A Third Of A Pie

Chpt 35

Warily, Spooker entered the kitchen, afraid one wrong move could set off a tirade of dissension or unleashing something of a similar sort.

Silence...

Entering, he saw a weary Brit dipping on a hot drink- either tea or coffee- and writing in a book.
Blood-shot, bagged eyes looked up at him, "oh. Good morning, Fred. Sleep well?"

"..... you look like crap....."

"Thank you..." Toast chuckled, rolling his eyes.

"U- umm.... w- where's Ghost?"
Toast pointed to the front desk, where a figure was asleep on a pillow of files and scattered paper and draped in a blanket.
"O- oh...."

"Fell asleep while working... again..." he mumbled the last part before taking another sip.
Spooker could only nod before sitting down.

An awkward silence hung in the air

"So.... are you..... feeling better....?"

"Yeah. Just a small headache..."

"From the whiskey?"

Toast grimaces but nodded, giving Spooker the signal to stop, "uhhh.... tv?"

Toast shrugged casually as he stared into his cup, leaving Spooker to turn on the tv.
Immediately the news flashed on, seemingly talking about a location nearby to where they lived. In worry, he turned the volume up.

"In Bethan Street, a body was found, still warm, by Officer James Charles Bradston Branston Donald Branston Johnson Mina Maloney. A young woman, named Charlie Lima, had a couple, deep wounds that professionals agree was made by a combat knife, and a large slash across the neck, presumably made by the same knife. Officers implore all citizens take caution and carry a weapon on them at all times for self-defense. We have a reporter at the police station, ready to interview Officer Maloney. Over to you, Echo."

"Thank you, India. I'm currently at the station with Officer Maloney. So, Officer, what can you tell us about this senseless murder?"

"Based on: the weapon of choice, the lack of any signatures of some of our other listed criminals, the sloppy yet clearly experienced and... 'professional' methods, the lack of connections, suspects, enemies or witnesses, and the little I managed to hear; I believe the killer to have been one of our most infamous, elusory fugitives, 'Jimmy Casket'."

Toast glanced at the screen for a moment before turning back to his book.

"Who is this 'Jimmy Casket'?"

"'Jimmy Casket' is a serial killer who has had little revealed about him as few have survived an encounter. People have noted a high-pitched, manic-sounding voice and affinity towards a stained, well-used combat knife he refers to by male pronouns and a very unoriginal name, 'Knifey'. He is a male with a short, slim build a crazed yet fatigued face, brown hair and eyes, tanned skin and scars along his arms. He has a signature question he always asks his victims. 'Do you wanna know my secret?'. If the victim answers yes, he will proceed to tell them before instantly killing them. If the victim answers no, he will continue to persist and chase them if they flee; doing this until he either gets bored or fears their escape, resulting in him killing them. No one has survived being told the secret, all survivors having declined. Thus, no living people besides himself- and perhaps others, though it's doubtful- know his secret. Officers have never even been face-to-face with him, the man seemingly having a keen, almost supernatural, ability of knowing when police or someone of danger is nearby."

"I see. So the best method of surviving an encounter is to say 'no' to his question?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. Thank you for your insight. Back to you in the studio, Zulu."

"Thank you, Echo. This has been channel 1908656421, we will see you after the break."