Red Trails

Chapter 2

So, 322 Revington St. I'm surprised that no one found these pigs on a busy, overly populated slum like this, the house crisis causing these tiny one-bedroom apartments squeezed side by side a fortune, in fact too expensive for the average family. Identical apartments stuck together in clumps on a long path down into the outskirts of London were filled with hookers, drug dealers and now one with a room filled of dead pigs, a significant sigh left my lips, the cloak protected me a great deal from the rain, but nothing could protect from the putrid smell of rotting corpses coming from behind that door with the golden numbers '322' hammered into the door. Was there even any point in knocking? Creaks echoed throughout the room and I almost threw up seeing the 5ft pig laid on its side deceased, only one? Never mind, there's an even stronger smell coming from the bathroom that's making my stomach twist... Right, get yourself together Anne, we can do this, you've seen this before, just... Not like this, blood stained carpets and floors, broken chairs showing signs of struggle and the victims mouth open suggesting they were possibly in shock. Jesus... Who could do this?

Letters resting on the side, one strangely from Cinderella claiming that they're behind on their crystal potion payment, empty bottles of the potion laid around explains why they're in their pig bodies rather than human bodies, they clearly couldn't afford the potion or 'treatment' as Cinderella calls it in her arrogant letter.

Another letter, this time from the government, I gulped hoping they wouldn't come investigating the house to see this mess, it was complaints from the neighbour who noticed the pigs in the house, they must of thought the pigs were the owners pets despite the pigs themselves were the actually owners. "Dear residents, it has come to our attention that you are in the possession of three pigs in your house which does not allow such animals to stay, please remove these animals from the property in an orderly fashion otherwise they will go to the appropriate location" ... I felt sorry for them, that 'appropriate location' being the slaughter house for these poor boys. No money, no house, no friends and no future and now murdered, it almost seemed like they were destined for this to happen.

This couldn't be seen by the public, I clenched the ugly purple curtains and pulled them over the dirty windows piled with dust and slightly covered by newspapers stuck to it, purple filtered light exposed the spores in the air that floated around aimlessly. Time to get dirty on my hands and knees cleaning this place up before someone checks inside, as much as I want to, they can't be buried, it's too busy out there and I wouldn't be much of a private investigator if I was locked up myself for carrying a corpse around the streets of London.

There was one last thing, a long thin strand of blondish hair left on the rug.

My efforts were adequate, and I leave with a faint frown locking the door on my way out and putting the keys in my pocket. "Oi you." A soft female voice shouted from behind... Shit! Did someone see the pigs as I left, I turn to relief as it was an old friend, she continued "Anne, I knew it was you!", her blonde curly locks dangled just above her shoulders as she stood in a rather skimpy outfit, pink short skirt and exposing shirt. "Goldy?" I replied back noticing Goldilocks, a sly smile appeared on my lips... She pinched her nose and stood back concerned "Why do you smell so bad?", it appeared I had become nose blind to the horrendous smell of a rotten corpse which has now stained my clothes, I trusted Goldilocks and everyone in the fairy tale kingdoms, we all had to remain inconspicuous from the unsuspecting normal crowd of people, "It's a case" I looked away saddened by the trauma I just saw inside, Goldilocks pulled a face "The three pigs? Are... Are they gonna make it?"

For a second, I remembered the blonde hair and compared it to hers mentally, however goldilocks is an old friend of mine, her hair is slightly shorter and curly compared to the long thin strand.

"No... whoever did this did it with a knife, they were precise, quick and... unfortunately made them suffer" I said coldly seeing Goldilocks hold her mouth almost tearing up, I tried to change the topic with "So, what are you up to these days Goldy?", her response wasn't so great "I work at Gaston's strip club, he usually looks after me there, you should come some time" she smirks jokingly but then follows up optimistically "I got to go, but don't worry, I know you're a smart girl, you'll find out who did this one day". That last comment slightly offended me but I took it as a compliment, her optimism was what everyone needed in this world. Even after a violent death, Godly was always there to make everyone's days better with her enthusiasm.