Beta lowered his eyes and scanned the ground, searching through the wreckage for the bullet that might have ricocheted into a corner—the one that had grazed his ear before striking the floor and flying off in an unknown direction.
His boots trampled through the pool of blood diluted by the fire hoses, each step stirring dark red ripples. The sprinklers on the walls were still dripping, and scraps of flesh that hadn't been fully washed away clung to the walls.
His gaze followed the charred scorch marks on the floor until it came to rest on the security door, warped and twisted by the Thermite Incendiary Bomb. The carbonized marks around the doorframe showed that the flames had erupted here before igniting other parts of the floor. The air still reeked of burning, mingled with the stench of blood and the strange odor of chemical fire suppressant.
Several officers gathered around a mark on the floor, carefully placing numbered evidence markers. Flashes went off now and then, documenting the scene.
One of the officers noticed Beta approaching. His black jacket and earpiece immediately identified him as National Security Bureau personnel.
"Who are you?" the officer asked, straightening up.
Beta showed his credentials. "National Security Bureau. Bertrand."
The officer nodded. "Agent Bertrand, we found a special bullet here."
He pointed to the marker on the ground. "Based on the ballistic reconstruction, it was a ricochet. There's a trace of blood left on the bullet. Our preliminary assessment is that it was fired from this spot, hit the ground at a very low angle, then ricocheted into the plaster wall over there."
The officer's expression was grave. "Since it was fired from a guard's service weapon, the target was likely the attacker in this case. The bullet may contain crucial DNA evidence.