The Mark of the Talisman

The Office

Xavier let out a defeated sigh as he laid his head down on his desk. He was tired. Extremely. The same case had been irking him weeks now, with no solid leads or conclusions. He had absolutely nothing useful to wok with outside or an alias, 'The Psycho', and that majority of his victims are female. Nothing else lined up about this case. One day someone could be killed by him in New York and the next day another dies in L.A. The only reason that these cases could even be tied together is a through the disturbing markings left all over his victims. Each would have words carved into them, going from head to toe would form the sentence 'I really love you, too, darling." 

Deciding to clear his mind and think about other problems at hand, Xavier lifted his head and grabbed his cup of tea, took a sip and grabbed a piece of paper that had been given to him earlier that day. It was an anonymous tip that the cult, Anguis, had once again began to reform. No mater how many leaders were arrested, how many times they've been completely shut down, they simply kept coming back, whether it be a month or year, they would eventually reform. Luckily they weren't necessarily the brightest of cults. Instead they taunted those looking for them, and on times even completely revealed their location, leaders and their current goals. This time a photographer had taken a picture of them in their robes carrying unconscious victims out of an apartment. What's to come is most likely an excruciating, but swift death, meaning there would be no real chance of saving them. 

Xavier set the paper aside as he cleared his mind once more to rationally think about it. The Anguis on previous occasions don't move too far from their area of operation, meaning they wouldn't be too far from the apartment. Unfortunately the photographer had not included the name of the hotel nor and address, meaning Xavier would have to ask for assistance on matching the picture to actual hotels around the city. Afterwards he would have to check up on recently rented or abandoned buildings around that area and start with those. The rest would have to come after this was completed. 

"Alright, good start." Xavier told himself with a smile on his face. "Now a small break." Xavier sat back in his chair closed his eyes and took a deep breath, right before his door opened. 

"Mr. Jackson?"

Xavier opened his eyes and sat up. "What is it David?"

"Well um. We had a lead on your main case, The Psycho."

Xavier shot up out of his chair in excitement. "Really! This is great news! Where are they, I would like to speak to them now if possible."

David nervously took a step back at Xavier's sudden excitement. "Well, sir. That's the thing. We HAD a lead."

Xavier Angrily slammed his fist against the desk, causing David to literally jump out the room, before he slowly reentered. "Explain. Now."

David took a deep breath before quickly explaining what happened. "Earlier today a man came into the station and said he had a lead on the psycho. But first he demanded to be taken somewhere isolated and safe and some food. We left him in the interrogation room on the second floor and left two police men in front of the door. When we returned with some water and an apple, he was gone. The guards say they never moved and the inside was completely left the same."

Xavier calmed down a bit after hearing the explanationreport, but still continued to talk in an aggravated voice. "Alright. But why didn't you all get me when he arrived or tell me after he disappeared?"

"Well you were out at the time and when you returned, we were searching the station to make sure he didn't just slip out. We didn't want to disappoint you like I am now without knowing that he was actually gone. Sorry, sir."

Xavier took another deep breath and set back down in his chair. "You're fine David. Do you have anything else to report?"

"Well it's about time to head in now, so I suggest checking out now because there's a storm coming soon. Otherwise nothing else."

"Thank you, David."

David nodded and stepped out of Xavier's office before resting his head in his palms. For a second he thought he had tasted victory but was left with the sourness of disappointment. 'Alright then. I guess I should head out now.' Xavier proceeded to back his satchel with all his leads and notes and left his office. He checked out and proceeded to walk home in a hurry in an attempt to beat the storm, to no avail. He was caught halfway home and was shortly drenched. Luckily his satchel was thick, meaning the papers would remain safe, but Xavier felt something else starting to stir in the air. 

'I guess today isn't my day.'