‘And so this is where the “ex theory” comes into play?’ James asked.
The inspector licked his lips as he nodded slowly from the window. ‘All we have to do now is round up all the exes of the victims. We need to move, James. We need to start moving without further delay. There’s never been a murder in Malrich and when we solve this case…’ he clapped his hands loudly, ‘we’d be proving to the outside world that the Malrich Police Department can handle murder too. And since the mayor gave us Foyer’s case to solve as well, we’d put the WindleDrive Police Department to shame.’James replied, ‘But, sir, if we are to pursue this case we shouldn’t forget what the coroner said; that these murders were professional. Whoever this person is, they managed to accurately sever the joints of the victims at unbelievably accurate and identically specific points…twice!’‘Professional my foot!’ the inspector growled, waving a dismissive hand. ‘Didn’t you smell the coroner’s breath? He was as dr
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Psych 48. The Promise
Sineas had had difficulty sleeping after what he had gone through the previous day. It had truly been a day to remember…or a day to forget. He looked out the window. Grey clouds were forming in the sky. Probably going to rain, he thought. He languidly pulled his body from the bed. Even though his eyelids were still very heavy, he was able to find his way to the bathroom, take a long and refreshing shower, put on a black t-shirt, a pair of jeans and his white Nikes and he headed downstairs.Aunt Janice was fully dressed in her waitress uniform. She was sitting in front of the TV. Sineas gave her a drive-by good morning making his way to the kitchen.‘Sin, my boy,’ she called him before he left the room.Sineas turned around. Her elbows were placed on her knees and her hands were clasped tightly in front of her mouth. She was maintaining the stance an employer makes when pondering over whether to hire the applicant or dismiss him entirel
Psych 49. No More
As expected, Clarissa was sitting right in the centre of the room. She seemed to be concentrating on the debate as well. She just sat quietly, watching the brave Trevor Michaels go toe-to-toe with the most lily-livered teacher in the school.Mr. Sawyer was fighting a losing battle. He kept trying to wave Trevor down into his seat using his hands. ‘Trevor, please. Sit down,’ he said calmly from the safety of his desk. Trevor did look like he was ready to trample anything in his path. Mr. Sawyer continued, ‘The police have already held a meeting with the staff and strongly advised us to tighten our security. Advice which the board has promised to take.’‘So…until then, what do we do, sir?’ He looked around the class hoping to gain more support than he already had. ‘Do we sit and wait for this killer to pick another target? I don’t know about the rest of you guys but I’ve got a bright future ahead of me and I’
Psych 50. Uncertainty
She patted her chest again. ‘Because I saw a person, Sineas. A human being. A human being the animals in this society neglected for reasons that lie outside my personal principles. You're right; I paid attention to you out of pity…at first. Pity that no one was willing to give you a try. To try to look deeper than what their eyes and perceptions permitted them to see. And when I gave you that chance…when I gave you that try, I never regretted it. You’re very smart, you’re thoughtful and you at least have an idea of what a sense of humour is. So, yes, Sin, I never regretted giving you that chance. I never did. Despite the insults, the rejection, the humiliation and the warnings I tried my best to soldier on and be there for you. I never regretted the first day I met you, I never regretted having your back when everyone else tried to break it and I never regretted what happened at the park. Yes, Sin. I never regretted any of it…until now.’
Psych 51. Games
‘Who?’‘Day-after-day-after-day-after-day. He just wouldn’t stop. I’d watch him beat her senseless. The belt, the shoes, the iron chord and obviously, his fists.’ He laughed, quietly.Doctor Jacob pushed his spectacles further up the bridge of his nose for the third time. He was listening very conscientiously.Sineas continued, ‘He would laugh. Laugh like it was all just a joke. He would bring her into my room at ten, eleven o’ clock at night, dragging her by her hair.’ He laughed again, briefly. ‘He would wake me up. He would force me to watch as he stripped her…as he beat her, right in front of me. The screams. The screams. The screams she made. I couldn’t take it. Watching your mother being put through that. What hurts the most is that I can’t remember most of it. The much more brutal parts. I know they’re in there in my mind. I just can’t reach them. You never know what true
Psych 52. What a Day
The impact slammed his forehead violently into the top of the steering wheel. His head was thumping aggressively when he pulled it back. The tree had stopped the car but the front did not look good. The wipers were still working however and they continued to temporarily clear the windshield unaware that their services might no longer be needed for a while. Doctor Jacob looked outside his window, trying to see something he could at least recognize. It was too dark to see anything. The never ending rain made it worse. He rubbed his head several times with one hand whilst the other groped around under his seat. He finally found the flashlight. He opened the door and stepped outside. He walked towards the bonnet, waving his flashlight in every direction. He could see several houses about a hundred to two hundred metres away. When he got to the front of the car he realized that there was not much damage. He opened it and smoke immediately steamed into his face. He took a step back an
Psych 53. Escape
Friday had finally arrived. Sineas’ favourite day of the week. In fact, he was convinced that it was everyone else’s favourite too. Class with Mr. Regwizini was a lot calmer than it had been with Mr. Sawyer. Trevor had apparently stepped way out of line with his rebellion and he was slapped with a five-day suspension from Principal Stanley. Sineas however had already begun to think that the rugby and basketball teams, mainly Justin’s squad, were invincible and could not be reprimanded by the laws of the school. Clarissa was sitting in her new spot again, right in the centre of the class watching Mr. Regwizini scribbling on the board, explaining Advanced Level trigonometry. The speech she had given him on Thursday had left him completely lost for words. It had made him think. He could not think of anything else after that. He felt guilt and shame but at the same time, he was curious. Was it more logical to believe Aunt Janice’s theory, that no one
Psych 54. The Ex
‘And what have you been up to?’ Sineas asked her.She sighed deeply. ‘Inspector Charles threatened me with a summons last night.’‘A summons?’‘Yeah, that document that demands your presence in court and or whatever. It concerns the deaths of Justin and Miss Bale.’‘He doesn’t honestly think that you did that, does he?’ He sounded bewildered.‘Perhaps…perhaps not. He claims that it’s just “standard procedure”. I’m convinced that it has something to do with the fact that I dated Justin.’‘But you said he only threatened you with it…’‘Yes. He said he’d drag me to court if I refused to come to the station tonight for an “interview”, he called it.’‘So you’re going?’‘What choice do I have, Sineas? I’ll look even guiltier if I don’t.’&lsqu
Psych 55. At the Stake
‘Evening, Miss Sherman,’ he said then closed the door.She gave him a frightened ‘good evening’ then tightened her hands between her knees.The inspector grabbed a few files here and there, opened one of the cabinets then sat down behind his desk. His expression was now neutral. ‘I’m sure you are aware of why you are here?’ he asked her.She nodded, quietly.‘Good,’ he leaned in, clasping his hands on top of the desk. ‘Malrich has had quite a number of crimes in its wake: petty crime, vandalism, corporate fraud, shoplifting and public disturbances like noise complaints from parties…Basically, Miss Sherman, I’m talking about slap-on-the-wrist crimes.’‘Your…’ she cleared her throat and tried to put on the bravest expression she could, ‘…Your point, sir?’The inspector gave a short, hoarse laugh as if he could smell her fear. He said, &lsqu