“Why have you shown me this file sir?”
“Well do you remember the way all the victims were murdered?”
“Of course, they were all knocked unconscious and then taken to an attic or cellar where the murderer then proceeded to hang, draw and quarter them. I can still vividly remember seeing one of the victims body’s, or should I say what was left of it, it was disgusting, and the smell was foul. So why are you showing me this now?”
“Well, despite finding that mans body together with a suicide note confessing to all the murders, it now seems we may have been wrong. Although it is quite some time since the last murder, another body has been found. The unique manner in which the bodies are dismembered, makes it seem highly unlikely that this is a copy-cat killing, but more so that the original murderer is still at large.”
“What are the similarities, have any clues been found?”
“That is exactly why I called you in, I want you to visit the crime scene and see if you can find any clues. I want this done discreetly, until I know exactly what we’re dealing with I don’t want any leaks to the media. The last thing I need is the crime scene being swamped with reporters.”
“Okay Sir, I’ll get right down to it and report back to you with my findings.”
In the elevator on its return to the ground floor, thoughts of the previous victims were whizzing through my mind like a frenzied bee around pollen. I walked back through the lobby, out of the doors and on towards my car in a trance like daze. I quickly lifted the tailgate of my R-Type, checking that I had my white overalls and specialist equipment. I drove out of town, turning onto a small, winding, country lane. In the distance I could see an old house, set in a clearing in the forest, two policemen were manning the large double entrance gates. I showed them my pass and they opened the gates for me to enter.
I parked my car and pulled on my overalls and facial mask. I was the only forensic member, but there were many detectives surveying the crime scene.
As I entered the house I was faced with a grand double staircase, I made my way up to the first floor. Whilst inspecting one of the bedrooms I noticed a half eaten mars bar, the teeth marks looked likes those made by a small child. I put it into a clear plastic crime bag, and laid it back down where I had found it.
The staircase leading up to the attic was not as grand as the entry staircase and I wasn’t looking forward to what I would find in this room. I carefully pushed open the attic door, the smell then invaded my nostrils where it remained, long after I had left the house. What I witnessed was absolutely horrific; this time it wasn’t a single murder, but three family members. A woman in her early thirties, a boy who looked around five, and a girl of about eight years old, all had been massacred. This wasn’t the only difference, this time the victims hadn’t been quartered; they were hanging by their feet with their throats slit. The most puzzling thing about the scene was that the murderer had put the victims shoes on their hands and painted a cross over each eye. Just when I was beginning to think that this wasn’t the same murderer, my suspicions were denied. I caught sight of the trademark apocalypse sign drawn on the mirror with red lipstick; therefore proving beyond doubt it was the same killer.
For the next hour or so, I continued looking for clues but I didn’t find anything at all. I did get a little excited when I found lips marks around the lip of a glass, but I was sharply brought down to earth when I discovered the marks on the glass were made by the deceased woman.
I exited the large stately home and stored everything back in the boot of my car. I departed the ground back through the double gates and couldn’t help thinking how messed up the murderer must be to end peoples lives like that. Back at headquarters once again, I entered the building through the double doors.
“Good to see you again Sir,” said Kiefer
“Yeah good to see a friendly face.”
I went into Mr. Feldman’s office, he was on the telephone, deep in conversation, I sat down quietly and waited for him to finish, he was only a minute or so longer.
“So what did you find then Corey?”
“Well I figured out that the murderer has a new approach to the way he finishes the murders, but in my opinion it’s definitely the same person we’re looking for.”
“How have you reached this conclusion?”
“I know it’s the same murderer because of where the house is situated; a nice big stately home, a mile or so from anywhere, so no-one would hear anything. Also the trade mark apocalypse sign on a mirror with red lipstick. This evidence was never released to the press, therefore no one knew about it other than within the force. However, this time he hadn’t quartered the victims; he had them hanging by their feet, with their shoes on their hands. The cause of death was instant, as their jugular vain had been slashed. One more thing, they had crosses spray-painted over either eye.”
“How many victims were there?”
“There were three victims sir, a woman in her early thirties and two infants, a boy of about five years of age and a girl of about eight. There was something very odd about the murder scene though sir.”
“What was that?”
“Well, the house had a huge surrounding wall, there was no way that the murderer could have scaled this, it would be virtually impossible. Also, the double entry gates hadn’t been damaged at all, so my hypothesise is that the victims knew the murderer, and therefore granted them entry through the gates. This is only possible either with the remote control or from the box within the house.”
“Did you find any clues as to who the murderer might be?”
“No, I didn’t even find a strand of thread, we’re up against someone who knows what they’re doing.”
“I have told the rest of the department and now the whole building knows about what has taken place.”
“Well, I’ll go home and re-look through the old case files from the previous victims, and see if I can piece together anything that I missed before.”
“Ok, I’ll call you if we get any further information or leads.”
I exited the lift on the ground floor and looked to see where Kiefer was. He was nowhere to be seen, I presumed he must be on his lunch break as it was 12-45pm. I had just set off on my journey home, when my mobile phone began ringing. I pressed the answer button and the hands free kit projected the sound out of the speakers.
“Yeah, what’s the news Sir?”
“Well there has been another murder, at Granville Lodge!”
“That is a huge property! Is that not where Kiefer’s new friend lives?”