Redrum: Origins

Part 5: Case Closed

Disclaimer: I do not own Redrum. Redrum is a game developed by Anarchy Enterprises. I only own the OC characters.

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Ravenwood was already walking out by the time she made it to the front of the precinct. He looked at her incredulously as she approached, confused as to why she was hurtling along at breakneck speed. "You alright?" he asked when she stopped in front of him, breathing heavily. "You look as if the devil himself was on your tail."

Maddie glanced back towards the way she had come. "It was something like that," she said between gasps. She didn't elaborate further as she took a few moments to catch her breath. She looked back towards the detective. "What's up? Did something happen?"

Ravenwood drew a set of car keys from his coat pocket, twirling the ring on his finger. "Something like that," he replied. "We're going to a crime scene."

Maddie's face hardened with apprehension. "What?" The detective sighed, clenching the keys in his fist. "There's been another murder," he said.

She didn't have time to process that statement before the detective made his way to the black 1960's Cadillac parked on the street in front of the precinct. She hurried after him, slipping into the passenger seat as he started up the car. After she secured her seatbelt, she asked, "What the hell happened?"

Shifting it into gear, the car rolled into the street. "Body was found in the Daily Dread, slumped over the printing machines," he answered. "His throat was slit."

Maddie gulped. "Then why are you bringing me along?" Ravenwood glanced over at her, briefly, and shrugged. "Thought you might want to take a look."

The young pseudo-human stared at him as if he just grew a second head. "Why would you think that?" she said. "How could you possibly come to the conclusion that I'd want to look at a fucking dead body?"

"I don't know," he said, gesturing exasperatedly at her, "to see if something was out of the ordinary." Maddie side-eyed him. "There's nothing supernatural killing these people," she stated bluntly.

"I know that," the detective sighed, sinking into the seat. "It's just... this has been the third homicide in the past month. It's not normal in a place like this." Maddie could think of nothing to say to that, and the rest of the trip was spent in silence.

Police cars were swarmed around the town's only newspaper company, yellow tape stretched across the entrance. Officers had surrounded the perimeter, keeping out any trespassers. Bystanders had gathered around the police line, gawking and taking pictures. Others were muttering to each other, somber looks on their faces.

Ravenwood pulled up a little way from the barricade, removing the key from the ignition. He looked over at the teen sitting next to him in his car, her gaze fixed on the building. "You don't have to come in if you don't want to."

Maddie took a deep breath. "No, I'm okay," she said, and got out of the car. Ravenwood sighed as he did the same, catching up to her brisk pace. The officers patrolling the area recognized him and let him through, explaining to them that the young woman with her was a private investigator. Together, they ducked under the tape to get inside.

Forensics had already arrived. They scoured every inch for evidence, snapping pictures with large cameras. The place itself was old and rundown. The ground floor, which held the printing machines, looked more like a warehouse than a newspaper office. The floor was dirty, and cracks snaked along the walls and ceiling, the only illumination came from the huge fluorescent lights above them. There were people scattered all over the room, but Ravenwood was focused on most of the activity at the back, where bloodstains added life to its bland surroundings. He made his way towards the scene of the crime, Maddie following close behind.