Serial Killer Strikes Again

[Wyld52771]

Detective Michael Hallenbeck

Michael jumped out of bed, his his wide, totally awake now...and started throwing on the clothes he'd worn earlier, still talking to Trevor on the phone. "Ok, Trevor...don't panic. Listen to me and everything will be ok." He turned the bedroom light on, and awkwardly strapping on his gun one-handed.

"First off, were you alone when you found the body?"

"Yeah," Trevor replied, sounding almsot in tears, "I'm kinda freaked, man..."

"Ok, I'm assuming you approached the corpse. If you did, the crime scene will be slightly contaminated. Try to keep away from the body...we don't want any more contamination to occur. You didn't TOUCH the corpse, did you?"

"No, Mike...damn, I'm really scared...how soon til you can get out here?"

"i'll be there soon, Trevor....about to head out the door now....now listen, stay focused. We're going to need to talk with your friend, to substantiate that you in fact WERE joyriding out there." A random thought went through his head, wondering why Trevor would be out thiere this early in the morning. "I have the feeling well have to make sure you have as many ways to cover yourself as you can. I know they'll look at your police record and try to make you into a scapegoat, otherwise. I'm going to hang up now Trevor...I have a few phone calls to make....just hang tight, and I'll be there shortly."

"Ok, man....please, just hurry," Trevor said, and then hung up.

Michael raced out the door to his car, reaching into his pants pocket, finding Agent Wood's phone number, and began dialing...

 

[Alerdene]

Her phone's snappy techno beat ring brought her head up from the back of the chair. Having just drifted into sleep, her brain was fuzzy and she didn't immediately recognize the number displaying on the screen. Snapping the phone open, she put it to her ear, stifling a yawn.

Hmmmm?

Realizing that wasn't much of an answer, she blinked and tried to wake up.

Hello?

She nearly jumped out of her skin at the yells she heard coming through to her ear.

"Holy shit! It's fucking that Baby Doll bitch or whatever. Man, that shits all over the news. It's one of her victims. Look, tied up and blood everywhere. Fuck a duck, man. This is big time shit."

"Shut the fuck up!" "And get away from it right now."

"Trevor, this is big news. We could get a reward or something for finding this."

"Yeah, and the first thing they'd want to know is why you were all at Fisherman's Warf at 5 in the morning. 'Oh nothing officer, just transporting 200 pounds of dope across the border, that's all.

Having snapped wide awake by this time, her mind reeling with what she was hearing, she realized suddenly that everything had grown quiet and she could hear breathing on the other end. Not wanting them to hang up, she tried again,

Hello? Don't hang up!

By the time her hello had come out of her mouth however, the connection was closed. Jumping from the chair, trying to make sense out of what she'd just heard... was it the killer? He was a dope dealer too? No, that didn't make any sense. Glancing at the phone as she half jogged into her bedroom, the number suddenly clicked. Trevor. It was the number she'd just called... he was the killer? He was a dope dealer? None of it made any sense to her sleep fogged mind, but one thing stood crystal clear. Fisherman's Wharf. Body. Now. The panic in the voice had been too real to be a hoax.

Dropping the phone on her bed, she threw the silky gown over her head, letting it crumple to the floor as she slid on a pair of jeans over her long legs. A tight black sweater went on next as she fumbled in the drawer for socks. Black riding boots over the jeans, her hands were grabbing the phone as soon as she could, and within five minutes of the call, she was out the front door and in her car.

Checking her bag in the bag, she made sure her extra phone battery was there, along with her notebooks, recorder and camera. The camera brought a smile to her face as she thought about telling Michael that she could barely take a snapshot. That much was true, but the pictures she managed to take would be for her, not the paper. The paper. Oh God, she forgot to call.

Snapping her phone open again as she drove off towards the Wharf, she waited impatiently for the man to answer.

Travis, get your ass dressed and to Fisherman's Wharf. Now! Don't ask questions dammit, but I need someone to take pictures for me, you know I suck.

Hanging up before he could argue about the early time, she pushed her hair out of her eyes and wished she'd taken the 5 minutes to make some coffee. Parking in the lot, she got out, putting on her leather jacket over the sweater, the bag going over her shoulder. She took the camera out, just in case and headed off down the sidewalk, looking both ways for anyone, anything out of the ordinary.

She walked past the few shops, none of them showing any signs of life this early in the morning. She'd nearly reached the end when she saw someone standing at the top of an embankment just past the Tasty Freeze. Whoever he was, whoever had called her... Trevor she was assuming... she had to assume he'd called the police as well. It seemed she'd managed to beat them here, but most likely only by seconds. If she wanted a look at the scene, this was her only chance.

Walking straight up to the man, she looked down the embankment, her eyes going rather wide at the scene before her.

 

[Tseranc]

Michael raced out the door to his car, reaching into his pants pocket, finding Agent Wood's phone number, and began dialing...

::beep::

Why was there a beep coming from beneath his seat pondered one semi hung over Agent Woods. He understood all to clearly the drum line performing in his head, but the beep was new and unexplained…it sounded kid of like his cell phone….

“Oh shit!’

He and Lisa hadn’t really spoken during the drive, and they were very near to the station when he suddenly cut off two cars in order to pull off the road, get out of the car and fumble around until he found his phone. Last night’s escapades had somehow left the phone drop from its place on his belt…and apparently made its way under the drivers seat.

He checked the voice mail…one new message.

He hung up after listening to it, rather pissed off at himself. He tried to remember what he was doing when Hallenbeck was trying to call him…then he smiled as he remembered. I hope it was worth it.

“Slight change of plans, we’re going to the Wharf, and we’re already late.”

Getting in to resume the drive, he placed the removable red light on top of the car, and cut off a bunch more people turning the vehicle around…speeding to the new scene.

 

[Katamari Roller]

"Fucking hell..."

Lisa buckled up her seatbelt. And, most importantly, held her hands up to her ears. She grimaced. The damn siren was too damn loud. She turned to Woods.

"What's the hurry?"

 

[Tseranc]

::delete me please::

 

[poohlive]

His station wagon just skidded out of the parking lot as Trevor moved the snowmobile closer to the body. He could see the faint tracks that the couple first used to get closer. He had spent his time grabbing brush and trying to get as much prints out of the snow as possible. At least enough not to know that there were just four people out here walking around.

It wasn't until he came over a half buried boot print covered in blood that Trevor stopped and cursed himself. Tall and Skinny, or maybe one of those drug runners had gotten too close. He had said that, he told them not to get too close.

Maybe it was the sharp coldness that stung at his runny nose also let his anger run out just enough to realize that there should be no blood on any of their footprints. They had come here when the man was already passed dead, blood frozen to the ground and snow already attempting to cover him up.

This wasn't from any of his people, if you could call them his people. This was from someone earlier, this was from the killer. The killer had a foot print, a boot print with blod on it. This could be the one piece of evidence that solved the case. And his own footprint was right in the middle of it.

It took a long an arduous moment before Trevor used his boot to cover up the bloody print with newfallen snow. It would have been covered up in another hour or so anyway, but that didn't matter now. People were coming and he had to cover it up, he had to get rid of it.

But now, he was tied to the killer. Trevor and this murderer were connected. He was an accomplice now, covering up the murderer's tracks, helping him escape into the darkness. Trevor was helping this man get away, letting those lasts bits of CSI drumming up in his mind to cover it all up.

A car was coming. Trevor took a final look, happy and then came up to meet it. Michael, Michael would make this all go away. He would, somehow, he would.

But, it wasn't Michael, it was a woman. The reporter, he had a flash of anger which he bit down on. She was just doing her job, and this might come in handy. A reporter coming on her, she was going to contminate the scene even more, and that would make it her fault, and not his.

"I assume you're Ivy. It's over there. It looks like a baby doll victim, or whatever. I just found it this morning... the cops aren't even here yet. You've got the first look at it. Hi, my name is Trevor."

 

[Alerdene]

She stood where she was as he spoke, her eyebrow arching slightly as she tried to put the pieces together in her mind. As he stopped speaking, she nodded, not taking her eyes from the body down in the snow in front of her.

Trevor, I am Ivy, and I have to assume you called me by mistake... but whatever happened, I'll say thanks anyway.

She tore her eyes away long enough to look him over, not sure she liked the slight air of nervousness he was emanating. But she supposed she'd be nervous as hell too if she'd somehow come across a body. Glancing around, she realized he was alone. But there'd been another voice on the phone... someone in the background. Pushing that thought away, she realized now was not the best time to press him for answers. That would come later. She still needed to ask him about obtaining the other reports anyway. The police would be there soon and they'd likely kick her far far away from her current vantage point.

She looked around, noticing the snowmobile and motioning towards it,

Yours?

He nodded absently and she did the same, noticing the tracks that went fairly close to the body. Taking her camera from around her neck, she adjusted the lens and pushed the zoom as far as it would go before starting to snap various shots, trying to get everything in as close of detail as she could. She knew better then to go down to the body, not wanting to mess up any evidence that might have been left behind, but she wanted as much documentation as she could get to go over at home later.

She took another step closer, biting her lip in annoyance that she couldn't see the far side of the body. The blood and the fact that she was snapping pictures of a naked, dead body didn't seem to phase her and she didn't stop to think about why that was. She knew why, and had no intention of revisiting that particular memory right now.

Her eyes latched onto a small spot on the body, blood seeping down onto it, but she thought she knew what it was. Zooming into the spot as close as she could, she took one more step, and prayed for clearness before snapping the shot. Nothing had been released about branding, but she knew from the one report she had, that at least one of the bodies had a word burned into them. And if her eyes were correct, this one did as well. She focused her attention to what she could see of the man's head, snapping a picture of the gag in his mouth as well.

Trevor said something behind her and she jumped slightly, nearly falling, which would have been disastrous. She could see the police's reaction now if she fell down the embankment right into their crime scene. Realizing that she most likely didn't want them to notice her camera when they arrived, she shoved it into her bag as she turned back to Trevor.

So, ummm, Trevor.... what exactly brought you out to the wharf at five am?

Looking around pointedly once more and then to the snowmobile, she cocked her head slightly as the wind blew her hair in a sheet across her face. Pushing the hair back, she continued,

And where are your missing friends?

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

The sun woke Samantha Cordial up that morning. She flipped the alarm off though she wasn’t sure why she even bothered setting it. She’d been waking up with the sun for years. She slipped her feet into her slippers and grabbed her robe. As she walked downstairs she thought of the flat and calling the repair place, then she thought of Marc. She smiled and headed to the kitchen, grabbed some tea from fridge, and poured the cold beverage in the glass. The microwave warmed her “cheaters” hot tea while she poured some cereal in a bowl. Finally she sat down and had a quick breakfast before heading to her shower.

The water washed over her, cascading over her skin, and coating her hair. Soon her body felt fully functional and she relaxed in the shower and though of Marc again. She wondered what he’d say if she called him and offered him a good morning hello. “Probably think your desperate,” she muttered. Once her shower was over, she dressed in a pair of cream colored dress slacks and navy pumps that complimented the navy blouse she’d picked out for the day. After her light coating of make-up was applied she pressed in a pair of pearl tear-drop earrings and a small choker of pearls. A bracelet completed her ensemble and after feeding her cats she was out the door and heading to the library.

On her way she stopped at the tire place and smiled at the man that was inside. He quickly came out to help her. “Yep... that’s a flat one,” the man said as he gnawed on a toothpick.

“Ummm... yes. But only on the bottom,” she winked at him.

He chuckled, “Ain’t heard that one before.” He walked away rolling his eyes taking her flat tire with him.

Sam giggled. She’d see his eyes roll and knew he was being sarcastic. She followed him in and waited in the lobby while he patched the tire, aired it up, and then exchanged the donut for her tire. He tossed the donut in the back of the SUV and managed to sell the librarian a full size tire in the process. Sam thanked him and quietly made her way to work.

She’d hadn’t been shocked to see the red police light coming toward her from the opposite side of the road, she pulled over, waited for the Sedan fly past. There was fresh snow on the ground and it was still covering the road. It looked as if it would be picking up speed anytime now. She said a silent prayer for the drivers on the road, praying that the officer speeding down the road took into consideration that the roads were going to be slick.

“Just because they have the pretty lights... they think they don’t have to be safe,” she muttered under her breath. She got to the library unharmed and opened up as usual.

 

[Wyld52771]

Detective Michael Hallenbeck

Michael's car sped down the highway, siren blaring loudly, tires slipping dangerously down the icy road. The snow was falling heavier now, and he was worried important evidence might be lost. He made a couple quick phone calls.

The first one was to Captain Morrison, asking for a CSI team and some uniformed cops to get down to Fisherman's Wharf for crowd control...dead bodies seemed to draw gawkers like moths to a flame, and the last thing he wanted was more contamination to the crime scene. After making his request, he dialed a second number...the coroner's office. Apparently, it was too early in the morning...either no one was there in the office, or they just weren't answering the phones. Irritated, he left a message to expect a body for autopsy.

Up ahead, he saw the Wharf to the left side of the road, and pulled his car into the snow-covered drive. He saw another car parked near the building, and pulled up next to it, He saw two figures standing next to a snowmobile, both turing towards him as he got out of the car. Trevor ran up to him. "Christ, Mike...I'm glad ya made it." Trevor's eyes looked haunted, and his overall demeanor was one of nervousness. Michael's eyes widened in shock, as he noticed who the other person was.

"Ivy?" He was shocked to see her here. "What are YOU doing here?" He knew it was a dumb question....she WAS a reporter, after all, but he found himself wondering how she had gotten here so quickly...and how she'd even known about it at ALL.

"Hello, Michael," she said, smiling at him, her eyes meeting his, a playful smile on her face. He found himself smiling at her in return despite himself...until he saw the naked and bloodied form on the ground a couple dozen yards behind her. He looked both Trevor and Ivy in turn. "Both of you stay back."

He walked over to get a better look at the corpse. He paused in mid-stride, turning his head, and looking at them both again. "Just stay right there, and don't go anywhere...I'm going to have a few questions for BOTH of you after I take a look here."

 

[Tseranc]

By the time he arrived on scene, it was 7:13 AM, and he was none too pleased about it.

Hallenbeck was already there, as were several uniformed officers, reporters, the CSI team and a couple people inside the tape that Michael was talking to. He didn’t want to interrupt, but did want some information. The black tarp draped over a human length form indicated where the body was.

He’d let Michael finish up, then get the details, but it looked like someone came upon the body and made holy hell with the crime scene. If they got anything at all out of this mess it would probably be inadmissible in court. The best he could hope for was something that gave them a direction….and maybe next time it’d be evidence they could use in court…he was sure this was a loss.

It also looked like one of those being questioned was the same reporter Hallenbeck left with last night…well, at least He and Lisa were not the only one’s with uncomfortable appearances this morning.

 

[redbaron05]

Jerry Smith

"beep beep beep" The bright morning sun shining thru the a crack in the curtains hits Jerry in the face waking him up about the same time as his alarm buzzes at 6am.

Stumbling into the kitchen he grabs a quick cup of coffee breajfast waiting till he makes the morning donut run.

Grabbing a quick shower and heading back into his bedroom to dress Jerry remembers the orders to dress as if he was going to have a day off and not look like a cop. He pulls on a pair of underwear,jeans,sweatshirt, tennis shoes, socks, and a brown leather jacket to cover his sidearm.

Making sure he has his badge,cell phone and backup weapon strapped to his ankle under his jeans Jerry heads out the door to his truck.

"Brr... it's cold out here" Jerry grumbles as he scrapes the new dusting of snow off of his truck window.

Driving carefully thru the snow making his way to the donut shop Jerry orders 4 coffees and a variety of donunts, danishes, and muffins for breakfast.
Getting back into his truck just as his cell phone buzzes he sits the food and drinks on the seat grabbing the phone and seeing det hallenbecks number he answers. "Yes Sir Smith here"

Hearing the news of another body found at Fishermans Whard Jerry hangs up and speds toward the scene wishing he had one of those red lights like the detectives had.


Arriving shortly he finds everyone was already there getting out of his truck he flashes his badge at one of the uniforms on scene and spots Hallenbeck, "What have we got boss?" he asks as he walks up watching where he steps staying out of the crime scene guys way.

 

[Wyld52771]

Detective Michael Hallenbeck

"Well...what we have here, Jerry, is one hell of a clusterfuck," Michael said looking at the mob of reporters and gawkers trying to get a closer look at the body. "It looks like every damn busybody with a police scanner decided to show up here." He looked at Jerry, and said, "Can you take command of crowd control for the moment, Jerry? This is turning into a fucking madhouse here. I'll de-brief you back at the station. There are too many ears here we don't want to be talking in front of. Just try to keep em back."

Michael was pissed off, and he was sure it showed in his voice. The crime scene was a mess. Between the snow, the snowmobile tracks, and footprints, there wasn't much visible. Maybe the autopsy would reveal more, but he highly doubted it. It was the same perp, of that he had no doubt. The victim had not been identified yet, but it was a male caucasian in his early twenties. The same M.O. as the others was used here, although the slices looked to be longer. "Maybe got bored with the last weapon, and decided to spice things up with a new one," he thought to himself.

He still hadn't had an opportunity to talk to Trevor and Ivy as the wave of police swarmed in, but he had a few questions he needed answered by them both. Why was Trevor down here at five in the morning? How did Ivy know about the murder and get here so quickly? The way Ivy was gripping that bag of hers so tightly, he had a sneaky suspicion that she probably had a camera stashed away in there somewhere. He needed to make sure that if she was able to get pictures before he showed up, that they were not printed until the next of kin were notified. The last thing he needed was to get a call from grief-stricken family members, finding out their relative was dead by seeing it on the front page of the paper. It was hard enough to tell the families at all...he'd done that personally with every victim since he'd been on the case, and he didn't look forward to doing it again. He turned and watched the body being bagged and loaded into the back of the coroner's meatwagon, and almost felt sick.

Woods walked over to him, and must have noticed the look on his face. Looking at the victim being driven to the morgue for autopsy, and as if he'd read his mind, Woods said, "It doesn't pay to think about it overly much, Hallenbeck. Just focus on what we need to do. Catch the killer."

Michael's fists clenched in frustration, "That's the problem...one more victim and we're still no closer than we were yesterday. The crime scene evidence here was fucked before we even got to the scene. We're not gonna find a damn thing here...and I'm betting it'll be the same once we get the autopsy report back too."

Woods nodded, his face serene, "That's kinda what I'm figuring too," Woods walked away, studying the splatter pattern, which was barely visible, looking almost pink under the snow cover. Michael, having already taken pictures, looked away, seeing Trevor and Ivy standing somewhat close together, the police around them seemed to have drifted a bit away from them. "Now," he thought, stalking through the snow towards them, "I'm going to get some answers here."

 

[Katamari Roller]

Lisa stepped out of the car, trying to keep some semblance of dignity. That was sort of difficult when you... chose to wear shorts. In the snow. F-f-f-fuck. It's cold out here! Her legs trembled. And then, then she had that feeling... the feeling that something very, very wrong was about to happen.

And along came Trevor.

OH GOD! Lisa turned around, praying that he hadn't recognised her. What could she do? Maybe she could hide in the crowd... no, the reporters were there and would try to get some words off her, and that would draw his attention. Or maybe she could just pretend she didn't know him! Yes, that would...!

That would not work. She slammed a fist down on the car's roof. The bastard was back in her life after so long... DAMNIT! DAMNIT DAMNIT DAMNIT! Well, FUCK HIM! I am an officer now, I have a job to do! And I can break his balls if I need to! Lisa turned around, sneering fiercely, and walked up to Hallenbeck and Woods. Her sneer disappeared to leave a deep frown on her face. This was definitely not her day.

And when Hallenbeck started for Trevor, that definitely did not help. Lisa stayed behind with Woods, rubbing her arms to get them warmer, and staring with great intent at where the body had been...

 

[poohlive]

What in the world was happening? For a moment Trevor thought this was some sort of fucking dream come reality. He could not believe car after car arrived just after Michael did.

He had moved away from everything, speaking with Ivy. She was a reporter, and she knew more of the truth than anyone ever would. Besides, if she needed more information from him, they were in the same bed together in the first place.

"I"m covering for a few friends that can't be caught in a crime scene. Any crime scene at all. I was talking to them when I accidentally called you. It's ok though, so long as they don't link you with me, we're ok. And, we can still keep doing business together. If that's what you still want?"

This turned into another accomplice with Trevor. He was getting them left and right it seemed. First he was covering for his tenant with 200 pounds of dope, and then for the killer by covering her tracks, now he was playing dumb for everyone so they did not know he called Ivy.

They would check his phone records. If they did, he was good as fucked... even more so.

That's why he called Michael, that's why he wanted someone on the inside to help him. He called Michael not as a policeman but as his friend, as his brother and confidant and the first thing Michael does is get the whole three ring circus out here?

"I thought you said it was going to be ok," Trevor hissed as soon as Mike came over close enough to talk to him, "I thought you said you were going to take care of it How is this taking care of it, Mike? They all know who I am now, they know I was here... I can't get caught for this Mike. You know I can't. They'll put me away for being anywhere close to this shit. I told you. Mike, what the fuck are you doing to me?"

 

[Babette_____]

Angelica signed and dated the invoice Jan. 3, 2006. She directed the unloaders to place the marble statue in the back of the museum and she quickly cataloged it and headed back to her office to continue her research. She settled back into her seat, flicked her computer back on, and googled up the name: Deb Synder, Plainsfield, Illinois. About 10 names popped up and she began a quest running through each one.

She knew her ex's taste and knew that Brian Hilman wouldn't fuck some one two or three times his age, so the elderly women were knocked off her list of potential candidates. There were some underage kids and she knew Brian wasn’t into that either. So that left three people. Those three would be easily picked off when she went to Brian’s apartment later this evening or this week to drop off something he “left” behind at her city apartment.

The morning paper rested on her desk and she smiled at the cover. They hadn’t found her present yet. So it was to bad... perhaps tomorrow morning. It was to late to have it on this morning paper, but perhaps it would make the 12:00 news. She’d have to make sure she was near a TV when that came on. She wondered if the police were going to mention the letter. She’d already had her present for the newspaper reporter on her way to her office. She’d probably get that later today from Fed-Ex. She’d printed the glossy images from her digital camera earlier in the morning before leaving her country home and sealed them in the Fed-ex drop off envelope.

If the weather didn’t delay things then Miss Hotty Totty Reporter Babe would be getting a nice stack of 3” X 5” prints of her lovely, cleansed, soul. Ivy would probably give most of the photos to the police, but not all of them... not if she was a good reporter. They’d want the envelope too as well as contact the pic up guy. But since it was a public drop site and it was laying with other stuffed and handled envelopes she wasn’t to worried about that. Besides she wasn’t stupid. She’d worn gloves, the envelope had a pull away sticky to seal it shut, and by the time it got to the police. The Fed-ex guy’s prints, the “gopher “ that delivered it to Ivy, Ivy herself, they would all have their prints all over it.

Angelica grinned and closed her search on Deb Synder. She picked up her phone and started to work on a few more things that she would need. “Hey Sam,” she smiled into the phone. “Yeah its me...”

“Yep I need more,” she groaned. “I know I go through it alot, but... I like to paint and I need tarp.... yep... laugh all you want. I’ll be a famous muralist one day and you can say... I knew her when...,” she laughed into the phone. “Great, just send it to the farm. Love ya Sam... yeah... mom and dad miss you too.”

 

[Alerdene]

She nodded to Trevor in response to his comment about still needing something from him. Glancing up behind him as she saw movement, she realized now was not the time to discuss that however. A muttered curse came from her lips as she recognized Michael walking towards them. He would have to be the first one to show up wouldn't he.

Tossing him a dazzling smile as if she had every reason in the world to be out at the Wharf on a freezing morning, she just nodded her agreement when he told them to stay back. From that moment, things spiraled into motion too quick to remember. Car after car arrived and the place was soon crawling with police and forensics.

Clutching her bag tightly to her, she knew better then to try and leave. Detective Hallenbeck... as she had forced herself to think of him for the moment while he was working... he'd made it quite clear that he had questions for Trevor and she. How she was going to answer those, she had no idea.

It was a few minutes after seven and she was cold and walking in small circles when she saw Michael walking towards them. Taking a deep breath, she decided to wait and see what Trevor's excuse was first. She didn't really want the police knowing who one of her soon-to-be informants were if she could help it. There hadn't been any time to talk to him to see what his story was with all the police milling around them.

Trevor took a few steps away from her as Michael got closer. She couldn't hear every word, but she picked up enough that her eyebrows arched slightly again as she hissed a breath inward. They knew each other... somehow. This might alter the situation some... did she want to ask someone to get her off the record information... when he obviously had some connection to the man in charge. She wasn't sure.

She'd been ignoring looks all morning... looks that said... 'what'd you do with our captain last night' Looks that said... 'how the hell did you get here before anyone else' Looks that said... 'you're in deep shit girlie'. She wasn't sure she could ignore them much longer. Deciding to keep Trevor's accidental phone call to herself, she tried desperately to think of a logical reason she could have been on the Wharf that early. Different thoughts spun through her head quicker then she could focus almost. My meeting. I told him I had a meeting early that couldn't be changed... but no... would he think the meeting was with Trevor? That's the last thing I need him looking into... dammit think.

Realizing that people were still keeping an eye on her, she forced a smile onto her face, hitched her bag up again and wrapped her arms around her, pulling her jacket tight to keep warm.

 

[Wyld52771]

Detective Michael Hallenbeck

He saw Trevor approaching him, meeting him halfway, and thought, "Fine...I'll deal with him first." He gave Ivy a cursory glance, and then focused on Trevor.

"I thought you said it was going to be ok," Trevor hissed as soon as Mike came over close enough to talk to him, "I thought you said you were going to take care of it How is this taking care of it, Mike? They all know who I am now, they know I was here... I can't get caught for this Mike. You know I can't. They'll put me away for being anywhere close to this shit. I told you. Mike, what the fuck are you doing to me?"

"Shut up and listen, Trevor...don't talk," Michael said, tightly controlled anger evident in his voice, and when Trevor opened his mouth to interject, Michael pointed one finger and poked hard into the center of his chest. "I MEAN it, Trevor...don't make me tell you again." He paused for a moment, looking questioningly into Trevor's eyes, and said, "Understand?"

Trevor looked at him, fury in his eyes, but closed his mouth. Michael continued, speaking softly so Ivy could not overhear. "OK...This is WAY to big for me to cover up, even if I WERE inclined to jeapordize my job, which I'm not...this is a fucking SERIAL MURDER case, Trevor...but I AM on your side here. I KNOW you didn't kill this guy...you don't have it in you. Right now, you're being treated as a witness at the moment, since you discovered the body and called it in."

"Yes, they're gonna look at your record, but there's nothing in there that shows any kind of violence or psychosis. Because of the criminal profile and evidence we already have from the other victims, we can pretty much figure they're gonna be inclined to believe you aren't the killer, especially with the case I've built so far. I can't say more, but unless you somehow were stupid enough to fuck with the body, there's nothing we could do to hold you here, aside from some questioning...and BELIEVE ME, you WILL be questioned." He motioned to his head, towards Woods. "The feds are involved with this case now."

He looked at Trevor, and said, "I have a few questions of my own. Why the fuck were you out here, Trevor? And don't tell me you were just out here joyriding at 4 O'clock-something in the morning. You know me well enough to know I'm smart enough to know better."

He gave him a conspiratory look, and asked, "You're not fucking up, are you? I'd rather not have to see you end up behind bars, again." Trevor didn't say anything, but his lips tightened, and his body tensed...it was enough obvious body language that Michael had a pretty good idea that Trevor was doing something he shouldn't have been when he came across the body.

"Look, man...I'll do what I can to help you...I owe your sister that much, because she loved you...but you better play it straight with me. Otherwise you may just find yourself in the eye of a great big shitstorm, and I won't be able to do a damn thing to protect you."

 

[poohlive]

"I shouldn't have even been a witness. Mike, you don't get it. I called you because I wanted this to be anonymous, I didn't want my name anywhere near this. You didn't have to call everybody, and certainly not all at once..."

Trevor kicked at the side of the building. He knew he shouldn't have called Michael. This was even worse than before. Now, if anyone decided to look, they would know that Michael and him were related, and he called Mike personally, not the cops. God, damnit, he was in big shit. One person making one normal check and he would be fucked.

"I... I stole the snowmobile, Mike. That's what I was doing," He'd been thinking of an excuse for hours, and decided this would be the best one, "I got drunk last night and went joyriding. I wasn't going to keep it, I just... I was just drunk and stupid. I didn't want to get in trouble, Mike. I was going to put it back when I was done, that's all. Ok? I just didn't want to get in trouble. I've got a good life now, I've got a job. With this I'll lose it, I'll be fucked up Mike. Please, help me. Get rid of this, say the call was anonymous. Tell them I just came here because there were lots of people. Please don't make me a witness, don't put my name anywhere on this. Please, Mike. Please."

 

[Wyld52771]

Detective Michael Hallenbeck

Michael hadn't informed the rest of the task force about Trevor yet, and he COULD omit Trevor's involvement, as long as he told Michael what he needed to know...but he wasn't sure if it was exactly ethical and he ran the risk of discovery.

Amanda had always told him that Trevor was well-meaning and harmless, but had gotten involved with a bad crowd. Michael had not always been in total agreement with that statement, but had tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, and after Amanda had passed away, Trevor had been there to help him pick up the pieces when no one else had been. If what Trevor said was true...and Michael couldn't think of any reason why it couldn't be...then maybe he should let him walk away. He mulled it over while Trevor watched anxiously, and then made his decision.

"Fine...I'll do my best try to leave you out of it...but I have two conditions. First, I want you down to the station tomorrow. You and I are going to have a little lunch, and you're going to tell me in DETAIL exactly what you saw when you first got here. Second," he said, as he pointed to the snowmobile, "get that thing back to the owner, and straighten things out with him."

He looked up, noting Ivy intently watching them both. "We do have one OTHER problem." With his head, he motioned to Ivy. "If she talks, there's nothing I can do to help you. I'll talk with her and see if she'll leave you out of it too, but if not..." He shrugged, "Well, there's not much I can do, then."

 

[Tseranc]

Soon after Agent Wood’s arrival, the scene was really being picked up…all analysis that could be done in the field had been, and the documentation complete. He really was late to the game, and irritated as hell over it.

But such is life.

He watched them carefully load the body, and ship it off for an autopsy report. He ahd noticed a few changes, and awaited the report eagerly.

He wanted all this crap moved into the station where he could keep people out of it, and begin going over it with a fine tooth comb. Hell, he’d have the snow brought in for analysis if he could!

He wasn’t sure why Hallenback was sheltering the two witnesses, but with his own tardiness, he didn’t feel the need to broach the subject out here…but he’d ask once back down town.

He was disgusted by the amount of people who’d been around the body…so many footprints…and one set of them was the killers. Not that it mattered…they were nicely covered up by herd that came through here. This psycho was lucky…this time. It just hardened his resolve. He’d bring them in. dead, alive…somewhere in between…but he’d bring them in.

Looking back up at the crowd, he no longer felt the use of the location.

“Hey Hallenbeck, lets say we blow outta here and back downtown, and out of this cluster? Looks like your boys got just about all they could from this shit.”

 

[Katamari Roller]

Lisa shivered. As good as it was that Trevor hadn't noticed her presence yet, her legs were freezing. She leant on the nearest car, but its surface was ice. Her hands hurt when she touched the cold metal.

She stared at Hallenbeck and Trevor as they talked. Lisa wondered what their relation was. They couldn't be brothers, or anything like that. And the way they were talking, there was a certain familiarity... with so much aggresiveness. In a family, there is more aggresiveness than between strangers.

But, most importantly. WHY was Trevor around? He was inside the circle made by the officers, so he obviously knew something... maybe he had found the body? Or maybe he was an accomplice of the killer... oh, how she would like that! To have the bastard in jail for years! Would serve him right... for everything.

Lisa entwined her fingers, and rubbed them together, trying to get some warmth through friction. She closed her jacket, and stretched her legs against the car's wheels. A few minutes into this, her legs were noticeably warmer. Meanwhile, her brain worked.

Ok, there was Trevor there, and there was Hallenbeck... and there was the woman Hallenbeck had been talking to last night. What linked them together? It probably was something relevant to the case. Yep. It was...

Her gaze wandered over to Woods. She didn't know what to think about him. Last night was pretty wild, she knew that. But, who had used who? And for what reason. Lisa felt some guilt, but she also felt anger against Woods. Of course she was wild, she was drunk. She frowned, crossing her arms and leaning against the car, keeping her flesh off the metal. She had to talk to him seriously about this. She didn't want to be just his whore. She wanted something else, and if he couldn't provide...

But, what did she want out of this?

 

[poohlive]

"Thanks Mike. I owe you one, I owe you a hundred, a million. Believe me, I will make it up to you. I promise. I will be there tomorrow, for lunch, I'll tell you everything."

He gave a single smile, before looking back at Ivy. No, she wouldn't talk. He had his pulse now in the middle of the story, she was everything to him, and more. A single wink and he walked off to the snowmobile. She would call later, probably even ask for an interview.

Oh, and perhaps dinner? There could be possibilities in that. It wasn't realistic, but then again seldom relationships ever were. He had never imagined getting that one chick, Lisa. God, had she been a catch. If he only hadn't fucked it up. He always found a way of fucking it up, even with the good ones.

The snowmobile made its way back to the Hotel. It took longer than his car, but by the time he made it back he felt more than a weight lifting off his shoulders. He had done it, like a fucking Houdini he had just pulled off the impossible.

His car sat awkwardly in one of the spots. He went inside, where the couple sat uncomfortably in the main lounge on one of the couchs. Trevor gave them one look before they handed him his keys.

"Where is he?"

He was up in the room.

Trevor opened the door to the third floor room. Again that stench hit him with an invisible hammer. Trevor leaned back, but his voice was just as determined. Inside the pile of shit was covered up now with an even bigger pile of pot that lay just about everywhere.

"Man, you are a fucking lifesaver. Here," An envelope, a thick one. Trevor looked at it with a small smile, his surge of anger dissipated but not entirely gone.

"I want you out," Trevor said, plain and simple, "Get out, by the end of the day if possible. I want you gone."

"Whoah, calm down Trevor. Come on, it was a fucking close call, but we've got this-"

"Under control? Under control? I was one step away from being the fucking Baby Doll Murderer you mother fucker! I was this close to going to jail. My name on that fucking case report, my history dug into. They would check my phone records, they would know you called me at 4:30. If anyone check's my phone record, you are done, you understand me?"

Tall and Skinny, who looked like he had gotten into his own stash for a bit, got a solemn and deadly look on his face.

"Come on, Trevor."

"No. You leave by the end of the day, or I'll tell the cops just where the biggest stash in Plainsfield is located. You got me?"

Tall and Skinny paused for a moment, looking down, and then nodded ihs head. Trevor pushed into the room just enough to grab a nice fat baggie of that stuff. A going away present, and then left back to his office below.

"Get the fuck out of here, right now," Trevor thre the snowmobile keys at the kids, "Right now. Go."

He reserved to sit back into his little chair behind the desk, sighing. Good, fucking lord, what a morning.

 

[jushorny]

Marc Jordan

I awoke before the sun rose as usual, my mental clock always working better than any alarm clock ever made. I stretched my arms over my head, my legs further down on the bed, and arched my back, waking my body up as I did most mornings. Getting out of bed I opened the blinds so the sun could come through when it decided to wake. I made my way to the bathroom, turning the water on to warm up while I brushed my teeth.

Following on with my morning ritual, shampooing my hair before washing my body. As the hot steamy water poured over my body I began to smile, today, I had a chance to meet up with Samantha the librarian. My mind revisited her legs, remembering how my hands had wanted to travel over them slowly. As my hand ran the soap over my chest and abs I was thinking of Samantha and how best to approach her. Should I call her right away this morning? Should I invite her to lunch? No, that wouldn’t work, not enough time, but inviting her to dinner might be a bit forward considering we just met and really only because of her flat tire. As I shaved in the shower using the fog free mirror, getting a close look at my face I wondered just what Samantha saw in me, if anything. I best just call and set up a time to get my spare tire I thought to myself, there is nothing a librarian could find attractive about a construction worker, I was sure the intellectual type was more her taste.

I finished shaving and showering, dressing in my usual work clothes. I noticed the jeans and decided it was time to get some new ones, these were extremely comfortable, but the tears and holes were becoming larger and more noticeable. Maybe this weekend I thought to myself. I headed for the kitchen, having a bowl of cereal and glass of juice while my coffee brewed. I picked up my cell phone and was about to dial Samantha’s number when I realized it would be too early. Surely librarians would not start work before nine. I finished my breakfast, poured y coffee in a to go cup and headed out the door.

It looked like it was going to be another chilly day I thought to myself as I drove down the road. I turned the radio on, always tuned into my favorite country station. I laughed to myself as I listened to the song and line “Not as good as I once was, but as good once as I ever was.” I was glad I wasn’t at that point in my life yet.

I was already working before the others showed up. They of course gave me a hard time about always being early and I of course responded with my comments about them always being late. I realized I had forgotten the morning newspaper and asked if there was any new news regarding Plainfield’s mysterious serial killer.

They were about to fill me in when my cell phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket, seeing the caller id, “Damn,” I said to myself, “its her again.” I set my hammer down and walked to where the other guys would not hear my conversation. “Hey Deb, what’s up?” I tried to sound friendly, yet not too friendly as I wondered why she was bothering me again. It had been awhile since we broke it off and still, every once in awhile, she felt the need to call. Usually she called to go on about some hot guy she had met, like that was something I was interested in hearing about. I think she did it to make me jealous. Her latest, Brian, I think that was his name, seemed to keep her happy and satisfied, not a small feat that’s for sure. We chatted for a few minutes before she asked if I would meet her and Brian for dinner tonight, letting me know that of course I could bring a date. I knew from past history declining any invitation of Deb’s was never easy. Opting for the easiest way out, I told her I wasn’t yet sure what tonight would bring, I’d have to get back to her.

Hanging up, taking a deep breath, I realized I had never called Samantha. I dialed her cell number and got her voicemail. I left a message for her to call me when she had a second and we could set up a meet time. I told her I could stop by the library on my way home and just grab it from her SUV if she was busy today.

 

[redbaron05]

Jerry Smith

"I'm on it boss" Jerry replies as he leaves to take control of the situation.

Turning to the uniformed officers standing around Jerry yells, "Come on guys get these people back give the detectives room to work."

Heading toward the crowd of onlookers in a firm but polite voice he says,"Ok people shows over lets get a move on."

As the crowd moves back and is more controled Jerry takes a minute to look around and see whats going on around him. Agent Woods and Lisa were there, "Wonder why she's in shorts in the snow but she does have good looking legs" he thinks to himself.
The lady the detective had been drinking with at the bar last night was also there along with some guy the detective was talking too wonder what their involvement is he'd find out later when he was debriefed at the station. As the body is hauled away he turns his attention back to the crowd, "Okay folks show's over lets all go home."

 

[Babette_____]

The morning moved slowly, a snails pass really, eventually though 9am rolled around and the museum opened. Angelica left her desk to make an appearance and soon she was walking around greeting visitors and answering questions. Her eyes scanned the Japanese weapons and she smiled when she saw the dagger shining back at her as if it were a friend happy to see her. Her finger ran over the glass case and she moved through the museum admiring the fine works of art as well as other things that struck her fancy.

As she did she thought of her friend, laying in the snow, freezing. The poor mite. He’d be found either by some ice-fishermen or some lonely soul wandering the streets. Even if he wasn’t found, they would still know. They would still know that the city was cleaned once more from the vile filth that took women and abused their hearts by cheating. Her father had cheated. He’d taken lovers many times, eventually even his daughter. She shivered at the memory and pressed back the touch of him on her skin.

“Miss... Miss,” a voice called to her.

Angelica turned and looked at the old woman that was waving a museum newsletter at her. “Yes?” she asked the woman nicely.

“Miss.... I was wondering.... where is the Calvary sword that is pictured in this flyer?”

The smile faltered a little, but Angelica recovered quickly. Her fingers gently plucked the paper from the woman’s hand and read the article. “Oh I’m sorry ma’am. This weapon went in for repair. It should be back on display after a few weeks. We do have other Calvary weapons though. Have you seen them?”

“Yes... Yes... How else would I know that one was missing?” the woman rolled her eyes. “I wanted to see that one. I have one identical to it at home. I wanted to see if it really was the same as it is shown in the picture.”

“Oh... I see,” Angelica kept a plastered smile on her face. “Well if you come back in a few weeks I’m sure it will be back and you’ll have an opportunity to compare it.”

“No... I’m visiting! I wanted to see it now, foolish people. Shouldn’t put something in a flyer if you aren’t going to have it,” the woman muttered. “What was wrong with it?” she asked.

Angelica sighed. “The hilt was loose.”

“Aye... it’s a thing that occurs. Well... next time you should make sure everything is ready before you send out the newsletters. My sister had this one saved for me and when I came to visit she pushed it at me and knew I’d be excited.” She said nothing else just turned her head and walked away.

A groan escaped Angelica’s lips and she glance at her watch. “Only an hour,”she muttered, as her watched skated by 10am.