Murder in the City of Marylane

13. The Town Killer

Today, we got a new case.

We heard that there were bodies found by climbers in the forest. We just arrived in this wild forest.

Of course, this forest is filled with— trees that I don't know her name. This forest is not protected by anyone. A suitable place to dispose of a corpse.

If you ask me if my teammates know that I hallucinate often, the answer is no. I don't want to talk about the truth.  I think there's a chance that I'll be laid off from this job if they find out that I have a distraction. That's why I asked Milly Oriel, my psychiatrist, to keep it a secret.

We entered the forest. A yellow police line was attached, connecting the trees with each other. There was a corpse whose skin was already bluish there. I looked at Harry with his expression that was restraining his nausea.

Yeah, looks like the kid has progress. At least he didn't have his stomach out today.

I crossed that yellow line after Sean. Dean followed. Harry remained standing outside the line. He's not used to it, it seems.

I saw the state of the corpse. Not yet known by name. The body of the woman with her blue body, wrapped in trousers and an oversized black jacket. I saw him with pity.

Sean knelt on one leg, examining the corpse.

But before long, I saw his shocked face after rolling up the sleeves of the jacket the corpse wore. I saw him, there were some spots on his arm.

Wait, what is that?

“She moved here?” sean's monologue while looking at him was surprised.

“Who is he?” ask Dean.

“Serial killer city next door.”

---

We are in our meeting room to discuss ‘serial killer of the city next to’. Sean hasn't said anything at the TKP about this. He called his former team-mates while he was in his old police department to ask him to send pictures of the previous victim.

Sean was about to explain something. We sat in our seats.

Sean pulls the case board into the middle. He posted some photos of the victim.

“Tory Sommer, twenty-three years,” he said.

The photos that were attached were. The photo, believed to be of Tory Sommer, shows signs of violence. Photos of her bruised body with photos of other body parts that are more detailed and her clothes are messy.

Sean pasted the other photos under Tory Sommer's photo.

“Krystal Rivera, twenty-five years.”

Still the same, a photo showing signs of violence as well as her wrist that I think she was the second victim.

Sean started posting more photos.

“Ether Wyne, nineteen years.”

Victim three.

Another photo again.

“Hilda Heather, twenty years.”

Fourth victim and his picture.

“Daisy Ray, twenty-two years.”

The fifth victim and his picture.

And now, the photo we found. The victim we found in the woods. We found out the information a few hours after the body was found.

“Aisha Hope, eighteen years.”

Victim six.

I sighed and rubbed my face rough. Why were these innocent women killed so cruelly?

“Series murders, marked with dot marks lining each victim's wrist, we suspect it is a tattoo. We can't erase that point. This killer was originally in the next town, Raven. Where I worked first. I think he moved here.” Sean leaned against the wall. “The dots show the sequence numbers of the victims. First victim not found.”

“What do you mean not found?” my many.

“See,” said while showing a photo of a wrist marked with two dots belonging to Tory Summer. Then he showed me a picture of Krystal Rivera's wrist with three dots there. Four dots, five dots, and finally, six dots.

Makes sense.

“I've never heard this in the news, by the way.” Dean says.

“Raven City police chief then kept it a secret. He announced this as a murder, but not a serial murder. The reason, he does not want to make the public afraid,” explained Sean.

I frowned. “Isn't it supposed to be announced for the public to be careful?”

Sean turned his shoulders. “I don't know either. What do you expect from the superior's orders? Sometimes you can't dodge it.”

“He was in action six months ago. We found Tory Sommer in the woods, just like Aisha Hope. We haven't been able to catch him. You could say, he's smart. There's no trace. Even after raping her, she left nothing behind. The tactics are neat,” he continued.

“WAIT—WHAT? RAPING?” Dean's surprised. Just like me and Harry, we're out of words.

He crazy. In six months, he's had seven victims? He should be arrested this time.

“He raped the victim, but no trace?” my many.

Sean nodded. “True.”

How could?

“Even trail ****** though? Not found?”

“Not found at all.” Sean again nodded slowly with his face that seemed to regret this action.

“Have any clues been found while you were working in Raven City? Any suspects?” ask again.

Sean shook his head weakly in response.

≣ ≣ ≣

We dug up some information about Aisha Hope and her previous victims.

Harry and I came to an orphanage called Royanne Orphanage, where Aisha Hope was from. He had no parents and maybe this was the place he called home.

We've heard the autopsy results, and the poor girl's condition is the same as the previous victims. There are signs of rape and torture there. The culprit is completely savage.

Harry and I got out of the car, saw the building in front of us. A pretty big building, lots of kids playing around.

“Kids, be careful!”

I heard a woman's voice. From behind, he looks familiar. We both approached him.

“Excuse me, we are from the police.”

He turned.

“You?!” I said surprised. He showed a similar expression.

I saw his surprised face also see me. A woman who saved me from falling flower pots the other day! He works here?

Shortly after the shock of the two of us, he smiled.

“Come in,” said.

And, here we are. A room that I believe to be the room of the head of this orphanage. The room is predominantly white with some tree-themed wall stickers. It is natural for an orphanage.

We sat on a green sofa. We looked around. The woman had gone somewhere, she told us to wait here.

“Woman earlier, did you know her?” ask Harry.

“He saved me that time. Remember when I said a pot that almost hit my head?” I said.

“Ah, yes, yes.” He nodded many times. “The world is indeed narrow.”

Within minutes, the woman had not returned. We're still waiting for him.

I looked to the side, there was a children's story book. My curiosity came up, so I took it. I saw the title of the book.

Hansel and Gretel.

I smiled thinly.

This is my favorite story and my sister's story when we were kids.