Chapter 1
I was at home when the call came in. It was about eight in
the evening. I just got into my blanket and turned on the TV.
It was my boss and he asked if I could come down to the
precinct. And, without any energy, I put some clothes on and
headed out.
As I arrived at the precinct, my boss, or more specifically
Chief Wake, was standing near the coffee area. He didn‘t
even notice me because he was just staring at the TV, at
the missing kids reports. So i went over and said :
„Hello Chief, you called me ?“
„Oh ! Yes, of course Knox. Into my office please.“
After that weird start, we were in his office. It was pretty
warm in there and I took my jacket off. I looked around
because i‘ve actually never been in his office before. But
I now know he likes to hunt, cause‘ of the animal heads
on the wall. Or maybe he‘s just into this type of stuff.
I sat onto the chair in front of him and he slipped
something to me on the table. It was a photo. A photo
of the newest missing kid. It was a boy. It was the mayors
boy and somehow the public didn‘t know about it. But why
is he showing it to me ? I shouldn‘t even know this.
„Hmm. I see your confusion, Knox.“
„What do you mean, sir ?“
“You’re asking yourself, why i’m showing it to you.
Am I right ?”
“You are … but how ?”
“It’s just a feeling but anyways …”
He told me that he showed this to me because I am the “best”
detective in the precinct. I have solved some difficult cases but
somehow, during all of these murders, the killer was always one
step ahead of us. He knew how to kill without marks, sound or
witnesses. He knew when and where we would search.
This specific case wasn’t one of a kind. Many kids have been going
missing because of this „Kidnapping Death“, atleast that‘s what the
public calls him now. Unlike me, who thinks the killer‘s a mastermind,
the chief thinks he‘s just a maniac who holds a grudge against kids.
After our talk the chief went outside for a smoke. I, on the other hand,
went into my office, which is basically just a desk, a chair, a lot of
photos and a big pinboard. Many say i‘m crazy, but it helped me solve
lots of cases. However this one is different. He doesn‘t leave marks.
He is like a ghost. Or a rat.
That‘s probably it. It‘s a rat. Someone in the precinct is a murderer.
I don‘t know who and i wouldn‘t know why, I mean some people hate
their job here but … not enough to kill. I need to find that next kid and
the one who put him in there. Now who would be a suspect ?
I need to look after someone who knows when patrols come, where
officers check the least and which residences are mostly unattended
by unqualified parents. There is the chief, our secretary and the janitor
since he goes into every room in the precinct to clean. Time to get some
clues. First the secretary’s desk :
Here are some pins, some paper, a few pencils and … a sticky note ?
98113 Lamping Lane at 10 o’clock , seems interesting regarding that
a small kid is living there with his grandparents. How do i know that ?
A week ago, they invited the whole neighborhood over for a barbecue.
But what could she possibly want from there ?
It’s only 8, so it’ll be a bit before she heads out. But first i am gonna pin
her photo on the board for “possible killer”. She does hate our chief but,
he doesn’t have a kid. It wouldn’t make sense … but still, it didn’t stop
some other known killers for murdering without a reason. But based on
what she does today, I will know if she has a knack for murder … or not.
I followed her after she headed out at 9:30, knowing I will get the infos I
need today. Hmm … weird, she stopped 2 miles before the actual
location. She goes out of her car into a … community shed ? Luckily it has
a small window I can look through. Whilst sneaking over i saw that her
trunk was open, so I thought I’d rather check that out.
There was … an animal cage, animal tranquilizer and a notebook. As I
opened the notebook I heard footsteps coming. I had to do something …
fast. So I did the only reasonable thing, I jumped through the trunk into
her backseat and hid under a blanket. Luckily my car was locked. I
sat completely still, as I heard the car starting, and after a few minutes
we were there. She opened the trunk and took everything inside … crap.2
