Claws in the Dark | ✔

VI

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Miles had been to the Anthropologist to discuss the slashes on the victims.

Antonio, the specialist, walked in from his laboratory. "Well, the claw marks were indeed from an animal," he said. "But I did some more tests and they showed that the marks are too far apart to be a bear's or a wolf's."

"I knew it!" Miles said nodding. "Anything else?"

"Yeah, the slashes on the victims are also too deep to be caused by the aforementioned animals. In the report, it says the slashes went at least 5 inches into the victims. I don't know What kind of creature we're dealing with if it even is a creature, but this is very strange, Detective Trenton."

"Indeed," Miles agreed. "Well, I'll see what more I can find."

"If it is a creature, see if you can get a tooth, some hair or fur. Anything that might help shed some light on what it is."

Miles nodded in response as he quirked up an eyebrow. He must be crazy.

He left the laboratory wondering what malicious beast could've killed those people. Nothing was coming to mind.

He sat with two other detectives in the archives, going through the case files which dated 30 years back, to figure it out. They'd gone through 20 case files so far, all related to the way the victims were killed - beheaded bodies with slashes across the chests. It was all messed up. The cases weren't solved, and the mystery still lingered as to what killed all those people back then.

Detective Dolph Kenan was a tall, brown-skinned man, built, and had short black hair with a faded haircut.

Detective Landon Bryce was also tall, but fair-skinned, slender, had brown hair that hung to his shoulders, and he wore glasses.

"You guys got anything yet," Miles asked them.

Landon was the first to answer. "Aside from a few paper cuts, nothing." He threw the files in his hands down on the table.

"The only thing I've got is a growling stomach, and the urge to pee," Dolph said, wincing. "I need to take a leak." He got up and briskly walked away.

"Me, too," Landon said, removing his glasses and placing them on the table before he left after Dolph.

"Alright," Miles said to himself. "A break it is."

He looked at his phone, something he hadn't touched since he came into the archives. 6:30p.m. It was getting late. He had promised to make it up to Gina tonight, and he couldn't do that if he was stuck at work going through files, especially on a Sunday night.

A text came in from Gina.

"When are you coming home? I need you."

Miles smirked and replied immediately.

"I'm on my way."

Dolph and Landon came back while Miles was packing the files away in the box they were in.

"What are you doing?" Landon asked.

"I'll just take these home and look them through," he answered. "Thanks for all your help, guys. I appreciate it." When he was finished with the packing, he picked up the box. "We'll continue in the morning."

He left the two at the table and went over to the elevator, pressing the button.

"Doesn't work after 6:00 p.m.," Landon said.

Miles sighed. "Well, looks like the stairs are the next best thing." And he went down with his bundles.

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◀ MARDAIS ▶