All in the Eyes of the Beholder

  Prologue:
    'The eyes! What is it about the women's eyes that drives me so? What do they see that I can't?' the man thought. He tightened his hands around the woman's throat. He watched with joy as the life spark left her eyes. He carefully removed her eyes so as not to damage them. They were precious to him.

  Chapter one:
      Agent Garrett Blackman sat at his desk pouring over the files of six unsolved cases. Six women, all photographers, had been brutally murdered in as many months. The FBI had been called in after the third one. They realized the had a quickly escalating serial killer on their hands. His chief came over to his desk and dropped another file into Garrett's desk. "Another one just hit in New York. She was a mother of two that had taken up photography to save money on family portraits. It is definitely the same M.O., sexual torture, strangulation and removal of the eyes. The forensics lab caught a break this time. They found residue of a strong anestetic spray on her face. I want you to go there immediately and help out any way that you can. Right now they are setting up a decoy operation." the chief said. Garrett nodded and stood up. He made copies of the files and placed the copies into his briefcase, then grabbed his 'go' bag. He headed out the door. He had made the copies figuring the local police would need them.
      Garrett was on the first flight out that he could get. He had the chief contact the police and inform them of his arrival time and flight number. The flight turned out to be uneventful and he was soon met at the MacArthur airport by two detectives from the Suffolk County Homicide Squad. Garrett stuck out his hand and introduced himself. "Hello, I'm Special Agent Garrett Blackman from the FBI, Quantico office." The two Detectives did likewise. "I'm Detective Sam Roberts" the taller blonde haired one said taking Garrett's hand in a firm shake. "And I'm his partner, Detective Jose Medina" the shorter Hispanic man replied. "Glad to meet you both. I have copies of all seven files to share with you. It seems that this guy has travelled cross country and killed a woman in seven different states. The only thing that these women had in common from their personal lives was photography, both professional and a mature. I have a strong feeling that he maybe after someone in particular and has been following in her footsteps across those states" he explained to the two detectives as they walked through the airport terminal. They exited the terminal and climbed into the Detectives' unmarked car. They turned right onto Veteran's Memorial Highway until they came to the Hauppague Court Complex.
      Once there they entered the Homicide Squad Room and showed him to the Chief's office. They introduce him to their Chief. "I'm Special Agent Garrett Blackman" he said and took the older man's hand. "I'm Chief Cummings. Glad to have the Bureau's help with this matter. We didn't realize that we had a serial killer on our hands" he replied and indicated to a chair for Agent Blackman. Garrett pulled out the files and handed them over to the chief. The Chief looked them over with a grimmace then passed them over to the Detectives. They perused them and then turned to Agent Blackman when they finished. "All the victims were into photography of one type or another. I think he maybe following a particular person. This person may have inadvertently triggered this rampage through her photography. I know you are setting up a decoy operation but I feel we need to find his primary target and soon. He has been escalating in the savagery of his torture" Agent Blackman said. They agreed because of what they saw in the photos of the crime scenes and their own experience.
     "There is a big photography expo coming up at the opening of the new Suffolk County Convention Center. It is close to the S.U.N.Y., Stonybrook campus and since it is during the Spring break, the University is hosting a reception for the artists next week. Maybe we'll find our perp and victim there since the last victim was found only twenty miles from here." Chief Cummings said. This got Garrett's attention and it showed. "Is there some way that we could check out the Expo and maybe the reception as well?" he asked. The Detectives' offered to take him by there later in the afternoon.
      "Now could someone direct me to a cheap motel?" he asked them next. Detective Medina smiled and said, "No problem. I have a big house, no wife and just my brother living with me. So you can stay at my place for the time that you're here." Garrett looked at him in surprise. "Are you sure? Most regular police don't like when us Feds show up for a case." Garrett said. Detective Medina laughed. "I used to be with the U.S. Marshall's office. Decided to give it up. There was just too much travel involved and not enough excitement." he replied."Thanks, I really appreciate this. It will help keep my expenditures down. Now can we go and get some grub, my treat?" Garrett replied. He really felt a comraderie with these officers. As they left the Chief's office, the Detectives' smiled and shouted at the same time, "Beefsteak Charlie's!" The Chief chuckled and Garrett looked confused. "It is a steak and seafood place down by the water. Great food and a relaxing atmosphere. The seafood is the freshest around. Most of it comes from the local fishing and clamming industry. The prices are fantastic too. A steak, flounder, two sides and all the soda you can drink for fourteen bucks. They also have a free shrimp and salad bar with soup." the Chief said. Garrett's eyes widened. "That's all? Wow! Back home in cattle country it will cost you that for the steak alone at the local bar. And slot of the time you don't even get to finish your meal if a fight breaks out." he said, laughing. "So just where are you from?" Detective Roberts asked Garrett. "North Dakota, up near the Canadian border." he replied as he shook the Chief's hand, "Chief it sure will be a pleasure to assist your department on this case."

     Chief Cummings was pleased by the young agent's attitude. Most Feds came in with an attitude and took over the investigations in the past but not Agent Blackman. They would get along just fine. He sat down and went over the files that Garrett had left for him. He rubbed his hands up and down his face a couple of times. The crime scene pictures showed the horror of what this guy had done. He prayed to God that they could stop him before he struck again. He felt deep down inside of him that if he got his hands on his real target, he wouldn't just stop at the rape, torture and eye removal. It would be worse, much, much worse. This guy was beyond sick, he was pure evil.