Brutal

6

"What! Hello? Hello?" She set the handset aside and raked her hand through her hair. "The fuck!"

"What's wrong?"

"Murder in an apartment in 14th street, Manhattan."

"Who told you?"

"I have no clue. He just gave the info and hung up."

"Well, anyway, let's check the scene out."

The apartment was huge. Ginormous; and lavishly furnished.

"I'll go check on her, Cooper. You check for clues and evidence."

"Yep."

After a few moments of checking on Jade's body, Ford went to the other room to find Cooper.

"Found something?"

"Oh yes! That's the same picture we found in Laura's dorm. Just that this one is complete."

"That's it. Send a copy to Reed, find out who the fourth girl is. What else?"

"Nothing. Besides the fact that this all lavishness is because of her brother Hunter Radcliffe. An NHL dude."

"You think I care? Her family's rich, good, but that's beside the point. He or his money don't matter."

"Well, okay."

"Send the cans of Coke to Nebreski. I'm certain he's drugged her too."

"Your wish is my command," he said, dramatizing each and every syllable.

"Shut up!"

He chuckled. "Okay."

After making all the necessary arrangements, he came back walking ever so slowly.

"Now, Ford, tell me about our vic."

"Name, Jade. Age twenty, like the other two. Killed in the same way as Suskind and Beckett. A, dammit, copycat. He has used a reference. It is fucking impossible to be so precise and exact in every stab, every cut."

"Right."

"Send her body to Ross, tell him to do an autopsy ASAP."

"Got it." He turned on his heels but stopped. "Oh, by the way, did you find out who reported the murder?"

"No!"

"No? That's weird. Why wouldn't he wait?"

"I don't know. But he's not important. Radcliffe has got more clues with her than the other two. She's the one that will get us through. And, if you ask me, I am certain she's the last in his revenge."

"What makes you say that?"

"Instinct," she smirked. Her phone pinged. "Hey, it's Reed, he found out about the fourth girl. He's asked us to come as quick as possible."

"Let's go then, the officers will take care of the rest."

She stormed into Reed's office.

"What do you have?"

"Good news."

"Which is?"

"This young lady right there is called Marine Daniels. She was killed—stabbed—the same way the killer did for these three women."

"Good. What else?"

"Her case was investigated—not really—by Lieutenant Finn, who's now the Sheriff in some small town."

"A sheriff?"

"Yeah. He was demoted by our then Commander because he was corrupt, and he didn't pay attention to cases without getting some profit. Daniels's case being one in the many."