Privet Eie

U.S.M: part 2

"So." Privet began, "we need to go to the United States, specifically New Mexico, to conduct an investigation. Rock, paper, scissors over who pays for the flight."

"Shouldn't you do it as the older person here?"

"Absolutely not." Privet said firmly. "We have to rock, paper, scissors for it."

    Saundra rolled her eyes and agreed, Saundra's frustration quickly grew as she lost, once, twice, three times. Grudgingly, she bought the tickets and went off to pack. Privet followed suit, at the airport, Privet remembered he had set money aside from other jobs, like the Guilty case, specifically for this kind of thing, he also got a call from the government saying they would pay for their plane tickets, but Privet politely refused and didn't tell Saundra. Three hours later they were on a direct flight to New Mexico. The whole way, Saundra complained about how expensive the tickets were, and Privet almost felt bad.

    Upon arrival in the U.S. a man in a suit and dark sunglasses, who introduced himself as SSS (Secret Sunny Service) agent James Uno, directed the pair to an official-looking black car.

"What's with all the secrecy?" Privet asks as he clambers in after Saundra.

"Standard procedure sir, to make sure nothing is leaked," Came the almost rehearsed line.

"But we don't know anything yet. If anything, this is more suspicious."

The only response was the closing of the car door and the engine revving to life. The car vroomed on for a couple of miles before stopping in front of the White House. Once there Privet and Saundra were led through the front door and down a flight of stairs, into the Emergency Operations Center under the White House. They were taken to a dimly lit room, where the President was sitting behind a large wooden desk with miscellaneous papers, pencils, and other office supplies scattered around on top of it.

"Soundra, Privet, so glad you guys could make it. We have some information about the killer."

The President looked up, noticing the bodyguard standing ominously behind them in the doorway.

"Eric, you may go," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Eric left without a sound.

"Ok, so what do you want?" Saundra asked, kicking her feet up onto the desk as if she owned the place.

The president looked a bit annoyed but continued, having more pressing matters to attend to.

"As you know, this killer, who we've dubbed WERK, or West to East Killer, has been going about murdering my beautiful citizens. So far we have found no connection between any of the victims...but that's where you come in"

"WERK? Really? You pay those people so much and they're supposed to be the best of the best and that's all they can come up with?" Saundra mocked.

"Yes"

"Please excuse my assistant, she's new to this line of work."

"No, I'm not."

"Whatever, what should we start on, Mr. President?"

"Just try and get information on this WERK guy. The more info the better. Keep an eye out in the papers as well."

"Might I see the autopsy reports?"

"Of course"
The meeting goes on for a little while, mostly mundane facts already known. Once over, however, the president sent for a copy of the autopsy reports of the victims to be sent to Privet's hotel room. Then he and Saundra went to get lunch and mull over the known details of WERK.

Privet took the first stab, "So clearly this killer is working their way east, but what does that mean? Why would they go in such a predictable pattern?"

"If their path was predictable, wouldn't the president and his men have a better idea of where the killer was going to be? They would have a much easier time finding them."

"True, but this guy, or girl, is clever, they aren't going up to down, only east to west, which narrows the targets down, but not enough"

Before the conversation could continue, their food arrived. Privet saw a slim sliver of white in his sandwich and grabbed a small note.

The paper read as follows: "If you value anything good in your lives, leave America, give up the chase, say it is too hard, and I'll leave you alone"

Privet sat bolt upright in his seat, Soundra giving him a concerned look. Was the WERK here? Is the threat valid? Why would the killer be here and not farther east? Privet shakes and hands the note to Saundra, "What say you?"

"Oh, shutshlt,." she mumbles as she reads the note, eyes wide.

"Maybe we shouldn't get sandwiches here ever again."

After Privet informed the president of what had happened, he was offered the chance to leave, being told it was completely understandable if he were to value his loved ones. Although the president made it clear that Privet would be dishonoring his country by leaving. Later, back at the hotel, Privet questioned Saundra for advice, "What are you planning to do?" he asked her with a solemn undertone.

"Mostly just stay alive. I've concluded that as long as you want to stay, I'll stay as well. There's no point in separating. Maybe we can check the note for fingerprints, although I doubt whoever wrote the note was dumb enough to leave DNA."

"I appreciate your sacrifice. For now, let's read over these reports, I feel like I am missing something"

The autopsy reports had come in earlier that morning and showed the following results:

20 people, aged 15-27: death by a bullet wound to the abdomen: Specifically steel bullet cores.

20 people, aged 30-50: death by extreme pressure to the abdominal area, creating mass disturbances and bowel movements that led to death.

10 people, aged 19-40: death by a stab to the heart.

50 people, all aged 15-50: death by poison, specifically green arsenic.

"This person likes killing through the abdomen, hence the poison and bullet wounds," Privet noticed with a hand to his stomach.

"They also seem to like the suffering of others, hence why they use pressure, poison, and a stab to the heart and bullet wound to the abdomen, all are deadly, but take a bit, this person is a sicko" Saundra added with a shiver.

"And now they are here, but why would they warn us? What have we done to deserve such forewarning?"

"Let's check the kitchen?"

"No, they wouldn't be there, too obvious"

"Well, can we do something? Please? I met this girl, Hellen Trot or something, she's pretty cool. I was planning on going out with her before we were brought here, can we speed this up?"

"A: No, these things take time, and B: It'd be pretty funny if she were the killer huh?"

Saundra's face clouded and Privet quickly apologized, realizing it was too soon to make light of Saundra's past mistakes. He quickly paid the bill and the two hurried to their hotel rooms for the night.