There were a pile of black bags gathered together for the coroner and forensic team to examine each. An incredibly stench filled the air, strong enough to seep through the face masks the specialists would wear and their gloves would be stained in more black than red. Flies were buzzing happily about, so much so it forced the coroner and his assistant to put on safety goggles just to keep them from hitting their eyes. Tar like ooze pooled from the corner of the bags, already crusting to the morning air.

Sergeant Leo and Constable McLamb arrived, only to stagger when the smell hit their nose.

“Good morning Detectives,” the coroner on site nodded to the two officers and examine the contents of the bag, “The torso belongs to a woman, and based on her body structure should I piece the limbs together would suggest she was of 30 to 35 years of age. Possibly Caucasian. The victim possessed a clover shaped birthmark across the back of her left shoulder and has a surgical scar across her thigh. The scar itself seemed to have healed, so perhaps it was done years ago and not recent.” The coroner would reach into the bag and roll the torso around to examine it further, more ooze and stench stirring around, “Judging by the level of decomposition, the victim may have been dead for at least three days. As you can see maggots are already forming in the neck stump and her instest--”

“UUUUURK!”

“Constable McLamb, go stand in a corner! Jesus!” Leo didn’t bother to look around as McLamb bolted away from the bags and doubled to the side to have another bout of vomitting. The Sergeant would fold his arms to prop his elbow and hold a hand to his nose to try and listen and not have the stench make him lose focus.

The coroner gave Leo a gaze of understanding and continued, “The officers on site were able to locate the arms and legs. After examining them, the method of dismemberment could be a bone saw or a meat cleaver. The murderer may have some finesse in using heavy blades, the bones were cut only two or three times and look relatively clean, suggesting the killer may have experience in chopping bones. Also, please take a look.”

Leo crouched down as a full arm was shown to him, “...The fingers are gone?”

“The killer took great time to cut off each individual fingers including the thumb. So far the other officers have not reported finding any dismembered digits.”

“W...why not chop the...whole hand?” McLamb would gasp as he hobbles back from his bout, “Would, urk, it not be easier to just chop the hand off?”

“Good question officer.” Although the coroner had a surgical mask on, it was clear his cheeks were perking up from a grin, “Why don’t you ask the killer when you see them.”

Leo rubbed his face with a groan and slapped the back of his hand across McLamb’s knees, making the rookie clear his throat awkwardly.