THE MIND OF A MONSTER

CHAPTER 7- The Victims II

Writer's POV

Rachael and Dolores rounded up their question time with Tina's father. 

The man was taken aback by their sudden withdrawal but he kept his tongue tied. 

They left rather hurriedly, inviting Mr Steven to the station to claim Tina's body, and advised him to take up their free therapy offer.

Dolores'mind kept going back to what the man had said. She was found...... what?!

She sometimes stole glances at Rachael, wondering how she knew they were dealing with a serial killer.

Even though she promised herself that she would wait for the autopsy results to prove that a serial killer was really on the lose, her discovery from Mr Steven made her do otherwise.

How did this case get even shittier?

Rachael on the other hand, felt partly relieved now that they were having more leads but at the same time, disappointed that their leads were all only confusing and interwhined.

Well, what did she expect?

She was a detective and it was her duty to untangle the tangled, decipher the mysteries, and catch the killer!

" We shouldn't have left so quickly, you know?" Rachael was the one to break the silence this time.

" What?!" Dolores was snapped out of her thoughts, losing control of the wheels for a while.

'Sorry.' Dolores whispered when she saw the frown on Rachael's face.

Now, Rachael was grateful the driveway was lonely. They would have definitely bumped into another vehicle, causing a serious accident.

" Why say so? It was uncomfortable for you too, wasn't it?"

" We should have at least asked which of the girls died. If we got her face, we would have looked up the news from three years ago. There's definitely a link between the three deaths. " Rachael said and Dolores reasoned with her (but didn't speak out.)

" This is just even crazier."

" Yeah and it would even get more crazy when the autopsy result is out tomorrow. If their results match, then the other friends are in danger too. " Rachael said and Dolores screeched the car to a halt.

" Is everything okay?" Rachael asked Dolores.

" Why would the killer wait until after three years before coming back for the rest? Why even come for the blue angels?" The way her eyes darted from left to right, was really rare.

She did seem even more interested in this case.

" The killer is smart. He's playing a game when we don't even know the rules."

What kind of game was he even playing?

Coming all the way to Hagni to kill the rest?

Wait..... Coming all the way?

" If Tina's father is leading us on the right part, and Brittany's death is in association with the other two, then the second victim is definitely one of the blue angels." I rubbed the nail in my pocket through my trouser.

" Tina's father said they had all left Brooklyn. Do you think they all came to Hagni?" Dolores asked, making the air in the car even more tensed.

" Just because two of them were found dead in Hagni doesn't mean they call came to Hagni. At the same time, two of them being in Hagni proves that there's a fifty percent chance that they all actually moved to Hagni." Dolores and Rachael sighed, lines of stress already formed on their foreheads.

" You know what?" An idea dropped in Dolores' mind and she wanted to share it with Rachael.

" What?" Rachael turned to her, realizing that she hadn't even put on her seatbelt.

" Drive back to Hagni. I should do a little digging around here." Dolores said and Rachael's eyes widened.

" What?! You can't do that! You don't even know anywhere around Brooklyn. Where exactly are you going to go? How sure are we the killer isn't around here right now, hunh?! I mean look around here. It looks like fucking elms street right now. And you're just gonna leave!!" 

Rachael yelled so badly, she was left panting afterward.

Dolores stopped, dead on her tracks. 

The way Rachael spoke to her, just...... proved how well she really cared for everyone.

Despite how mean she had been to her since she joined Hagni's police department she still cared for her?

" I'm not just leaving. I've been to Brooklyn once and I'm not going anywhere deserted. Tina's CV mentioned that she attended Brooklyn highschool and I'm going there right now. We couldn't get to know about the rest of the blue angels. I thought I might get their record at the school."

Dolores' voice was really mild.

She was still in shock over Rachael's outburst.

Rachael's shoulders rose and fell as she slowly got out of the firm grips of anger.

" But what if you don't find anything? A killer who had come back three years later to take the rest out? He could have wiped the records clean for all I cared." 

" There's only one way to find out if this is actually true; going there. I'll be safe, you be too. Returning to Hagni would not be difficult. Just drive straight ahead and you'll see the bill board at our border." Dolores said, offering Rachael a small smile.

" Call me if you find anything." Rachael said.

" I will. " Dolores promised.

Rachael got out of the car and came over to the driver's seat.

" Be safe." Rachael said firmly this time, and Dolores nodded.

Dolores watched as Rachael got into the car and drove off.

All through the drive back, Rachael felt really anxious.

What was the aim of the killer?

Coming back after three years just sounded too mythical to be real.

Or were they missing something?

As Rachael approached the borders, she remembered the nail in her pocket, and the blood samples in her car.

"Shit!" She cussed.

How had she forgotten about her initial plans?

She switched lanes and drove to the morgue. She rushed into the reception, startling the nurse at the reception.

" I need to see the unidentified body that was brought in by Hagni's medical department." Rachael said, rushing her words.

" Uhmmm..... S... Sure. But only the doctor can take you there and he's off seat until tomorrow." The nurse stuttered with fright.

" I'm a detective from Hagni police station." Rachael introduced herself.

" Oh. You came in earlier. My apologies. Come with me." The nurse said, fear leaving her face, replaced with a warm smile.

Rachael followed the nurse to the morgue. They had labelled the body 789 since there were many unidentified bodies in the morgue.

" Here." The nurse directed Rachael to the body and stepped back a little.

As Rachael took off the cover cloth, 

the nurse got really uncomfortable.

Earnestly, Rachael checked all the fingers on the body but none matched with the nail.

"I knew it!

Rachael's POV

I just knew it!

I knew the finger nail looked too small to belong to this body.

"Is everything okay?" The nurse asked nervously, standing beside me.

Oh!

For a brief moment, I thought I was the only person in the room.

Returning the nail to my pocket, I turned to her, hoping I was wearing an assuring smile.

"Thank you for your help."

She only nodded slowly, her eyes darting from the dead body, to me.

I covered the body and she got the message that I was done with whatever I came here to do.

Excitement filled my insides as we returned to the reception.

Finally, I spotted one mistake the killer made. 

But does this mean the killer is a female?

Well, now I know I am chasing a female.

"Is there anything else you need me to do for you?" The nurse asked, returning to her desk.

Anything she would want to do for me?

Would it be a good idea to tell Dolores about my new discovery?

It just bothered me that she suddenly started caring. I mean I wanted it, but it's just too good to be believed.

"Could you not mention this to anyone?"

There was a glint of surprise and suspicion, raging in her eyes. She stared at me for a while, like she was going to see my reason for telling her to do such, imprinted on her face.

"Why?" Was the response from expected but she surprised me.

"Sure."

Sure?

Now it was my turn to give her the look she gave me.

"I know sometimes, the cops have to keep secrets from certain people, at least until they get what they want and I respect that. I watched what had happened to the two bodies brought in from Hagni on the news and I must say, it was a disaster. Even I can't handle staring at such horror. Y'all are really doing good jobs. If keeping this a secret means not impeding on your progress in solving the case, then I'm more than happy to help." She said, finally smiling at me again.

I mouthed a thank you before exiting the morgue.

Now,my spirit was lifted even more than ever.

All through my drive back to the station, I kept imagining what kind of female the killer was.

"Guys polished their nails too.' A tiny voice in my head said.

That was true but then, the fact that I had learned about the blue angels, just made me feel like I was on the tail of a female killer.

Why blue polish?

Why blue Angels?

What sort of connection did these two have?

This was merely a candle lit in this very dark case.

Something I would consider a turning point, would be the two blood samples not matching.

I'd mail the handkerchiefs to grandfather. I do not trust the hospital not to keep the tests away from Dolores. 

Moreover, I already had a secret with the nurse at the morgue, I do not wish to share more secrets with more people.

If the blood samples didn't match,that would mean one belonged to the victim, and the other one, the killer.

"Just you wait, whoever you are. I'm gonna get you when you least expect."