Insane - Who Are You To Judge? (Gripping Psychological Thriller)

Chapter 55 - Harry

Run, run, as fast as you can. You can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man

"Why now?" James asks, staring intensely at the creased piece of paper, decorated with magazine cut-outs forming words. "Why is he communicating with us now? After a decade and a half? What's changed?"

Harry shrugs. "I read somewhere that serial killers like being chased. They like the adrenaline rush. Maybe GR got bored with us not catching them and wanted to make things more interesting."

James scrunches his nose up, considering the idea. "Well, I suppose that would explain the sloppier execution of his last victims." He leans back, clasping his hands together. "Then again, I wouldn't really say this is much of a communication. I mean, it's more him taunting us than giving any clues whatsoever."

"Maybe this is just them getting started."

Karen pops her head around the door and sheepishly calls, "Detective Sergeant, um, the recording of the phone call has been sent to you now."

James thanks her and she scurries off back to her desk.

"999, what's your emergency?"

The line is silent for a few seconds.

"Hello?"

"I've killed people." A low, robotic voice whispers down the phone.

The panic in the 999 agent's voice is subtle, but obvious to Harry.

"Okay, can you please tell me where you are?"

"I've killed people," the voice repeats. "And I'm going to do it again...and again...and again."

"Can you please tell me who you've kil-"

"You pigs don't stand any chance of finding me. You're never going to find me."

The 999 agent is quick with her words now. Her calmness has thinned as the call has gone on. "Can you please tell me who you are?"

The voice laughs. "I'm the incarnation of death. You can't stop death. Everybody's got to turn back into a pumpkin when their clock strikes midnight."

"Please tell me where you are."

A song is then played into the phone. "Ring-a-ring-a-roses, a pocket full of posies, atishoo, atishoo" But the last part is cut off. Instead, the voice whispers "you'll all fall down."

The line goes flat.

James and Harry sit there, in silence.

Without uttering a word, James picks up the phone and smashes his fingers on the number pad.

"Why wasn't this brought to us first thing this morning?"

There is murmuring down the phone. James's face remains stiff.

"It's not good enough. Anything like this – even the slightest bit like this – comes to us immediately. Do you understand?" He then slams the phone back down.

"So, what's their excuse?" Harry asks timidly. He's not used to seeing James like this.

"The woman who took the call is new. Apparently she thought it was just some prank, so she didn't report it to her supervisor."

"I'll track the call and check out the location. You stay here and analyse every single letter on that piece of paper and every single word of that phone call."

"Are you sure?" Harry asks. "Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

James shakes his head. "No, it's better if we can deal with all the information as quickly as possible while it's still fresh."

Harry agrees and picks up the letter again. "So, what does all this mean?" Harry asks, all his training gone out the window.

"This means he want to play. He's taunting us, there's no doubt. But, is he warning us of an upcoming murder? Or is he just trying to drop hints of who he is, so he can keep up this charade of cat and mouse?"

"Is there a third option?" Harry pleads. "Because right now, I'm feeling more like the rodent."