The case

chap 30

### **Saturday Night Massacre**

#### **Chapter 1: The First Saturday**

It was a quiet Saturday night in the small town of Riverwood when the first victim was discovered. Emma Collins, a 28-year-old waitress at the local diner, was found dead in her apartment. The scene was gruesome—Emma had been brutally stabbed, her body left in a position that suggested a ritualistic element to the killing. The police were baffled, and the town was shaken to its core. Emma had no known enemies, and the randomness of the attack left everyone on edge.

Detective Michael Turner, a seasoned investigator with the Riverwood Police Department, was assigned to the case. He knew the town well, having grown up there, and the brutality of the murder was unlike anything he had ever encountered. Turner combed through Emma’s life, looking for any clues that might explain why she had been targeted, but nothing seemed to add up.

#### **Chapter 2: The Pattern Emerges**

One week later, on the next Saturday night, another body was found. This time it was a local high school teacher, Mr. Jameson, who was well-respected in the community. His murder was eerily similar to Emma’s—stabbed multiple times, his body arranged in the same ritualistic manner.

As Turner and his team investigated, they began to realize they were dealing with a serial killer, someone who struck only on Saturday nights. The randomness of the victims—people with no apparent connection to each other—made the case all the more terrifying. Riverwood was a small town, and the fear that anyone could be next began to spread like wildfire.

Turner worked around the clock, analyzing every detail, but the killer was meticulous, leaving no evidence behind. The only commonality was the day of the week and the method of the murders.

#### **Chapter 3: The Town in Fear**

By the third Saturday, Riverwood was in a state of panic. Businesses closed early, and the usually bustling streets were deserted by nightfall. Despite the increased police presence, the killer struck again, this time claiming the life of a local shop owner, Mrs. Harriet Green. The same brutal pattern, the same lack of evidence—Turner was growing increasingly frustrated and desperate.

The media picked up the story, dubbing the murderer the "Saturday Night Slasher." Turner hated the sensationalism, but he couldn’t deny that the name fit. The town’s once peaceful atmosphere had been shattered, replaced by an overwhelming sense of dread.

Turner knew they were running out of time. He began to focus on the idea that the killer might have a connection to the town’s history. He delved into old records, searching for anything that could provide a clue, but again, nothing seemed to fit.

#### **Chapter 4: A Break in the Case**

As the fourth Saturday approached, Turner received an anonymous tip. The caller claimed to have seen a suspicious figure near the scene of one of the murders but was too afraid to come forward earlier. The description was vague—a tall man in a dark coat—but it was the first lead Turner had received.

He mobilized his team, setting up surveillance around town in hopes of catching the killer before he could strike again. The tension was palpable as Saturday night descended on Riverwood. Every officer was on high alert, and Turner himself patrolled the streets, refusing to leave anything to chance.

Then, just after midnight, a call came in—another murder. Turner raced to the scene, but as he arrived, he realized something was different this time. The victim, a young man named Tom, was still alive, though barely. He had been stabbed but had managed to fight off his attacker long enough to crawl to a neighbor’s house for help.

Tom’s survival was a turning point. Despite his critical condition, he was able to provide a description of his attacker—an average-looking man with a cold, emotionless expression. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for Turner to focus his search.

#### **Chapter 5: The Final Saturday**

With Tom’s description in hand, Turner and his team began to narrow down potential suspects. They cross-referenced the information with known criminals, local residents, and anyone who had recently moved to the area. The investigation led them to a man named Richard Blake, a drifter with a history of mental illness and a fascination with violence.

Blake had been living in the outskirts of Riverwood, keeping to himself and working odd jobs. When Turner and his team arrived at Blake’s rundown house, they found evidence that linked him to the murders—bloody clothes, a knife matching the wounds on the victims, and newspaper clippings about the killings.

But Blake wasn’t there. As the team searched the property, they realized that Blake was planning one final attack. It was Saturday night, and Turner knew that Blake wouldn’t stop until he had claimed another victim.

The police set up roadblocks and searched the town, but Blake remained elusive. Just as Turner feared the worst, a report came in that a man matching Blake’s description had been spotted near the town’s park. Turner raced to the location, his heart pounding.

He found Blake standing in the middle of the park, holding a knife, his eyes wild with madness. Turner approached cautiously, his gun drawn. "It’s over, Blake," he said, trying to keep his voice calm. "Put the knife down."

But Blake didn’t listen. He lunged at Turner, screaming incoherently. Turner fired, the shot ringing out in the quiet night. Blake fell to the ground, the knife slipping from his grasp. It was over.

#### **Epilogue: The Aftermath**

Riverwood slowly began to heal after the nightmare of the Saturday Night Slasher. The town mourned the victims, but there was also relief that the terror had finally ended. Turner, though hailed as a hero, couldn’t shake the feeling that the town’s innocence had been lost forever.

The case closed, but the memory of those dark Saturday nights would haunt Riverwood for years to come, a reminder of the horror that had once gripped their peaceful town.