Blood Thrill

by David Swinden

  There was now a small dedicated team assigned to work under him. Some of the best had been chosen and Brian was in charge. A separate room with limited access had also been assigned to the case. He sat at the head of the table and addressed the team. ‘It looks like we had a team of killers, and now another team it would seem, have hunted them down and decamped with all the booty, you know, phones and communication devices. I also suspect that a lot of money must have been involved, and as of now, we have yet to ascertain the motive for the triple murder. We don’t know if they were hunted either for monetary gain or for something much more suspicious. Whatever is going on is starting to take on a much more sinister turn and we need to keep our eyes and ears close to the ground. We have nothing more to gain from keeping guard at the house, as it’s been swept clean. Jane, if you could get us up to speed in regards to forensics and other lab discoveries.’

  Jane from forensics had been assigned to work the case with the rest of the team. ‘Everything has been traced and matched so far. Blood reports suggest that the knives had been used on the working girls. The person, who stuck the knives into the throats of the three individuals located at the house, was very careful indeed, leaving no DNA trace evidence behind. The fingerprints on the kill knives have also revealed two sets of prints, that of the Sean Johnson and Nick. Both of whom had been involved in the killings one way or the other. The three knives recovered from the trio at the house, carry DNA trace evidence that has been matched back to at least three murdered prostitutes. Also of interest is the fact that both of them were left-handed. They took turns killing, maybe to confuse investigations… like if they were ever caught, each could blame the other and drag the case on for years.’

  ‘Matt, what have you got to say.’ Brian asked the criminal profiler in their midst.

  ‘Thanks Brain, it looks like someone had a score to settle. The assailant or perpetrator of these acts had carefully planned everything to the minutest detail. This is a person who is strong and agile; he can move fast and is very skilled at martial arts of some kind. Also, this person is in the possession of a very powerful mind, and is quite capable of thinking on his feat. Talk about out-of-the-box thinking, he is the epitome of this kind of behavior. Personally I believe that this person is male, strong, and a quick thinker. Maybe let's say… like a vulture… he’s a kind of scavenger. Maybe he was a robber prowling the premises and came upon… something… like he hit the bank. He’s someone who’s improvising on the fly. He is fearless and killing means nothing to him. A sociopath through and through… willing to kill… might be for a quick buck or just for the thrill… my investigation is as of now, not yet complete and I should have a complete profile, latest tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Sure, thanks Matt. We have the numbers that were being used by the three individuals and a warrant has been served to get all the call details to and from their cell phones. Let’s trace the calls and see where this goes. I hope everyone is clear about what they need to be doing today. I have a meeting with the Lieutenant and the Chief late evening, I hope we have something solid to give them.’

  ***

  8 pm that evening found me waiting behind the strip club. Hoping to get inside and question Robert - he was the owner of the club and his real name I had found from public records. He was something of an eccentric and loner, always preferring his own company - he had one major interest though - making money. He seemed to be one crazy person, who was always thinking about money and how to get more of it. Heartless he was, running his clubs like an army general. The strippers felt safe working in his clubs as he was kind of a no-nonsense guy. He had his eyes on the goal at all times, and it mattered most to him. He would take careful stock of all his clubs’ daily earnings and would be in a foul mood if he noticed any dip in daily income.

  This was making me think about how all this was going to tie-up with him. What was his role in all of this extremely dirty business? What did he have to do with those three murderers, and how did they come into possession of so much hard cash? People had money, but who was cashed-up this much?

  I had to lay my hands on Robert and get to the bottom of all this bullshit before the cops do. There was no time to lose as the cops might already be on his tracks. Quietly waiting at the back was when he came out for a smoke.

  I quickly wore my gloves and reached him in a few quick steps. ‘I know you’re involved.’ ‘Who the fucks are you?’ he asked in alarm. ‘Never mind who I am. Shut the fuck up and let’s talk in your office.’ ‘Fuck off.’ He said, gesturing with his hand. Before he knew what had stuck him. The fourth knife was now embedded into the side of his gut. ‘I told you that we needed to talk… talk or die!’

  I pulled the knife out as he reached his hand to his side. His face was not doing anything to betray his trauma. He tried to speak, but his words were not forthcoming. ‘I told you motherfucker, we need to talk. I’m not your girlfriend breaking up with you. I’m your angel - your fucking Angel of Mercy. What were you doing at the house? Who sent you?’ He was still looking at me stunned. ‘Talk you fuck or I’ll stick this knife down your throat.

  ‘I’m a handler,’ he breathed. I was instructed to follow them at all times. I also passed on the messages.’

  ‘What messages?’

  ‘I don’t know. He sends them to me on a piece of paper. I pass it to them and then the money.’

  ‘What money?’

  ‘Don’t you know they were paid for it?’

  ‘Paid for what?’

  ‘Please… they were paid to kill.’

  ‘Did you get paid also?’

  ‘Yes… yes… I had to make sure that the job gets done… you know carried out.’

  ‘Who would order a hit on a whore?’

  ‘People pay for it…’

  ‘Bullshit… you’re lying.’

  ‘His name is Snake… this is his business. You can order anyone killed, he has killers all over. They do it for fun, like a sort of game. They get the video; it’s recorded and sent to the person who pays.’

  ‘You mean, like a fucking snuff movie.’

  ‘Yeah, prostitutes are the cheapest.’

  ‘Where do I find this snake?’

  ‘No one does, he’s on the Dark Web. He has killers all over.’

  ‘How do you’ll communicate?’

  ‘SnapChat.’

  ‘So all the messages disappear in 10 seconds?’

  ‘Yes!’

  ‘Let me go now, I’ve told you everything.’

  ‘How long did you think this was going to last? How long did you think before the cops caught up with you?’

  ‘I don’t know, just let’s be done here already.’

  ‘Yes, we’re done,’ I told him jamming the knife into his throat. The blade embedded itself deep into his spinal code. Getting up and leaving him there to breathe his last, opened the door, casually walking into his office, took his computer, collected his phone, and just as I was about to leave, the cops had entered the club and had begun stopping the music and calling the strippers off the stage. I saw Jackie, Brian was nowhere to be seen. Hastily leaving the place, it was now time to get the fuck out of this hellhole.

  Following the same back road, reached my car in safety. So my operation had taken place right in time. A few minutes later and it would have been a failure. The cops were swarming the place and I could not quite comprehend the urgency shown by the police.

  This net was larger than I had expected, it seemed to be covering a large geographical area. So this must be happening in other states as well. Did the cops know about this? A large enough conspiracy was taking place. Right at this moment there were other killers in various different localities, killing innocent people and getting paid for it, and this was all supposed to be a game, people having fun, humans hunting humans for fun. I understand the need for blood, I feel it too. Maybe there were many other people like me, not having enough courage though, were willing to pay other villains to fulfill their deepest and darkest
fantasies. This was all fine by me, as a door had now been opened for me to lustily and heartily fulfill all my needs. With so many criminals around, I could now top-up to my heart’s content. The chase was also exhilarating and filling me with anticipation.

  Jackie had been in charge of the raid and was asking employees’ where the owner Robert was to be found? All of whom were now pointing to the room at the back. She entered the place and the first thing she noticed was that, there was indeed a place where a laptop computer might have been. The power cord was still fitted to a socket that had not been turned off. On the radio she was talking to Brian.

  ‘He doesn't seem to be here, one thing though, there’s no laptop here.’

  ‘Quick, check the back.’ Brain could be heard saying over the radio.

  She turned and darted toward the backdoor, which when she opened revealed the almost lifeless body of Robert lying on the ground.

  ‘Quick.’ She screamed, ‘Over here’. The rest of the team moved in now to see the almost defunct body of Robert lying on the ground.

  ‘Brian, he’s been murdered; M.O. (Modus Operandi) is the same, knife stuck through the throat.’

  ‘Request additional backup, set up checkpoints everywhere. Check all vehicles, for anyone or anything suspicious. I’m on my way, just finished updating the chief and lieutenant.’

  ‘Copy that.’ She said.

  Things had been set in motion now, with vehicular checkpoints spread out all across the city. There was no point now in taking my vehicle and going anywhere, as sirens could be heard blazing everywhere. What was the point in leaving the scene of the crime, the safest place would be right here, at the locale of crime. There were two dumpsters that I had noticed that were pretty close to the crime-zone. I stood by one, in case any of the cops wandered by; I was going to jump into one of them. Surely the cops would think that the assassin had fled the incident location.

  Brian reached the place with Matt in tow. Both of them were examining the body and Matt’s brain was being pushed into overdrive.

  ‘What do you think?’ Brian asked.

  ‘He’s here,’ the profile says, ‘Works with improvisations.’ He’s staying close to the crime. If there is a canine unit nearby, get them here.’

  ‘All right everyone, let’s move fast.’ Brian shouted. ‘Get the canine unit down here. Matt you stay, Jackie come with me.’ He called two other detectives and together with radio contact between them, began to spread out over the dark alleyways behind the club.

  This was a miscalculation on my part. Not giving the cops enough credit for their work. From my hideout beside the dumpster I could see the dark shadowy figure of a man approaching, gun pointing out in every direction that he was looking in. I recognized his walk. Brian was getting closer and coming towards the dumpster. I pulled out a knife that I would now need to use on him, but fortunately for him a light began to shine from the opposite side of the street. Jackie with her torch pointing in every direction was also coming down the same street. I was right in the middle. Maybe I could get them to shoot each other - but enough of these dreams. I was about to get caught and might even be shot dead. Something needed to be done, I needed to think quickly. I was also packing heat in my bag, and might need to shoot the both of them. That would however be futile as the place would then be swamped by cops and…

  There was no point in pretending to be a homeless person. I was dressed well and looked sharp. Being well built and good looking was also going to be a sure giveaway. No, there had to be another way, as these two kept creeping closer. All of a sudden, Jackie’s light fell on me. I was on my haunches, arms outstretched and head between my legs. She came closer and ordered me to my feet. I continued to pretend and started playing the part of a useless wasted teen drunk. Rocking slowly back and forth, murmuring something to myself. Brian had reached her by now and without saying a word kept staring at me.

  ‘Beer,’ I slurred… ‘Give me more…’ All the while gently rocking back and forth almost falling over on my head. They quickly lost interest and left as they were looking for an executioner and not some drunken teenager, laying drunk in a dark alleyway. They turned and went back the way Jackie had come. As soon as they had rounded the corner, I bolted out of there.

  Fucking hell that was close, stopping for a moment I looked up to the heavens, thanking my lucky stars.

  ‘Wait,’ Jackie said. ‘The profile said strong and muscular, I might not be right, but don’t you think.’

  ‘Yeah, let’s take another look’.

  They turned around and came back down the alley, but I was gone.

  ‘Fuck… Fuck… Fuck…’ Brian screamed.

  ‘Motherfucker,’ Jackie whispered under her breath.

  ‘That son-of-a-bitch was right here. Right here… Fuck… Fuck… Fuck…’

  Brain got on the Radio and shouted. ‘Look for a youngish person, dark hair, blue jeans, and red t-shirt, muscled, but not the fat kind.’

  Both of them ran back to the crime scene and began waiting for the cops to pick me up. ‘Matt start thinking, what would he do in such a situation?’

  ‘Not too sure boss, but I think he’s running like a frightened animal. He couldn’t survive if he didn’t have fear. He’s running scared right now, but not in a car. He’s either walking or running. He’ll also stay in hiding for a long time now, expect him to disappear. Maybe another person will take his place.’

  A large crowd had gathered in the front of the club, standing behind the area cordoned off by the police. An ambulance had arrived and was busy packing Robert off. The canine unit had successfully reached the building that I had entered. It was a four storied structure, which I had quickly climbed to the top of, leaving the dogs behind, as they were not too good at scaling walls. From here I had scrambled across a number of buildings to come back to the club. I could see Jackie talking to the paramedics inside the ambulance and Brian was on the radio, probably trying to desperately get a location on me. The crowd had started to swell and grow, and I was now among them.

  Pulling out a small steel pick I had with me, slashed it into the side of a woman standing in the center of the crowd. She screamed and fell; there was pandemonium and panic all around. People had not realized what had happened, and were gathering around the panic stricken woman. Jackie was the first to come running over to investigate what was going on. She had to use her arms to push people away - the sea of onlookers was just too great. The city was already in panic mode and this had sent the temperature up and a hundred times over. The small knife in my hand had only an inch sticking out between my thumb and index finger. This super sharp and strong blade, found the soft side of Jackie’s abdomen. The pain must have been sharp and excruciating; she screamed and fell to the ground, fearing that she had been shot. I disappeared among the crowd, with a blade that was now covered with her blood. They could search all the wanted to, but I was out of there. Running though all the back roads to reach the far side of the city. Here I slept on a park bench and waited for morning. At first light, finding public transport, jumped into a bus and went straight back to my apartment.

  I took the backpack off my shoulder; it now had a slightly bad smell, as it had been thrown into a dumpster, while I fooled those two. I had completely turned off Robert’s cell phone and computer. These I would crack into at a later date, for now though, I had to get everything back to the farm and the safety of my room.

  10. Getting Hot

  The next day the press rooms were busy calling the city, ‘Serial Killer City,’ and began warning people to stay away Serial Killer City, as things had become much too dangerous. First there was one or maybe two serial killers, they had been accounted for. Now there was another one prowling the streets. He’s a nice guy some seemed to say - killing only depraved criminals. As yet, the news of Jackie’s stabbing had not yet reached the press.

  The cops were furious - nothing was sticking, no real evidence had been found, they were clueless as to what had been going on.
The new bad boy in town had beaten them on every count. Stolen their suspects from right before their eyes, and to add insult to injury had also looted property that could have held vital clues. The cops were struggling to come up with a motive for the new Serial Killer. They were not sure if this was the work of one person or a number of persons. This new vicious killer; he was not looking for victims in cheap abandoned areas, no… he was right under their noses, and doing just fine. What kind of a hunter and killer was this new killer? Was he human or a fiend? Brian and his team had a nickname for this new individual - ‘Phantom.’ I particularly liked that name. Yes I was truly a phantom, a ghost moving about in the dark. Like the ‘Ghost who walks.’ My whole life according to them was being lived out in the dark.