“Dad,” I groaned as I needed a moment to myself to process the new case and I had multiple other cases to work on. I didn’t have time for whatever Dad wanted unless it was a supernatural case he wanted to tell put me on. “This better be important,”
“It is but first I just want to see how you are about this new case,” Dad replied with concern. I rolled my eyes. This is not the first time that Dad has done this. “Dad I appreciate that, the case is horrific but this is my job. I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t handle it,”
“I know princess but I can’t help it with being your father. I worry about you. Sometimes I think you are only in this profession because of me. You admire me and want to be like me which is fine but not if it effects your happiness. You know I don’t care what you do as long as you’re happy and your mum feels the same right?”
“Yes I know but this is what I want to do, I am happy,” I confirmed but I wasn’t sure. I am happy now, I am doing what I always wanted to do. Working in the criminal investigation sector. I have a great relationship with my parents and I get to work with them, what is not to like? I don’t know if I will always want this but I do enjoy my job, for now which is all that matters.
"Are you sure?” Dad looks even more concerned. I don’t know why, he shouldn’t be. "If you aren’t happy then it is ok. Your mother and I will support you in anything you decided to do, even a career change,”
“Have you and mum been discussing this? Do you not want me to be a detective anymore?” I asked and began to grow suspicious. Why is he talking to me about a possible career change? All those years of study at university and training after, why would I throw all that away now?
“Of course not but lets be honest here, you only wanted to be a detective because of me,” Dad stated the obvious.
“Well of course I did but I enjoy being a detective. I would have quit ages ago if I didn’t think I was capable or didn’t want this,” I shook my head. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have work to be getting on with unless there's something about a case you want to discuss?”
“No, you can go but don’t forget what I said,” Dad reminded me. “If you ever feel like this isn’t for you or you want time off or anything at all then don’t be afraid to speak to me about it,”
“I won’t,” I agreed. I understand my parents concern but there is no need for them to worry about me. I am a grown woman, I can make decisions for myself. So far I don’t regret being a detective but if I do in the future then I can figure everything out for myself.
I left the room to head to my office that I shared with the team of 10 including Susie who I worked with daily. We each had our own cubicle with a desk, computer and filing cabinets. On the side of the room there was a large table for when we had to work together or needed more space to work. Damn! I forgot to ask dad about his amused look from earlier. Oh well but I’m probably right about him having heard my conversation with Susie. Maybe it would be best not to mention it then. Our conversation was private and Dad shouldn’t have been listening in but he couldn’t help it. He would have been able to hear us from anywhere within the station. The other Vampire colleagues must have heard our conversation too which would explain why Susie was blushing so much. We really need to stop talking about our private lives at work because we don’t know who could be listening in.
I got to my cubicle and began to look over my notes from the case briefing and began to write a brief report on it for my own use.
Case no: 127873679
Type: Serial homicide
Victims: 28, age ranging 4-80 both sexes.
No clear trends or clues at this point as to who the killer/s target is, clear the killer is the same person/s from cause of death.
Cause of death: Each victim has slit throats suggesting use of a sharp murder weapon like a blade. Animal attack ruled out.
Witnesses: No one has witnessed any of the murders, the people who found the body have been questioned, family members of the victims are being questioned by police officers and senior detectives as we speak. No current suspects.
I typed my notes up and created a new folder for the case before saving the file on my USB stick to have a backup and be able to work at home too. I then opened up my email to find we’d been assigned roles. Mine was to help conduct interviews of the remaining family and friends of the victims. Also analyse and write reports on each person. This will keep me busy for weeks alongside the work for other cases but I'm excited to begin my detective work to find the killer.
At this point our team of 10 was separated into smaller groups of 2 or 3 each with different tasks. At the end of the day, we’ll each write reports on our findings and submit them but if there is anything crucial that needs to be shared with everyone, it can be shared in the meeting tomorrow morning which will continue every day until the case is solved.
“Sean you ready to head out to the first location?” I asked Sean who would be my partner for this task. It was usually done it two’s for safety reasons. We’d also have an armed police officer with us and one waiting outside.
“Yes,” Sean replied. “I just need to grab something real quick,”
Sean turned his blonde head then rushed to his desk while I grabbed my question template sheet which contained a number of standard questions we were meant to ask but could add our own if it we needed more information about anything. I placed it in my notebook with my pen placed in the spine. I grabbed my keys and phone before heading out with Sean.
PC Evans was waiting for us outside in his car with another officer in the seat beside him, both in their uniforms. Sean and I got in the back seats and shut the doors behind us before the car began to move and we headed to the first location.
Once we got to the location and got out of the car except police officer Adams who remained in the car to keep an eye out for danger or anything suspicious that could help with the case. The vampire senses I did have were on high alert and I felt on edge. I didn’t know why. Something just didn’t feel right. I knew the others could feel it too, they looked how I felt. Good job they’re vampires too so I don’t need to explain anything to them. Now we can all be on alert if anything happens and can act quickly. When we knocked on the door and waited, the feeling didn’t go away. It didn’t help that the person we were supposed to question was not answering the door. Mrs Johnson. Mid forties with 2 kids was all it said on her file. Her 16 year nephew was one of the victims.
“Good morning Mrs Johnson,” I greeted Mrs Johnson formerly when she eventually answered the door after 5 minutes of waiting.
“Please call me Jules,” Jules replied with sad eyes which is understandable after losing her nephew. Her brown hair was in a messy bun and she had bags under her black eyes. She must of been close to the victim, he was her sisters son. “Mrs Johnson makes me sound older,”
“Of course Jules,” Sean answered before showing his detective badge. “I’m detective Rodgers, this is detective Ackhurst and PC Evans. We’d like to ask you a few questions regarding your nephew, we’re so sorry for your loss,”
“Thankyou,” Jules replied. “Please do come in,”
Jules stepped aside to let us all in before closing the door behind us and welcoming us into the living room to take a seat on the couches before we began our questions.
“So when was the last time you saw your nephew?” I asked gently. I have to empathise with the victims family, it's part of my job even if sometimes the family members turn out to be the killers but I doubt that is the case here.
“It was the day before I found out he....... Me and my kids went round for lunch,”
“Did you notice anything unusual about your nephew? Was he doing anything he didn’t normally do?” Sean asked.
“I don’t think so,” Jules replied with a cough. “He seemed like his usual 16 year old self.................. I’m sorry, do you mind if I get a glass of water?”
“Not at all,”
“Thanks, would you like anything to drink?”
“No thank you,"
“Ok,” Jules stood up. “I’ll be back in a minute,”
A minute later, Jules returned with a glass of water and sat down before taking a sip but then she began to cough continuously and choke. Sean stood up to help her but before he could get close, Jules dropped the glass, it shattered leaving a small puddle of water which began to soak through the carpet as she fell to the floor unconscious. I rushed forward as Shaun checked her pulse.
Shaun looked to me and PC Evans grimly before saying, “There’s no pulse, she’s gone,”
Comments (0)
See all