A Lonely Heartbeat

Mondays are usually spent in the Forensic Laboratories, where Hazel and I work on our case. Since there is only two of us doing the MSc, we're often put in with the 3rd and 4th years of BSc (a rather noisy class..). None of us really mind, but it's still nice when you sometimes happen to be in the lab all alone and can think and focus in silence. Which is just what happened today....

I was in the photography lab, taking photos of two ESLA-shoeprints we recovered from the Crime Scene. No one else was using the lab, which suited me just fine since the ESLA-photos need to be taken with the lights off. Only two small lamps lit up the prints, and I LOVED it. All alone, totally focused, getting to work on my own, eager to find some characteristic pattern in the prints that could tie us to the suspects shoes. In the middle of all the strict evidence-paperwork and safety, I completely forgot that it was all a game. That there hadn't actually been a murder. To me it was real. To me the murderer was still out there, dreading that I would find that little clue left behind that would have him convicted. With the murder-weapon safely packed away, and all fingerprints scanned onto our database, I felt closer than ever.

That's when I heard it.
A weak sound.

thumTHUM ... thumTHUM ... thumTHUM ... thumTHUM ...

Continously, in a steady beat. A heartbeat. From somewhere inside that room where I had been alone for the last hour. I had no idea how long it had been going on, or what made me aware of it. Not until then could I feel someone watching me. Waiting. For a moment I checked my own pulse, to see if it was playing tricks on me. But it came from further down the room. From the shadow. I managed to resist running back to the mainlab, leaving all evidence behind, and struggled with the lamp-remotecontrol. The light made me brave, and instead I walked towards the sound, listening. Sensing.

Now, those of you who know me well, know that I'm not too fond of hearts and heartbeats. And even as steady as this one sounded, I kept expecting it to stop any moment. I'm not sure if "relieved" is the best word to describe it, but at least I could relax a bit when I discovered that the beat came from inside the big Infrared Detector connected to one of the microscopes. Phew... At least there wasn't any run-away psyko lurking in the corners. Funny what a lively imagination can do to you:)

Back here in the flat I can't help wonder though, if that machine is ment to have a heartbeat. I guess I'll never know what I'd found if I'd had a look inside.......