Bloodthirsty

Chapter Thirteen




Charlie looked windblown and frazzled as she pushed a plastic bag into Timbers hand and said “I got another one. Read it!”

“Give me a sec.” Timber said.

“No! Read it now!” the frazzled redhead demanded.

“Jeez woman, chill.” Timber said.

“Yeah read it, then tell me to chill.”

Timber unfolded the letter carefully by the corners and gaped at the blunt text.

I leave clues at house with no home

3854 s Dartmouth. Don’t wait bring a friend!

Genesis

Timber gripped her phone and held down the button allowing direct contact with the person on the other end. “Blake?”

A snapping and a buzz came across the line as his voice replied. “Blake here, what’s up?”

“Got something. Get some big whites over to 3854 Dartmouth, Denver. Might wanna hurry.”

His voice came back, “On it. See you there.”

As Timber pushed past her, slipping the note back into the bag, Charlie said “I’m coming too.”

“Just stay behind the tape,” Timber said, already feeling impatient with the willful reporter. Wasn’t it enough that a member of the media was embedded in her investigation? Did she also have to be so damn bouncy and excited about it?

She looked at the note again. ‘Genesis’. The name was obviously biblical. She considered the implications. A beginning. A new start. Did the unsub think they were starting something new or was it a signal that it was only the beginning? Timber considered these possibilities while mulling over several others. Why were there extra letters in the message before this one? ‘K A K E’s another spelling for ‘cake’? Call letters of some kind? The lab was analyzing the letter but you never know how productive a lab would be in these circumstances. Ciphers sometimes got solved and sometimes people got away with murder. It sucked but it was true.

Minutes later Timber pulled into the front of a small nondescript white house with brown trim. A realtor’s sign was stabbed into the front lawn announcing the sale of the property. A broad faced man, smiling and looking downright cheerful, graced both sides of the sign. As Timber stepped from her car Charlie jogged up to her. Great!

“You think that’s what he meant by a house with no home?” she asked, pointing to the sign.

“That seems like the most obvious answer.” Timber muttered.

“I thought so too. Seems strange. He hasn’t been obvious before.”

“So far…” Timber stopped herself as she stepped onto the lawn and turned abruptly.

“So far?” Charlie asked expectantly

Timber looked at the uniforms lining the walk and yelled to the young female officer. “Hey Peterson. Tape off this scene and no press. Got it?” She looked at Charlie

Peterson came running over and saying”Yes ma’am” on her way to accomplish the task.

Charlie yelled at Timber’s retreating back: “This isn’t much cooperation on your part Agent.!”

As Timber walked across the well-manicured lawn she noticed how quiet the neighborhood was. There were no ‘looky-loos’, no old women walking their dogs, no children playing in yards. A black sedan pulled up and Robin Blake jumped out, slamming the door. His long legs brought him to Timber’s side in a few easy jogging steps.

“Where’d the tip come from?” he asked.

“Her.” She jabbed a finger over her shoulder.

‘Wow, you must love that.” he said, quietly chuckling.

“Sure do, I’m planning on putting her on my Christmas list.” Timber said deadpan.

“Let me guess, you’re gonna buy her a muzzle.”

“I was thinking a ball gag. But that’s good.” she said and took the front steps in one leap, her adrenaline peaking.

Blake entered the front room behind Timber and they both stopped, staring for a moment taking in the sight before them. Two walls had writing on them. One looked to be blood, the liquid dried in a dripping pattern with streaks where it had been smeared to make the words

‘death to pigs’

On the wall adjacent to that one, the message was written in a different medium, but of approximately the same color.

For heavens sake catch me before I kill more

I cannot control myself

“Think that’s lipstick?” Blake asked.

“Sure do.” Said Timber.

Blake looked at Officers Cable and Sebastian standing at the back wall looking up at the three words. “Where’s the body?” he asked.

“Ain’t one.” Sebastian said.

“Come again.” Blake said.

“Aint no body. Just this.” he said again.

“Well, shit.” Timber said.

“Make sure you take photos of every room and print it all. Don’t cut corners. This may be the crime scene from a past body dump.” Blake said.

Cable took a step toward Timber, looking nervous. “Agent Byrne?”

“Yeah?” she answered.

“I heard you were putting together a task force and I wanted to tell you that I put in a request for me and my partner to be on the team.” The uniformed officer looked as new as he sounded.

“Is this your partner?” she asked motioning toward Sebastian.

The other man spoke up “Ah, no I like to ride alone.”

“You’re Mike Sebastian?” Timber remembered seeing his name on a few reports. His writing was surprisingly better that his speech.

“Yes ma’am” he replied.

“You want to work on this too?” she asked.

“Yes ma’am.” he answered.

Blake nodded at her signaling his approval of the two officers.

“Process this scene. Crime techs will be here soon. Follow chain of custody and get it to me. I want everything. I don’t care if one of you has to camp outside of the lab. Follow me?”

“Yes ma’am!” Cable said clearly thrilled. Sebastian only nodded.

Until tomorrow. Fortune favors the brave! Samantha Shu