NIGHT MOVES

RED

I couldn't believe the sight that greeting me. In the living room the cusions on the floor were split open. The coffee table on it's side and the lamps lay shattered on the floor. The safe was wide open, it's door creeking. the painting that concealed the safe layed on the floor.Yet bliss rolled through me that "they" the perp, was greeted by nothing. I stepped over the clutter and went into the bedroom to a worse sight. The phone was off the cradle and the song, "Cat's In The Cradle," by "Harry Chapin." The nightstand on it's side with the drawers rolled out. The chifforobe and other nightstand were turned over on the floor. My suitcase looked like a gutted pig. Clothes and shoes were strewn all over the place. It's pockets were unzipped and on it's side. The neatly made comforter and throw lay near the bathroom. Pillows were deflated with their stuffing strewn around the frame. While the mattress was slashed with it's innards falling out. It lay halfway on the floor and propped up by the box spring. That was also slashed and a few springs had been ripped out. Yet the gravy on the turkey was the writing. On the wall over my bed was a written warning in red spray paint.

"Worse will happen to you if your agency doesn't drop the case of Roscoe Culpepper."

On the next wall it continued; "You're incapable of matching my intelect, Rayven Bloomington."

The third wall was one more message, "As I'll always be three steps ahead you, I wish you luck in your attempt. Scarlett Glass."

I turned this way and that calmly taking in the message. Curious to know who "She" was and her motive behind offing Roscoe Culpepper. As I couldn't answer those questions I returned my focus onto the mess. I wasn't surprised by it as I knew it was an inevitable possibility. Yet nothing as thrilling as this had ever happened to me. I shook my brain and remembered my training. I took out my phone and began snapping pictures, as my "Nikon" was among the damaged. I felt the presence of a figure and a gasp. I new for a fact it had to be Audrey. I could visualize her frozen in my doorway with mouth agape.

"Is that you Aud?" I yelled as headed towards the living room.

"What the Devil happened? You're not injured are you, Rayven? Rayven!" I heard Audrey exclaim from the next room.

"I'm the bedroom! Join me if you can manage it! I'm in the middle of takin' photo evidence." I calmly called to her.

As I snapped I turned at the sound footfalls and Audrey frozen in the doorway. I watched as her eyed roamed from the mess to the walls. I couldn't tell which freaked her more. The mess or the creepy writing. It seemed it was the writing as her eyes stayed focused on it.

"I-I can't believe this actually transpired! And tha-t that message just, ighhhh, gives me the heeby-jeebies!" My back was turned yet, I caught Audrey's shadow shiver.

"As I said earliuh it was an inevitable possibility. Which is why I took my precaution." I paused my snapping to reveal the tapes in my bralette.

"Is it possible to know if anythin' was stolen, Ray?" I heard the snap of Audrey's phone.

"I'm unsure at the moment, as I'm concerned about accumulating evidence. After we've shot everythin' I'll go through my travel log. It'll be a slow process as there's so many destroyed items. Howevuh I'm sure I won't find missin' a thing." I went into the bathroom to check the state of things.

The bathroom was tiptop shape, except for the open cubards under the sink. I returned to the bedroom and Audrey.

"Ready to snap the scene in the thliving area, Aud?"

"Sure. Gosh how are you so calm, Ray-Ray? You almost seem giddy!"

"Cuhvuh and I've seen similar in the biz. When you continually see elements as this, it becomes day-to-day. I can't say I've ever been ransacked. We must be in a hot area and they wanted to give us a fright." I shrugged before stepping past her.