The Berk PD Case Files: Zugzwang

The Berk PD Case Files: Zugzwang

It was late at night when a pickup parked near a lake. No one immediately got out of the car and the windows started to fog up slightly.

"Come on babe, it'll be fun," A guy said while smirking. The headlights of the truck were cast towards the lake as he helped a woman climb out.

"Are you sure about this?" She asked while leaning in and kissing the man on the cheek.

"Didn't you always say you wanted to go skinny dipping?" The man now chuckled.

"I still can't believe I showed you my bucket list," The woman giggled as she took off her blouse and placed it on the hood of the car.

"It will be fine," The guy said as he pulled her close for a snuggle.

After the couple took off their clothes they ran into the water. "Oh my God, it's freezing!" The lady exclaimed.

"I can help you warm up," The man uttered which earned him a slap on the shoulder.

"You can be such a lech you know," The woman joked as the guy embraced her as they floated in the water. Just as the man was leaning in for a kiss they bumped into something floating underwater.

"What was that?" The lady asked. "I think I just bumped into something," In response, the guy dove underwater to check but suddenly released the breath he had been holding due to shock.

"We need to go now!" The guy uttered as he grabbed to woman's arm to head back to the shore.

"What... Hey! Jeremy! What the Hell!" The woman shouted at his sudden forcefulness.

-0-

The lakefront was cordoned off by yellow police tape by the time Hiccup and Astrid arrived. It was early in the morning, the sun was only now showing itself, and neither detective had had their fill of coffee yet.

"What do we have officer?" Hiccup asked the cop that let them through the tape. Reporters were already showing up at the scene as news traveled fast.

"Cathleen and Jeremy Thompson, married for two years. Went skinny dipping on their anniversary. They called in the body around 2:20 AM." The officer indicated to a wet couple that had been given blankets and was waiting near the ambulance as the scene unfolded.

"Then why are there two bodies?" Astrid asked as she spotted two body bags on the shore.

"The couple found the first body, and CSU divers recovered a second corpse when sweeping the lake." The officer explained. "Both John Does so far."

"WE GOT ANOTHER ONE!" The shout caused the detectives and officers to look towards the lake where a man on the police boat was waving. A diver reemerged from the lake not so far from the boat indicating that there was indeed another body down there.

"You know what they say about threes," Hiccup muttered while frowning.

"It's a crowd?" Astrid responded.

"It's a serial killer," He corrected.

-0-

When Hiccup and Astrid got back to the precinct they were immediately shown to the conference room where Mala was about to give a briefing. They sat down next to each other and Gobber, bless his heart, offered both of them a coffee from Starbucks.

"Attention everyone," The Captain said as she entered the room. "Many of you have already seen the news so you'll know what this is about." She continued. "As of 5:30 AM this morning six bodies were recovered from Lake Draeke. The first body was reported at 2:23 AM. CSU divers found five more bodies weighed down with rocks in the lake. So far only one of these bodies has been identified." Mala then pressed a button and a photo and driver's license popped up on the screen behind her. "Meet Jacob Summers. According to the ME's preliminary, he seems to have been the latest victim. What we know so far is that he's been reported missing four days ago by his wife. Mr. Summers lived and worked in Wyoming."