Category: <span>Writing</span>

Partner (Secret Diary Of A Serial Killer)

This month I’m taking part in the A-Z Challenge! Which means I’ll be writing 26 posts (on set days through the month) each one corresponding to a letter of the alphabet. Today is day 16, which means letter P.

My theme for the month is: Secret Diary Of A Serial Killer. Each post will be a new chapter in the story – I’m really excited to finally get this novel idea out of my head and into words. I hope you enjoy it! 🙂

Previous Chapter: Oversight Start from A: Anna

 

Partner

“No,” I said to Capinski.

I stood up and I started to usher him away.

“I’m her brother,” said Johnny.

Capinski frowned at me. “You never mentioned a brother.”

“We’re estranged,” said Johnny, standing up and extending his hand in greeting. “And you are?”

“Her partner,” Capinski said, winking at me. He shook Johnny’s hand.

“I’d ask you to join us, but we’re kind of in the middle of something,” said Johnny. “Family stuff, you know.” He shrugged his shoulders, seeming relaxed but I could tell from his voice that he was the complete opposite.

“Of course.” Capinski actually looked embarrassed. “I’m sorry,” he said to me.

“I’ll be right back,” I said to Johnny, and walked Capinski out to the parking lot.

“You followed me?” I kept my voice low but I was beyond angry.

“You tried to ditch me,” Capinski said.

I couldn’t believe my ears. He was actually hurt that I left my car and took a cab; hurt that I was trying to not be followed by anyone.

“I like to keep family away from my normal life,” I said, keeping up with Johnny’s lie. Though it was partly true – I hadn’t seen my real family in years.

“So he really is your brother?” Capinski said.

I nodded.

“If I looked in your file I’d see that you have a brother?”

I did have a very estranged brother, though it wasn’t Johnny, but I suddenly realised how fragile Capinski was. He lost Carly and it drove him to murdering other women who looked like her. If he thought he was losing me I didn’t know what he’d do.

I moved closer to him and put my on hand on his bicep, stroking gently. “Yes. But now I really do need to go and talk to him. I’ll see you tomorrow morning as planned?”

He smiled. “Sure.”

He leaned down and I gave him a brief kiss, wondering if the parking lot had cameras or if I could kill him right now.

“Tomorrow,” he said, waving as he got to his car.

I nodded.

He reversed, then stopped and rolled down his window. “Don’t be late,” he said. His voice sounded strained.

Next Chapter: Quiet

April 20, 2017
Writing
6 Comments

Oversight (Secret Diary Of A Serial Killer)

This month I’m taking part in the A-Z Challenge! Which means I’ll be writing 26 posts (on set days through the month) each one corresponding to a letter of the alphabet. Today is day 15, which means letter O.

My theme for the month is: Secret Diary Of A Serial Killer. Each post will be a new chapter in the story – I’m really excited to finally get this novel idea out of my head and into words. I hope you enjoy it! 🙂

Previous Chapter: Noticed Start from A: Anna

 

Oversight

Capinski and I made a plan to meet the next day 30 minutes before work so we could begin to plan a kill together. The thought excited me a little – to see someone else work up close – but also worried me that he had such a skewed view of my part in this.

I didn’t want to be like him. He killed surrogates instead of the women he clearly wanted to kill. He was weak.

But he was willing to let me in. If I could just play the part of doting sidekick, I’d be able to see him kill. And that thought thrilled me.

Still, there was no way I trusted him so on my way home I parked at a local restaurant, made my way inside and out through a side exit. Hiding in the shadows I headed for a cafe down the street and called myself a cab.

I called Johnny as I was on the way to Sunrise Diner, leaving a brief message apologizing for running late.

As usual he was sitting in a corner booth. I smiled as I made my way over.

“So you’re still alive?” He said. He tried to play it off jokingly but I could tell he was really concerned.

“Takes more than a serial killer to get rid of me,” I said.

He pushed a cup of coffee towards me. “Have you eaten?”

I shook my head. “But I’ll wait for the waitress on my own time,” I said before he could annoy anyone.

He laughed. “No need, I already ordered a couple of burgers. Hopefully that’s ok, I remembered you had one last time.”

Interesting, I thought. “Sure.”

We chatted for a while, eating burgers and drinking coffee like old friends, even though we barely knew anything about each other and went out of our way to keep it like that.

“So, you’re really not going to tell me,” Johnny said,

“Tell you what?” I mumbled around a bite of burger.

“Who made the call! I could tell you knew the voice.”

“Oh, that.” I shrugged. “I can’t discuss the case.”

His look told me he didn’t believe that was the whole truth. But he didn’t ask again.

“How’s my phone coming along?” I said.

“It’s coming,” he said. “What they did wasn’t very sophisticated – I’ll spare you the tech jargon. But if you can give me until tomorrow I’ll have added a few…extras for you.” He grinned.

I laughed. “Sure, I can wait.”

“You two look cozy,” a familiar voice said over my shoulder.

Johnny’s face froze, staring behind me.

I turned round and looked at Capinski.

“Not going to introduce us?” He said, with a forced smile.

Next Chapter: Partner

April 19, 2017
Writing
5 Comments

Noticed (Secret Diary Of A Serial Killer)

This month I’m taking part in the A-Z Challenge! Which means I’ll be writing 26 posts (on set days through the month) each one corresponding to a letter of the alphabet. Today is day 14, which means letter N.

My theme for the month is: Secret Diary Of A Serial Killer. Each post will be a new chapter in the story – I’m really excited to finally get this novel idea out of my head and into words. I hope you enjoy it! 🙂

Previous Chapter: Motive Start from A: Anna

 

Noticed

The moment the doors closed Capinski was on me, pushing me against the wall. My hand reached for my gun but before I could draw it, he kissed me.

It was the briefest moment – his lips touching mine, then he was across the elevator pressing against the far wall.

I left my hand resting on my gun.

“What was that?” My voice an angry whisper.

“I’m sorry,” he said. Something flashed across his face; he was a mix of emotions. “I’m sorry. I-” He shook his head not knowing what to say.

I pointedly looked at the camera in the corner of the elevator then said, “Outside?”

He nodded.

My own emotions were tumbling around as we walked across the station, through the doors and into the parking lot. Capinski went to the far corner, away from cameras and out of earshot.

I leaned against the wall, looking casual but my body was so tense. Ready for whatever he was going to do.

When he didn’t speak, I raised an eyebrow. “I know you’ve been killing the women,” I said.

His face was back to it’s usual restfulness, not giving anything away.

“And I know it was you who called the tip line. You who moved Anna’s body.” I lowered my voice to a whisper, “I know you saw me.”

He nodded once.

“Everything you’ve done the past 24 hours has pointed to you being pissed off. That you wanted me caught, or to pin it all on me,” I said. “But then you kiss me? What game are you playing?”

He ran a hand through his hair. I could tell he was choosing his words carefully.

“I did see you, in the forest,” he said. “It was pure accident. I was out there…” he paused and put his hands in his pockets. “You made me have to choose a different location.”

“Which made you angry,” I said, prompting him to continue.

He nodded. “Not at first,” he said. “At first I was curious who was out to do the same thing that I was. I parked my truck further away then walked back to get a closer look. There was a light on in one of the cabins so I went to check that out while you were posing her.”

I relaxed a little. He hadn’t been following me the whole time, it was just a weird coincidence.

“That’s how I found her name,” Capinski said. “Her I.D. was on the kitchen counter. I could tell you’d be coming back to clean up so I didn’t look around too much. I hid outside until you came back and that’s when I saw your face.”

I smiled. “Quite a shock, huh?”

He laughed. “Yeah!” His laugh died down and his face became more serious. “But then I went to see the body and realised you were a copycat. I thought you were trying to pin it on me, to leave some evidence behind pointing to me because you’d already figured out I was the killer.”

“Oh,” I said. “No, it wasn’t like that at all.”

Ok it was a little bit like that, I thought to myself. Except I didn’t know he was the killer, but I definitely was trying to pin it on him.

He nodded. “I got angry at first and wanted to make you pay, but after we spent the day working the case I realised you didn’t have any clue that it was me. Well, until now.”

“So the kiss was…” I let the question hang in the air.

He smiled. “I finally realised you were copying my work as a compliment! You didn’t want to pin it on me, you wanted to be like me.”

Oh boy, I thought to myself.

Next Chapter: Oversight

April 18, 2017
Writing
3 Comments

Motive (Secret Diary Of A Serial Killer)

This month I’m taking part in the A-Z Challenge! Which means I’ll be writing 26 posts (on set days through the month) each one corresponding to a letter of the alphabet. Today is day 13, which means letter M – the midway point!

My theme for the month is: Secret Diary Of A Serial Killer. Each post will be a new chapter in the story – I’m really excited to finally get this novel idea out of my head and into words. I hope you enjoy it! 🙂

Previous Chapter: Liar Start from A: Anna

 

Motive

Capinski drove to pick up take out, while I waited at the station for Carly to do the autopsy.

It didn’t take long for the food to arrive and we both ate in silence, each at our own desks. I tried not to glance his way too much, but kept him in view from the corner of my eye. He didn’t look my way once.

Mid way through my 3rd egg roll Capinski got a call. He listened to the caller, then hung up without saying a word.

“We’re needed downstairs,” he said to me, before pushing the last bite of a dumpling in his mouth.

I let him walk ahead of me. Even riding in the elevator I stood slightly behind him, and then followed him down the hall. He didn’t show any sign of worry that I was at his back, and I started to doubt I had even heard his voice on the recording – is this really how a killer acts?

Yes, I said to myself. I act just as normal around him and I kill all the time.

Carly was writing on a chart as we made our way closer to the table, Capinski hanging further back – away from Carly, I realised.

“What did you need to show us?” I said.

The mute Capinski leaned against the door frame.

“Time of death indicates she was killed the same night as Anna Barlow, but earlier in the evening,” said Carly.

“Come and look,” I said to Capinski, hoping my tone wasn’t too teasing.

The look he shot me said otherwise.

“I found lacerations on Anna’s feet,” Carly continued. “Like she’d been walking, or running, on something sharp.”

I stayed silent.

“This victim doesn’t have that, nor do any of the other women,” Carly said. “Maybe Anna was dumped differently because she escaped? Just a hypothesis, of course.”

“Maybe,” I said.

She handed me a file.

“This must be strange for you,” I said, pointing to the body.

“How so?” She frowned at me.

She really didn’t see the resemblance between the victims and herself, I realised.

“Oh, just dealing with so many victims from one killer,” I said.

She shrugged.

“That’s the preliminary findings from Anna Barlow’s autopsy,” she said, pointing to the file in my hand. “I’ll have the latest victim’s file to you as soon as possible.”

“Thanks,” I said, and heard the door close behind Capinski before I could even turn around.

I caught up with him waiting for the elevator to arrive. After a long silence the doors opened and we both stepped inside. I pressed the button for our floor.

“So, you know,” he said, looking straight ahead.

“Yeah,” I said, watching the doors roll closed.

Next Chapter: Noticed

April 16, 2017
Writing
3 Comments

Liar (Secret Diary Of A Serial Killer)

This month I’m taking part in the A-Z Challenge! Which means I’ll be writing 26 posts (on set days through the month) each one corresponding to a letter of the alphabet. Today is day 12, which means letter L.

My theme for the month is: Secret Diary Of A Serial Killer. Each post will be a new chapter in the story – I’m really excited to finally get this novel idea out of my head and into words. I hope you enjoy it! 🙂

Previous Chapter: Killer Start from A: Anna

 

Liar

“You still there?” Johnny said.

“I have to go,” I said.

“Wait! Do you know who-”

I ended the call, cutting him off mid-sentence. I breathed out slowly, and turned to face Capinski. He raised an eyebrow.

“Just…my Dad,” I said, putting the phone back in my pocket. “Let’s get through the rest of these stores.”

None of the shop owners or staff remembered seeing Anna. I was pretty certain she’d been in some of their shops, but dying her hair and cutting it to match the other victims seemed to be enough to fool everyone’s memory.

Capinski got a text. “They found another body,” he said.

I watched his expression, trying to see if he might give anything away for this new body being his kill rather than mine. He didn’t look any different than normal.

“I’ll follow you,” I said, and smiled to myself that I really would be following his every move from now on.

We drove out towards the forest where I’d killed and left Anna’s body, but instead of turning left towards the cabins, we drove straight for another 2 miles.

I began to wonder when and where Capinski had seen me with Anna. Had he been planning to abduct her but caught me doing it instead? He’d obviously seen me leave her body in the forest, and then moved her body after I left, but did he know before then?

We turned onto a dirt road that led to an area of cabins that was occupied year round.

Risky, I thought to myself. For him to dump a body out here with so many potential witnesses.

We both parked as close as the extra police cars would allow us – the scene was swarming with uniformed officers, crime scene techs, and the coroners van was parked further up the dirt road.

“Hey Carly,” I said, as I ducked under some crime scene tape and made my way towards where I presumed the body was.

“Hey,” she said, sounding puzzled.

“What’s wrong?” I looked around to see where Capinski was, and noticed he was back near the coroner’s van talking to some officers.

“I’ll do more tests to be sure of exact time of death,” Carly said, standing up. “But it seems she was killed the same night as Anna Barlow.”

“Interesting,” I said.

My mind started to wander – had he first seen me and Anna when he was out to dump his own body? I turned away from Carly, so she didn’t see me trying to suppress a laugh.

Next Chapter: Motive

April 15, 2017
Writing
2 Comments