It was by the early evening when Rachel reached the laboratory. She put on her lab cloak and some gloves and put the green leaves and branches and also the big red fleshy leaf on the table.

The thick fluid had dried by now and it's color was even darker than before, almost black.

Rachel put some of it in a Petri dish and also carefully cut some parts off the green leaves, but here, there was no fluid getting out. When she then cut the big red leaf to take a small piece for analysis, it was like cutting through a raw steak instead.

The consistence really felt like meat, it even looked like some.

The smell of it wasn't that terrible any more as before, but maybe Rachel already got used to it a bit already. She prepared the analysis and took the time to check her e-mails, while waiting for the results.

Suddenly the computer made a beeping sound and showed the analysis data on the screen. Rachel compared the tests for similarities, as she was expecting at least some matches between the trees because of the same shape of the leaves.

But as she took a closer look at the data, there was a thing which was disturbingly strange. While the samples of the small green trees were definitely plant material, the sample of the fleshy red tree was not.

The test showed clear signs of this thing being no plant but of animal or even human origin.

Her heart began to beat faster as Rachel ran the test again, this time also checking the parameters for DNA scan. Waiting for the results, she looked uncomfortably at the piece of meat on her laboratory table, then at the clock on the wall. It wasn't too late this evening to still call Inspector Stevens, if necessary.

The computer beeped again and Rachel looked at the screen, completely shocked. This fleshy piece of meat on her table was human meat. She instantly grabbed the phone, reached for Stevens contact card which he gave to her earlier and dialed his mobile number.

"Stevens."

"Oh, good evening, Mr Stevens. It's Rachel Carter here."

"Ah, Ms Carter."

There were some sounds in the background, then Inspector Stevens spoke again.

"I was about to call you tomorrow."

"Yes, I know, but I already got the results. I thought it was better to inform you immediately."

"Ah, so what's the news?"

"It's human meat."

Rachels heart was beating fast.

"Human? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I ran the test twice, and the DNA is definitely human."

There was a silence in the line.

"Hello?"

Rachel was worried.

"Yes, I'm still here."

Inspector Stevens took a short moment before he answered again.

"Can you send me the test results? The e-mail adress is on my card."

"Yes, sure. Give me a moment, please."

Rachel put down the phone and sent the test results to Inspector Stevens.

"Okay, I just sent the mail."

Again, there was a silence in the line, Rachel supposed that Inspector Stevens just opened the mail and looked at the data.

"If you need some help with reading the information and numbers..."

"No, that's fine, thank you. That's strange..."

Stevens seemed to be concerned either.

"I don't know how something like that is possible. It really looks like it's human meat."

"Shall I run further tests on it? Maybe compare the plant sample with the meat sample again, maybe I missed some clue?"

"No, that's fine. I'll call you tomorrow if I need some more information, but for now that's fine."

Rachel nodded, even if he couldn't see her over the phone.

"So... what shall I do with the samples?"

"Keep them sealed. Don't touch them in any case, you hear me? If I don't call you tomorrow for further information, then make sure they are disposed safely as biologically hazardous waste to get them burned. And remember, we still don't know what this is all about so again, do not ever touch the samples in any case."

Her heart was aching suddenly as Rachel took a glance at the meat again, listening to the warnings of Inspector Stevens.

"Okay, I'll make sure everything is safe."

"Good. Thanks for your help, Ms Carter. Good night."

"Good night, Mr Stevens."

The sound in the line signaled that he had ended the call.