A single bullet // M.C

02

"Nicola Smith, I'm here to report on this crime scene," I impatiently tapped my conversed covered foot against the hard pavement as I waited for the officer to let me past the caution sign tape.

"Have you got any proof of that?" He crossed his arms tightly against his chest making me inwardly groan before undoing my blazer style jacket flashing my reporter badge before hiding it from the world again. 

"Enough proof?" I smiled tilting my head as he went red in the face clearly not thinking I was telling the truth and thinking I just want to see the 5sos gangs latest new art piece that is splattered against the restaurant walls.

"Nicky what do I tell you about tormenting my officers?"

"Morgan my favourite officer, Alex not around today?" I turned and met a pair of blue and green coloured eyes with a pair of sunglasses slightly blocking them.

"Alex called off, wife's not very well so stayed with her." Morgan smiled opening his arms and letting me step into them. "And again why are you messing with my officers?"

"Why didn't you tell them I was reporting this gang? You always let your officers know so I don't have any trouble,"  I rebutted stepping back raising my voice at the end of the sentence so it reached the ears of the other officer. Asshole.

Morgan Johnson, head of the New York gang department, (yes they have to have a separate department to fixate solely on the 5sos gang) or to me, better known as my dear uncle.

"Because you know how much I hate the fact you report on these monsters. And it also drives your mom crazy that you do. The fact you took on this job nearly set Amelia into a fit."

Amelia Smith, or mother as I call her, a sweet young thing who hates anything to do with crime and murder, the two things I deal with nearly daily at work. If she had it her way I would be locked in my apartment working a small coffee shop job somewhere down the street hidden away so there was never any threat.

"You know though Morgan, I love the bit of excitement in my life. It's so boring without it."

"You do take after your dad with that, always in search for a threat or trouble."

Daniel Smith, dad nine times out of ten to me, a true crime lover who rubbed his love for it on me when I was born. One of the only things we really bond over (drives mom nuts) and my biggest fan especially when I'm reporting on popular gangs.

"Although this is one even he isn't that keen on." I sighed referring to a slightly mad toned text message I read this morning calling me stupid for accepting this job in the first place and then to single out a member! He couldn't believe it.

"None of us are," Morgan locked his eyes behind me before doing a matching sigh to my previous one "but I suppose the only way I can stop you is by arresting you, and we both know that isn't happening so let's go check it out." He stepped in front of me leading the way, my feet quickly following.

The sights that were hidden behind the corner of the building in a dingy alley shocked me to my core, blood was literally splattered everywhere. Four men were all beaten and cut up in the signature ways previously done however one single thing confused me. I pushed past Morgan, my feet moving quicker as I knelt down by one of the men, my hands reaching out to grasp him before pulling back.

How? Why? What?

I stared confused, my mind running hundred miles an hour just trying to come up with a logical explanation on why this happened. It couldn't be, surely.

"Nicky?" Morgan's voice sounded miles away as I just continued to stare, stare at the lifeless body in front of me just lying on the hard ground. A jolt ran through my body as a hand touched my shoulder tugging me backwards so I stepped and left the corpse. "Oh shit." Oh shit is right Morgan. It's right indeed.

I finally let my body stand up turning to face the man with tears filling my eyes. Disbelief very clear in them. Morgan's arms quickly pulled me to him as the water left its crevice running down my face quickly. Again, how? Why? What? 

"Can we get a bag over here?" Morgan yelled to his team before pulling me away his voice sounding all muffled.

"Why was he here?" I finally breathed out all my senses coming soaring back the further I was away. "Was he involved in this?" Millions of questions ran through my mind not giving it a single break. I never knew...

"Nic, none of us knew and I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation as to why he was murdered." Morgan firmly spoke making sure his words reached my ears. Against my own will I turned and faced it again just as the body was being zipped up.

"Wait!" I yelled running back over shocking Morgan and the officers as I did. It couldn't be. My eyes frantically searched the body, it definitely is, but why. "Morgan!" My voice wavered as nerves kicked in, I'm screwed, I'm so screwed. Morgan ran over in a panic looking me over before looking the body over.

"Oh Nicky... what have you done?" His eyes locked what mine have spotted only moments before. This was there for me to spot, only me spot. They are singling me out and letting me know they saw my report that was published.

A singular X was caved into the skin behind the ear.

"I didn't-. I mean-." I blurted out confusion clear in my tone as officers crowded us.

"How did you know?" I didn't know. How was I meant to know.

"They are toying with me Morg, you have to believe me." Concern clear in my voice over what these officers now think of me. This is the first time another mark has been made.

"Hey boss, I think you need to look at these other bodies." Morgan turned and walked over to the other three making me quickly follow.

Man number one, single bullet hole on the right side of his body.

Man number two, a slit across his throat and four fingers sliced off his hand.

Man number three, a shot through the forehead, quick and simple.

Add man number four, a single X and a mysterious way of killing.

This was a sick game to them and we were the ones being played, it was all planned out, they knew I would be here. And they wanted me to know they saw what I published and know me.

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