Mysterious Circumstances

Chapter 2 - Everything Happens For A Reason

5 April 2016, Saterday afternoon

*Detective Phelps POV*

"Hello?" I answer my phone, "Detective Phelps speaking."

"Hi, it's Jane speaking, the Pathologist assigned to your case."

"Oh yes, do we have a name?"

"Madison Richards."

"Isn't she..."

"Yes, the perfect girl that attends Pine Creek High? The one that volunteers at that animal shelter? The one that-"

"Okay, okay, I get the picture. She's perfect. Just like the others. This is definately a work of Careers. What esle do you have to tell me?"

"There was no trace of any I.D. again. Tell me there was evidence at the crime scene?"

"None what-so-ever. It frustrates the hell out of me! Why can't we just catch him?! He is too good for us. Why is there never any evidence? It boggles me!"

"Calm down! Eventually you will catch him, it all just takes time. Everything takes it's own time. This is all happening for a reason. Careers' reason might not be a good one, but it's a reason nonetheless."

"I'm a detective that specialises in the area of Serial Killers. I have never not solved a case before. So why can't I solve this one? Is he too good for me? Have I lost my special touch? Am I so bad I have to retire? WHY CANT I SOLVE THE CASE?"

"Maybe you just need to start small? Retrace your steps. Go back into your training, start there."

"Yea, I'll start there. Thanks Jane."

"I'll call you again with the autopsy results."

***

-15 minutes later-

I climb into the same Police Car as Detective Padrioor and I used on Friday. I drive slowly towards the crime scene - retracing our steps from Starbuck's in Long Street.

As I near the park I slow down even more, if possible. I drive slow 25m/ph circles around the park, looking for something. Anything.

There. Underneath the jungle bars. A deep slice through the earth. The only part of Central Park that is not covered in grass or flowers.

How could I miss it before? It was wide enough to fit Madison Richards body. I walk up tpo the muddy surface.

As i stand over it, only then do I notice how deep it is. I see claw marks underneath, digging deep. I think back to when I saw the body, she had mud underneath what was left of her jagged fingernails.

I call Detective Padrioor. "Hey, man. I  just discovered something that might help with the case."

"Really? I'll bring the team up with me."

"I'm at Central Park, by the playground."

"Seriuosly? how could we miss something like this? It's right there!"

Calmly I reply, "I know. just hurry okay? I can't keep these kids awaywithout a warrwnt, either." I eye th five kids glaring at me while sitting on the merri-go-round.

It's not like I cancelled Christmas or anything. they can play on this when we're done. Otherwise, we could be playing with other lives. We can't put any more at risk.

I hear the crunch of gravel,and see theblue and red lights between tree branches. my team has arrived.

"What have you discovered Detective Phelps?" Could they seriously not see it? Was I the only one who saw the enormity of this 'trench'? Maybe I was over-exaggerating? I pointed at the 'trench' to my right.

Everyone was just looking at me, as if saying 'So?"

"Look at it. It's wide enough to fit Madison's body inside. The depth is uneven too. Some sides are deeper than others - signs of struggling. There are claw marks running deep into the soil - there was mud coated underneath her fingernails. They were jagged too. Hopefully there are chips of her nails left behind in ther soil. Can you check for that?"

"See, I knew you'd find SOMETHING." Jane crouched down by the 'trench,' and sifted her gloved hands through the moist soil.

It looks like it's going to take a while, so I walk off hoping to find more evidence.

I slowly walk parallel to the 'trench'. I notice the depth of the hole becomes lighter as the stripe stretches on, as if she stops struggling the closer she gets to the pond. Further onward there were barely any track marks left behind.

At one point, just before the lake starts, all marks stopped. This happened 50 metres from where the boat was found.

Something's glinting in a nail track. Crouched down, I put my latex blue gloves on, and pick up the blonde hair. The hair is level with my eyes. I peer closely at it, then put it in an evidence packet.

"Jane found a couple of jagged nail chips hidden in the soil. She's going to run a couple of tests to see if the DNA matches."

"Thanks Officer..."
"Wright. Officer Wright, Sir."

I walked around the park for any other missed evidence, but found none.

My classic ringtome breaks me out of my trance.
"Hello? Detective Phelps speaking."

"It's Jane. I have the autopsy results. Oh, and we'll done for finding the muddy patch."

"Thanks. What can you tell me about the body?"

"Madison Richards 18 years. Has rope burns by the wrists and ankles. Was raped, but no trace of semen. Those nail pieces are a match."

"Thanks. I need a DNA check for a hair I found."

"Oh, and Jane? Thanks."