abandoned ➪Small Town Murders [henpat]

2

June 15, 1974
Age 28

Saturday and he was still in the office. He sighed, resting his chin on the palm of his hand, elbow on his paper covered desk. In front of the man sat a blank screen. He was supposed to be writing a report for the latest murder in the police's currant case- but he couldn't seem to bring himself to do it. The murder was so violent.. so personal, but the others had been as well. Their latest girl was only about twenty or so and they believed she was a college student; all the others were. She'd been kidnapped, brutally tortured and sexually assaulted, and then partially dismembered and strewn about the town like Easter eggs. Despite their best efforts, the team still hadn't found one of her arms. They couldn't identify her either due to the fingertips on the arm they did have being cut off and most of her teeth being knocked from her head.. A couple organs were missing too, much to their disturbance. None of the other women were missing organs. This was the type of shit you saw in horror movies, not the type of thing that happened in the real world, especially not in small towns like theirs- but then there they were, four murders in and seemingly many more to go. He and his team had no leads, though they had many samples of dna. Apparently the guy they were searching for had no criminal record. He found it insane- How could someone so violent have no history? They were currently working on getting records from all over the world instead of just there in Maine.

The young man sighed quietly and shook his head, rubbing his hands over his face and through his messy hair before turning his computer back on. He reluctantly started to type out the report, but was interrupted by a knock on his door frame, his door was open. He spins around in his chair as he heard Victor say his name. Victor Criss was an old friend of his, from middle school, and his partner. They'd gone through training together, worked every case together, they were close as brothers. Tilting his head at the other man, he asked "What is it? Any updates on our latest girl?" Victor sighed and walked in, pulling over the chair that had been sat near the door and turning it so he could sit with his arms rested on the back. "Bad news and good news.. We found her other arm, and her purse. Her id, credit cards, money, etc. were all there- like all the others. Her name was Stacy Brancom" He nodded as Victor spoke, biting at his lower lip. "And the bad news?" Victor looked down to the floor "We've found another body" The older man's shock was obvious. "It's only been two days!" He exclaimed with alarm. Victor nodded and his gaze went back up to meet the other's as he heard his friend speak again. "Please tell me it's not new" Another sigh from the younger. "I'm sorry man, she seems to be killed just earlier today. Our guy works fast.. he's starting to get more violent- more blood thirsty..."

"Fuck Vic- how can we not find him?? This town is tiny- He's killed two people I know personally already, we've interviewed everyone we can!" The younger blonde shook his head, opening his mouth to speak. "Henry Bowers!" A female voice. "There's a phone call for you!" The man got up, nodding at his friend as to excuse himself. He then walked out and over to the phone near the lobby of the station. "Thank you, Terry" The young woman smiled and nodded, going back to writing things on a paper- seemed to be a grocery list. "Hello?" Henry wasn't sure who would be calling him specifically, but he was prepared for anything. As he waited for whoever it was to speak, he rubbed his thumb over a ring attached to his keychain. It didn't fit him anymore, but he refused to get rid of it.

"Hello?" He asked again, now confused on who was calling and why. "Can I help you?" Was this a prank call? And then a voice sounded. A deep, raspy voice that sounded vaguely familiar. "It's so good to hear you again.. Henry~" The man felt goosebumps spread over his skin as the hair on the back of his neck raised. "Who is this?" His own, more aggressive tone. "If this is a prank, it's not funny" Another long pause. "I've missed you a lot.. Glad you're still around" The other man sounded as if he hadn't spoke in ages and that only added to Henry's disturbance. "I'm serious, cut it out. If this is one of you trouble making high school boys, I will have a talk with your parents" There was a pause, then a low laugh. Henry hung up, shivering. It was genuinely terrifying, he didn't even want to find out who it was.. but he had to- he needed to know. Henry thanked the girl and told her to ask someone to try and figure out where the call was coming from. She nodded, her eyes not leaving the paper as she wrote what he assumed was a reminder to do so on the corner of it. The man headed back to his office and found that Victor was no longer there. He must have had other things to do. He didn't want to be alone, not after that call. Memories were being brought up, ones he didn't enjoy. The call had made him just.. think. The tone of the male's voice on the other end was familiar, as if he'd actually known him- he just couldn't put a name to the voice. Maybe someone he'd known as a child? This would drive him crazy-