this is an embarrassing beginner's piece and I've reworked it since. Somebody might search for it under the old title. Honestly, if it wasn't for the comments I would have deleted it.]



The flash from the forensic photographer's camera froze the image indelibly in Anna's mind. She took a gasp of the foul air and spun around, retching.

She became aware of Dectective Superintendent Meville's hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry to put you through this, Dr. Sanders," said Dr. Jacobs, the Forensic Pathologist who now stepped up to her. "But I think we'll need your help with this. I felt you should see for yourself."

Closing her eyes briefly at the horror she was about to confront, Ann turned back to face him--and the body.

There were no more flashes. The dripping sewer was illuminated by spotlights which cast cones of milky light into the shadows. The movements of the forensic team, working in grim silence, irretrievably drew her attention back to the body that lay half-submerged in the grey slime at their feet.

She gagged anew, but forced herself to step closer, noting the officers withdraw expectantly.

Part of the body remained in shadow. With a start, Anna realised that the shadow was a hole in the belly. Martha Meville, standing behind her, gripped her shoulder anew-- more tightly this time--and she halted, crouching down. She had nearly stepped into the putrid viscera which spilled out of the wound. Now she could make out a semi-transparent bulge at the rim of the wound, shimmering in the light, moving. Its tip extended and curved upwards as if fingering for something. At the tip of the thin tendril there was the outline of a sucker. A leech.

"Will you assist with our investigation?"

She nodded, as if in a trance, and followed the superintendent and Dr. Jacobs back to the car.

On the way to the station, she was not aware of her surroundings. Meville, and Dr. Jacobs remained silent, giving her time to think. But she did not revisit the scene in her mind. With starting clarity, a memory had surfaced. A memory of a summer over twenty years ago.
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