On a windy June evening Officer Mineo pulled slowly into the parking lot of the park. It was going to storm according to the weatherman. He hoped the forecast was wrong but it didn't look like it. *All I need to make my night is a crime scene in the middle of a thunderstorm.* He was responding to an anonymous tip about a possible body in the park. He hated anonymous tips even though he had dealt with more than his fair share in his 20 years on the force. In his mind if someone was afraid to give their name or to stick around to be interviewed then they had something to hide. He was usually right.
He parked, opened the door, and got out of the car, looking around and seeing no one. Thunder boomed in the distance as he ranged from side to side up the main walkway from the lot looking for any signs of a body or foul play, his light flicking back and forth ahead and to either side of him. The park was closed to the public at night and not well lit. Mineo wasn't normally given to jumping at shadows but tension was in the air; the night sky was obscurred by clouds from the threatening storm and the occasional flash of lightning gave the park a surreal aspect, making it seem like anything could happen at any moment.
About 50 yards up the path it did. A flash of lighting caused something to catch his eye off to the left of the walkway.
"Anyone there?" he called. "Hey! This is the police. Are you ok?" He thought he could make out a person in the flickering light.
As he brought his flashlight to bear a pale form was illuminated. Mineo slowly walked towards the it, realizing as he got closer that it was the naked body of a man laying face up in the grass.
"Fuck!" he muttered to himself as he pulled his radio off of his belt. "Dispatch, this is Officer Mineo requesting back up. I've got a possible 187 in the park near the south lot. Call Keller and Bayliss, I think they'll want a look at this one."
The rain was starting fall in fat drops as Detective Chris Keller and his partner Detective Tim Bayliss arrived at the park. Officer's Mineo and Howell had secured the scene and covered the body and the area immediately surrounding it with plastic in hopes of preserving any possible evidence from the storm.
"Keller, this looks like one of yours. White male, early to mid 30s, blond hair and he appears to have been strangled. The body looks like it's been stripped and dumped here" Mineo said as Keller and Bayliss approached the body. "I asked for you since you are primary on the strangler case."
"We didn't take too close of a look at the body" Howell added, giving both Keller and Bayliss a frank, appraising stare. "There does appear to be a footprint by the left leg. It's covered by the plastic. Hopefully that'll keep the rain off of it long enough for you to check it out."
"Where's the M.E.? Fucking rain is going to ruin any chance of getting anything off of the body if we don't hurry!" Chris said. "Tim--"
"The M.E. is right behind you and moving as fast as she can" a petite, older woman said walking up behind Keller.
"Hi Pete" Chris said turning to face the woman with a ghost of a smile flashing across his face. "Tim Bayliss, meet Peter Marie Reimondo. Pete, this is Tim, my new partner."
"Nice to meet you" Tim said, a little unsure of himself. Tim had just made Detective a few weeks before and been assigned to partner with Keller, who's former partner had recently retired.
"Nice to meet you, too young man. Now I need to get to work." Peter Marie approached the body and was all business from that point on.
"Tim, I want you to photograph the whole crime scene as Pete is uncovering the body. Make sure you get a several shots of that footprint. We won't have much time. The rain is picking up." The rain was coming down in a steady drizzle now.
"Sure, I'll get right on it" Tim said moving carefully up by Peter Marie as she knelt examining the body.
"Chris, this is what...the third body with this M.O. in the past 3 months?" Pete asked while making her initial examination. Chris was examining the area around the body, walking in circles working his way into where the body actually lay.
"Yeah, this thing is going to blow up in our faces if we don't get a break soon. The killer is careful, not leaving us much to go on--Fuck!" Chris cursed as he noticed another familiar face hurrying up the walkway. Gloria Nathan was intercepted by Howell before she could reach Chris and the body. "Damn! Press. Tim get those photos. I need to take care of Ms. Nathan before this gets out of hand. Mineo! Don't let anyone else near this fucking body!"
"Listen, you bitch! I said you weren't getting anywhere near that body and I fucking mean it!" Howell was her usual charming self.
"I'm with the press. You know you can't keep me out of here. I'll--" Gloria Nathan shouted back at Howell.
"Look, Cunt, I can do whatever I want. You're on the verge of interfering with an on-going investigation. You may be able to flash that pretty face and those tits around to most people and get what you want but it doesn't work with--"
"Ladies, I think we all need to take a couple of breaths and calm down before things get out of hand" Chris interrupted as he walked up, flashing *his* pretty face and dazzling smile. Gloria's assets may not have an effect on Howell but Chris's were an entirely different story and he wasn't above using them if need be. It'd take a colder bitch than Howell to resist Chris Keller in all his glory. Gloria could appreciate a good look as well.
"Now," he went on "what's the problem?"
"Nathan knows she shouldn't be here. She's not getting anywhere near that body."
"So you admit that there is a body? Damn Howell you keep making observations like that you will make detective one day." Gloria Nathan had a one track mind and never forgot an insult. The former made her a great reporter even though she could be a pain in the ass to the police, the latter got her into trouble on occasion. Once she latched onto something she wouldn't let it drop.
"Ladies, play nice" Chris warned, sighing as he continued "Yes, Ms. Nathan, there is a body. The M.E. is examining it now. That's all I can say right now. We don't have any information yet. Let us do our jobs and we'll give you what information we can as soon as we can." He turned to Howell "Pete should just about be finished now. Keep everyone away from the scene but let's stay calm, shall we?"
"Is it another strangler victim, Keller?" Chris shot Gloria a look that told her in no uncertain terms she wasn't getting anything else from him. Unfazed, she continued "Okay, okay, I'll expect to hear from you soon." Gloria had been snowballed by Chris before and it wasn't going to happen again.
Chris sighed again "Yes, Gloria, I'll call as soon as I have anything I can tell you." A suddenly very tired Chris Keller turned and walked back to where Bayliss and Pete were finishing up. *Something's got to give soon. He's got to slip up and leave us something soon.*
"You got everything, Tim?"
"Yeah, we couldn't get a cast from the footprint; it's too soft and the rain's pretty much ruined it. Got pictures of everything, though, and a diagram. We're set."
"How about you, Pete? Can you tell us anything now?" Chris asked.
"Not a whole lot til we've done an autopsy. From the bruising it looks like he'd been beaten over a couple of days and the chafing around his wrists and ankles indicates he was probably bound while he was beaten. I'll let you know if I find anything else." She turned to leave and paused seeming as weary as Chris felt. "I'll see you boys. Chris, stop by sometime. It's been too long."
*Look at those fools* he thought to himself as he drove past the park and saw the flashing lights of the cops and the emergency vehicles. He knew he'd gotten away with it again.
He'd made that little blond boy love him before he was finished. He'd told him he loved him even as he begged for his life. He'd begged him to have his way with him as he penetrated him over and over. He could see it in his eyes even as he choked the life out of him. *Yes, little Jeffrey Johnson had been his, body and soul, before he had finished with him.*
His next victim had already been picked out. A pretty little blond like all the others. He was a lawyer. He thought he was so much better than everyone else. He'd learn just like all the others had. *He'll tell me how much he loves me before he dies* he paused, a chilling grin coming to his face, *Tobias, I'm coming for you...*
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