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 3, which means letter C.
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: Body Start from A: Anna
Captain
“Myers!” The Captain’s voice rang out through the station.
I turned to see him storming across the room, a strange mix of emotions on his face. I backed up until my legs hit Capinski’s desk.
“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” Captain Hood came to a halt a few inches from me, one hand starting to reach out for my arm, then dropping to his side after he thought better of it.
“I…” I tried to speak but he cut me off.
“We’ve been calling you all damn morning,” he said.
I reached in my pocket to show him I didn’t have any missed calls, but faltered when my hand found nothing but cloth and lint. I started groping at my other pockets.
“I must have left it in the car,” I said uncertainly.
“Sit,” Captain Hood barked, pointing to a chair.
I did, everything suddenly sinking in. They found the body which fitted the M.O. of the serial killer Capinski was looking for. The body, for whatever reason, had my name written on her arm and I hadn’t been answering my phone all morning. Which made sense why the Captain was a mix of angry and relieved, but why didn’t Capinski seem to care?
“I’m sorry I worried you,” I said to the Captain, before frowning at Capinski.
“I knew you were Ok,” Capinski said with a shrug. “You’re not his type.”
That was true. Other than being a woman I had nothing in common with the victims.
“Maybe it wasn’t even my name on her arm,” I said, grasping at straws to get me away from this case.
“Yes, because there are so many Delaney Myers in this town,” said the Captain, taking a seat next to me.
Well, he had me there. I felt a cold chill down my spine and tried to push down the slow panic that was setting in. How would the killer have known me? Why would he do this? Has he been watching me? My eyes flicked around the room and I tried to see out the window if anyone was near my car or watching the building.
“We don’t think he wants to hurt you,” Captain Hood said.
“Physically,” said Capinski.
“Yes thank you,” the Captain shot a look to Capinski before turning back to me. “What he means is,” he began, but I cut him off.
“He means the killer is hoping to pull me into the investigation. That he has a thing for me,” I said, quickly adding, “For whatever reason.”
“Exactly,” both men said at the same time.
“So what does that mean for me?” I asked.
There was no way I was getting out of this. No way they’d let me walk away from this case. If the killer wants to make it personal with me they’ll want me close to keep an eye on, in case he makes contact again.
“Meet your new partner,” said Captain Hood pointing to Capinski.
Capinski’s eyes went wide.
“Now both of you,” Hood said pointedly, “Go and check out what the coroner knows.”