Obsession

Suspect: Chapter 44

The station was quiet at such an early hour in the AM. There were still at least three hours before the first rays of sunlight shot its light over the horizon and even though Regina's body screamed to lie down on a soft mattress and go right to sleep, she refused to yield to the lull that was becoming ever so convincing.

She needed to catch a break and one that would crack the case wide open. And she needed it now.

No phones rang, and no one was coming into the station to file any reports. The only sound that came from beyond the closed door of her office was the gentle murmurs of the officers on the graveyard shift, many of them chatting over cups of coffee to keep them awake.

It was a slow night despite the two murders and a killer at large. With no leads to follow, there was nothing for them to do until something came about.

"You really believe Nico Hoffman just wandered off?" Regina queried, incredulously. She turned and raised an eyebrow at Alan Kirkpatrick who slouched in a chair, his cheek propped against his palm.

Kirkpatrick yawned loudly. "He lost his girlfriend, Gina. Teenagers process things differently. And besides, it doesn't fit our killer's M.O., starting with the fact that our first two victims were female, and Nico is a full-blooded male."

Regina combed her fingers through her hair, letting out an exhausted sigh. "True. But there's still a link between all three."

"Let me guess. The Hastings boy."

Regina nodded. "And the fact that our killer detests bullies. In some way, they've all bullied Gabe." Regina yawned. "What's your status on Chris Choi?"

"Nothing worth mentioning. Nuclear family, happily married parents. There's never been concern for or reports of any domestic disputes between the parents that put Chris in danger. He's a good student. Sociable. Friends and family adore him. There's nothing I found that makes him a suspect. What about Julian Stroup?"

"Almost the exact same. There's nothing concerning about the information I found on him. I guess that leaves only Hart."

"Has Brady gotten back to you?" Kirkpatrick asked and just then, the landline on Regina's desk rang. She and Kirkpatrick exchanged glances before she reached over and answered the call, putting it on loud speaker.

"Sherriff Morris. How can I help?"

"Sherriff, it's Justin Brady. I got those files you wanted me to check out."

"Have you emailed them?"

"I'm just about to but would you still like a summary of what I found?"

Regina grabbed the yellow legal notepad and a pen. "I'm listening," she said as she gestured for Kirkpatrick to get behind a terminal to intercept the incoming email. There was silence on Brady's end for a moment as the man uploaded the last medical report to his email and then hit send.

Justin Brady rubbed at his eyes fighting off the lull of sleep. He was tired and wanted to retire for the night, but he knew that the Sherriff was in a hurry to catch a break. In all the years he had resided in Shaw – his whole life, much like Regina and her deputy, Alan Kirkpatrick – the town had never been struck with such callous evil.

Brady checked his own notepad and plopped it in front of him on his desk at the hospital. The second he had received the call from his assistant and then one from the Sherriff herself, he knew there was nothing like going straight home after returning from his trip.

"All of your suspects have been admitted to the E.R. or hospitalized at some point or the other."

"Walk us through it," Regina requested as Kirkpatrick gave her the thumbs up indicating that they had received the files. She pointed in the direction of the printer and Kirkpatrick set to work, organizing the reports to be printed.