The Dance Of Blood

I know it is not hot out, yet the sweat is rolling down my forehead as we approach the downhill slope, seeing the awful taint of red hitting around the body. Pieces lay scatted across the onces lush green grass. An arm is a few feet away. The bloody mess becomes more gruesome as I try not to lose my stomach getting close.

Jim turns away and starts walking back to the car. I don't think he has the stomach for this. I can't blame him. I sigh deeply as we approach the rocky lines of the shore. The air smells sweet. Fog seems to be rolling in for the evening over the lake. Something that I didnt know happened on this side of town. I shiver to the eerie feeling it puts over me.

"Just over here guys." I can hear a mans voice call out to us three.

"Officer, we'll take it from here, until the investigation teams get here." The chief replies as we continue to the voice.

"Sir." They reply quickly and walk away from us, toward the lot where the civilians are worried about what may be here.

I look around the shore line. Both arms of the body were torn off and tossed to the side. In my mind that would likely be a result of the attacker. This certainly is not like anything I have ever heard of from a wolf before.

"And you want to pass this off as a wolf?" I chuckle.

"What do you reccomend, then?" The chief replies.

"North Bay has it's first pattern based serial killer. Get the coroner to give me the results of both victims as soon as possible." I say.

I can't believe this shit. I am not even in highschool yet, but the chief knows I have a talent. I stare at the spattered and spread mess of the remains.

"Run a sample on their teeth as well." Jim says.

"If there are any..." I say, my eyes wide from the gore that is decorating the shore line.

"True enough. Based on the package." The chief says.

"THE STATION!" I exclaim.

"Most of the officers are here." He replies.

"Oh no." Jim adds into the moment.

"Send half of the officers here back right now!" I say.

"What?" The chief seems confused by what I am worried about.

I thought, momentarily, if the killer is a pattern killer, truly, there is going to be another package and note. I sprint towards the parking lot. Jim is grunting as he half drags the chief for a moment. I swear, for a chief he isn't thinking like one.

"Jim, stay here, listen to the coroner." I say. "Chief, we are going to the station. Emergency." I add as I turn toward him.

I turn to the car and sprint to the passenger side. I know that we only have so much time before we miss catching the killer dropping off the package. If we miss him, we may not get another chance like this.

"Hopefully the killer hasnt caught onto us. Step on it." I say as I get into his passenger's seat.

"Kid, you better be right." He replies as we get into the car.

He steps on the gas and before I know it we are back on cassells street turning towards the station. I know for a fact this killer is not without a motive. There has to be a reason, an inspiration or something. I try analyzing everything I know about in the case.

"So, he sent teeth last time, indicating something, the riddle that went with it and to boot, he mimics animals." I explain to myself aloud while he drives.

"So?"

"He must think he needs to be an animal. Or that he actually is one." I say. "It's possible the killer even has an extreme nuerological disorder. I would actually appreciate it if we arranged a meeting with a criminal psychologist." I add.

"Why? We don't have the criminal." He says.

"I have theories." I reply. "I wish to see if they correlate to the killers patterns." I explain a bit more.

"And you think a psychologist can help you figure this out?" He asks.

"Yes, I do." I say.

He pulls into the parking spot that is assigned for him, right by the entrance to the station. The architect of the parking lot did not think this design through, So many flaws with using glass as a secured door. I can see how so many people would be able to break into this place. I hope their evidence room is more secure than the majority of the precinct.

"What are we looking for?" He asks me.

"A person carrying a box. I dont see one inside of the doors." I say.

His phone rings. I can't believe i forgot to get my phone from Jim again! Gah! I sigh as the chief answers his phone. He sighs, showing me its my phone.

"Yeah, one sec, we're outside ill put you on speaker." He says as he presses a button. "Okay, you're clear." He says.

"It's weird guys, the investigators are here and can't find the head at all." Jim's voice comes from the chiefs phone. "And they say there is evidence of self defense. Sir, they are saying we need to do a press release." He adds.

"Oh boy." I say.

I look to the precinct to notice we must've missed the killer. The box is waiting in the doors just like last time. I shudder.

"What?" Jim says.

"They are watching for sure." I say.

"What makes you say that?" The chief says.

"Because we are right here and we missed them dropping off their box to the precinct." I say flatly.

"Betcha ten bucks Hodge, that is the head." He says.

"Oh bet is on bud. I say its more teeth." I reply.

"You kids are acting like veterans to this business." The chief pipes up. "Remember, this is a real persons body you are placing bets on." He says with an icy tone.

"Right." I say rubbing the back of my neck.

"Wait, so they have to be fast right?" Jim says with a punch in his volume.

"Well, I would think so." Me and the chief both say at the same time with a surprised look on both of our faces.

"We have to play this out. I think we are dealing with a student of some kind of school. Perhaps their murder weapons are inspired by the highschool mascots." Jim suggests.

"Not likely. We dont have a highschool that uses wolves." The chief cuts the theory there.

"No, but Sudbury has a hockey team with wolves." I interject. "It's possible it is a mascot inspired killer. However, there is a lot to still learn." I say as I exit the car.

The chief hangs up his phone and then follows me to the precinct doors. I look for a security camera, hoping maybe we have some footage to try to get a basic description on this killer at the least. We already figure the killer is male as that is typical in the patterns of sociopaths.

"I think we have to come up with a plan." I say as I come to the door.

I go into the first set of doors like earlier, but I kneel and take a moment to gather myself. I stare at the box, the chief is overlooking my shoulder. There is no label this time, but a note in an envelope like the last time. They don't seem to want to give us any more hints at the moment.

I only hope that it isn't what Jim suggested earlier. My body feels like cool burns are coursing through my veins. I shiver as my hands take the note from the top of the box. I stiffen as i reach to the flaps to see the contents. I feel this moment is an eternity.

I lift the one side and the awful stench of the swamp fills the air again. I hold my breath as the air wafts up into the air. The chief retches at the sight. I can't help but stare in total disbelief. Jim was wrong, so was I. This time a set of bright blue eyeballs are sitting in a jar, floating and staring at me. I reach down to grab the note and open it.

I think I know what it's going to say before I even look at the lettering. I glance it over and I hate that my gut instinct was right.

"I'm always watching." I read it to the chief.

"We noticed." He says to himself.

"We are going to be wanting to set up security cameras around the station." I say.

"I'll talk to the mayor." He says.

"Alright, as far as the press release, we have to put a curfew in effect immediately. School starts in a couple of weeks, we want parents knowing we took this seriously." I say.

"Spoken like a seasoned investigator. You're going to do well in this line of work kid." He pats my back.

"I need to head home before my parents get back from dinner. I am sure they will be hearing about this on their radios." I say.

"Yes, thats a possibility." He agrees.