Between Limestone Ruins

Chapter Eight

Walker was annoyed to admit it was impressive how deftly Hannah Morris always seemed to get the upper hand, no matter what power play he threw at her. Even at 2am she had fought back with such a fierceness.

"Alright Miss Morris, who are you?" Walker mused to his empty apartment, entering her name into his google search bar. 

Morris would brief him on her notes tomorrow, what was most important to Walker now was researching his new partner. 

Hannah Morris tremblant murders, he typed out, hoping specificity would narrow the search.

Bingo.

Walker couldn't help but smile at how good he was at his job. Had Google made it easier? Absolutely, but technology made a killer's work easier too. 

The top hit to Walker's search was a video from a Quebecois news cast dated several months ago showing Hannah Morris, his Hannah Morris, giving a press conference.

Walker clicked the video.

Hannah was delivering a profile for the person responsible for killing nine women and dumping the bodies in Mont-Tremblant. As she spoke to Walker through the computer it became glaringly obvious now that it was the same person Walker for which was looking.

"The suspect is male, between the ages of 18 and 28, with decapitation suggesting a sexual motive," past Hannah was saying, with someone next to her translating to French. 

Hannah looked more nervous than Walker had seen her, though he had a small frame of reference, but this was girl looked far less experienced than the woman he had met in the elevator this morning. 

"The ritualistic elements are chaotic and of undetermined origin," Hannah continued. Of course, the same nonsensical bullshit all over Walker's crime scene. 

"We know he's intelligent and methodical. He is mostly uncomfortable in social settings..."

"So, the public should be on the watch for every horny teenage boy then!" A reporter shouted at her.

Hannah's jaw seemed to waver. It was very well hidden, and Walker rewound it to make sure he saw it right. Was the feisty woman who had just hung up on him... going to cry?

The waver was so slight. Then her expression went hard; Walker saw a glimmer of the woman he had met. He knew he was watching a transformation. 

"I know I am not from here," Hannah proclaimed confidently. "I know I don't speak the language. I am here because my mentor asked me to accompany her on her consult. 

Unfortunately, Dr. Grey was in a car accident and succumbed to her injuries. I am now the resident expert on this killer. I would appreciate your continued seriousness and professionalism until we find this monster."
 

Hannah had fallen into the Quebec case, by accident. 

Interesting. That was probably the first press conference she had led. Walker could empathize with how stressful they were. He often wished he could throw punches at reporters. Many new agents lost control of the conversation in their first couple press conferences. Hannah had performed admirably under the circumstances. She was getting harder to dislike.

"I assure you, I am good at my job and the police are working towards more answers as we speak. That's all I have time for, thank you very much." 

Hannah walked off the small press conference stage with her head down as a few moments of stunned silence broke into a cacophony of reporter questions.