A/N: UPDATE. So this was originally going to be USUK. In fact first upload was originally set as Britain. But after doing the chapter outlines...it just didn't fit. So characters got moved and things got changed, so the leading man became a leading lady. If you don't want to read this, that's fine, AmeBel or I guess this would technically be anti AmeBel, is not many people's cup of tea. But if you're sticking around nonetheless, I appreciate you giving this story a chance.
The only reason the rating is M is because of future conflicts not because of sexual content. Yeah no. Plus it's just a precaution. If I think it's not too bad then I'll lower it back to T again.
Summary:
The Nursery Rhyme Ripper has been caught but...Natalya couldn't have possibly done it. Not Alfred's girl...right? "I don't think it matters anymore. Chief's angry and got a special place on death row for her." And if she's innocent? What then? "Well I sure hope I'm not next, cut up in a box is no way to die."
Disclaimer: I don't own APH!
Who Killed Cock Robin?
Prologue
A woman stands in front of the camera in the shadier, deserted streets of Kingsbury Run. It's covered in overgrown grass and weeds, normally a dead place that you wouldn't want to be walking alone at night. But this time, it's alive and bustling with activity. Officers are running left and right, lights and sirens sound all over, coming in to investigate. She's with her television crew and stands a respectful distance away from the crime scene. There are other reporters there too, but few want to get any closer than her, considering the nature of the case. She wipes sweat from her brow, knowing that the whole country will be watching, holding their breaths. They haven't had a story like this in a long time, and she knows she must be calm in order to keep the panic from boiling over.
Clover is a big city; crime is difficult to deal with as it is without bringing unnecessary paranoia and panic to the public. She hears her cue and an almost inaudible good luck from the anchor as the camera switches. She wears a cleared expression. It's hard not to grimace from the smell and walk away to vomit. She tugs lightly at her braid, a nervous habit that she loathes but is unable to get rid of. The cameraman signals for her to speak.
She's nervous, but continues anyway, as is her duty, and says solemnly, "Thank you Jeffrey. We're here live at the crime scene here on Kingsbury Run where yet another body has been found. Police have yet to identify the body although some believe it to be local musician and retired FBI agent, Roderich Edelstein. Chief of Police, Augustus Vargas, has issued a statement which will be replayed once more for all of you."
The television switches to from the reporter to that of the Police Department. The Chief of Police, Augustus Vargas, is walking up to the stand. It's daytime, clearly showing that this is most likely the public announcement from yesterday, but all the same, it drives the message home. "Citizens, we strongly urge you to stay indoors at all times at night. Lock your doors and windows. If you have no choice but to go outside during the night, walk in groups and do not, under any circumstances, go alone. Even in the daytime, avoid dark, shady areas and try to stay within a group instead of walking alone. Whilst police patrols are to be tripled under these circumstances, we urge you to take precautions for your own safety…"
The audio fades out as the female reporter's voice returns, "This was a statement from yesterday afternoon's press conference but Vargas insists that the message remains the same, if not, more urgent than before. Believing this murder to coincide with that of the past two murders in just last September, officers have officially declared this to be a serial murder case and FBI agents are due to fly in from Washington to help crack the case.
"There is no clear motive for the perpetrator as of yet, but crime analyst, Kiku Honda, believes that this case may be caused by discontent with the legal justice system or a case of past police brutality in reference to dealings with local gangs. With contradicting evidence, police are still baffled as to whether we're facing a one man job or a joint effort. As said in prior news, the perpetrator has already taken the lives of Charlotte Thompson and Harris Jackson in early September this past year and with the recent murder, the killer doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon.
"Chief Augustus Vargas and all his officers here at the crime scene have personally sworn with their lives to take down the perpetrator and to put an end to these Mother Goose Murders. As Deputy Chief Gilbert Beilschmidt has announced earlier tonight, the police are 'declaring war' on this unnamed murderer.
"Once more, the officers of the Cleveland Police Department and the cast and crew of the Channel 7 news will be praying tonight for the victims and their families. The deepest and most heartfelt condolences to those affected by these heinous crimes. Take heart in that our dedicated law enforcers are on the case and that we, Channel 7 News, will not stop until we find the truth and bring this man to justice," the woman said, her voice becoming louder and more pronounced. The shine in her eyes and the grim, determined expression on her face reveal nothing but sincerity.
After a moment, she realizes the break in her professionalism and clears her throat before speaking again, "That's all we have for tonight. This is Lilou Lachance, signing off. Back to you Jeffrey."
The television blinks from the pretty blonde woman and returns to the anchor who says to tune in for more breaking news later that night. Soon enough, they move to another topic, going on to talk about the current economy and eventually reaching the minor and major scandals down on Wall Street, but it's muted. There's clearly a more somber mood permeating the atmosphere of the channel as shown by the occasional grimace whenever the words, "cut" and "burn" are taken into the conversation.
The country hasn't been faced with such a violent killer before. And if they have, well…it's never been so publicized. The killer has not pulled any punches. It's so methodical, so calculating and clinical that it's a chilling realization that there such beings can be called people. They're animals, living in human skin.
And even more terrifying, is the utter fragility of it all. Sometimes, they say that you're born like that, with your mind missing the mental barrier we call morality. But other times, it's just ordinary people, shattered by suffering, despair, and revenge. We're monsters, all of us. It's just that some of us hide it better than others.
...
...
"Please, Alfred, can't it wait?"
"No can do, Mattie! I' m the hero remember?"
Matthew groaned in frustration, "This isn't the movies or your stupid video games! You could get yourself killed!" the paramedic snapped, still blocking the front door from his younger brother.
His sibling scoffed at him, "I'm not five anymore, I'm 26 years old and I know what I'm doing! Just let me-!" he ground his teeth and threw his hands up in the air after trying and failing to get passed his determined half, older brother. People had always assumed that Alfred was older, because of his hero complex and being generally louder than Matthew. The latter had always been the quieter of the two, sinking in on himself and staying out of the way while his brother ran about making a mess of things.
But woe to anyone who believed the timid man was weak. He had an iron will and a very, very solid hockey stick that was probably more deadly than any gun. Speaking of hockey sticks, he was holding one now, ensuring that Alfred stayed away. "No, I won't let you. I promised Mom and Dad that I would keep you safe and that's what I'm going to do."
The young man growled, "I'm old enough to think on my own! This isn't the first time we've dealt with murders-"
"-Well those people weren't serial killers actively hunting police officers!"
"And that's exactly why I have to go! It's my job to keep people safe!" He opened and closed his fists, blinking rapidly, "Harris, Charlotte…damn it even Roderich's dead, I-I have to do something."
Matthew's gaze softened, "Al…"
His sibling wiped his eyes furiously, "I have to help with the investigation, they need me more than ever now that people are quitting on the job."
The elder sibling's grip tightened around his hockey stick, "Then why does it have to be you? Why can't it be anyone else?" he asked in a small voice. "Al…I don't want you to end up like-"
"I won't. I'm not going to…kick the bucket or something like that." The younger male was looking at him imploringly, "Please, Matt, I can't…I can't just sit on my ass here while that guy goes out to murder all my friends. I have to do this, and I'm going to go out that door one way or another, with or without your permission."
He was tempted. So, so tempted to just knock Al out and keep him tied in his room till this all blew over. Whoever this guy was, he had no conscience, no remorse for killing those officers, men or women, young or old… After the second murder, he kept getting nightmares of seeing Alfred's head, gifted in a box on his doorstep like all the other victims' families. And then there was the state of the actual body… He shuddered. He knew the stories well enough. He looked back at Alfred. Damn his hero complex, why couldn't he be selfish, just this once? Why was it so wrong for Matthew to want to keep his brother, his last living relative, alive?
But Matthew knew he was right. Knew that it was Alfred's job. Officers were supposed to protect the public at the risk of their own safety, it was in the job description. And if anything, Alfred would just try to crawl out the window, risking arm and limb by going out in the dead of night anyways.
Damn it all. So the older sibling sighed in defeat. "…Fine. Fine! Just…Al, just please, please whatever happens," he struggled to get the words out, "Please just make sure you come home safe. Don't be the hero-"
"Matt-" the younger man started, but he cut him off.
"No – no, will you listen to me just for once in your life Alfred?! I've never asked for much, have I?" He took a deep breath, "Look, just don't be the hero when things get nasty. You come home right away, you hear me? No matter what, at the end of the day you come home. If you're in trouble, you come home. So don't – don't…" his voice cracked, "Don't disappear, Al."
I don't know what I'd do if I lost you too.
The words weren't said aloud, but he was sure that even someone was as dense as Alfred would be able to get that. The officer stayed quiet for a bit, before putting his arms around his brother and giving him a tight squeeze. "I promise. I'm not going anywhere big bro." He attempted to laugh, something that Matthew hadn't heard since the murders started, "I'm the hero remember? Heroes don't die, they always win and get the bad guy and get the girl!"
The violet-eyed man rolled his eyes, "Didn't I just say don't be a hero?"
They stood there for a bit, holding each other like they had when they were children, before finally Matthew let go and let Alfred walk out the door.
...
...
Case Number: 01109235
Date: Sept. 15 XX97
Reporting Officer: Officer Charlotte Thompson
Incident: Homicide
Address of Occurrence: 918 Notarealplace Road, Clover, OH 0213
Reporting Party: Officer Charlotte Thompson
Persons of Interest: none
Witnesses: Mrs. Janet Flowers, female, age 68, African American
Evidence:
Rohypnol
Letter containing rhyme, "My Grandfather's Clock"
Gift box
Bleach on scene and blood in drains
Bone saw
Summary: On Sept. 15 XX97, HARRIS JACKSON was found dead in his home by Officer Charlotte Thompson, who had been coming over to visit to check on him. The man didn't arrive at the station today and had called in sick. Thompson wanted to check in to "make sure he didn't kill himself on the flu pills". She found the house relatively clean with no signs of struggle indicating Jackson fought back. She found his body dismembered and stuffed in the case of his family's grandfather clock. His head was missing from the crime scene and later discovered to have been delivered to city hall addressed to his wife. The package was wrapped similar to a birthday gift and enclosed with a small card containing the nursery rhyme "My Grandfather's Clock". A calling card had also been sent to the police at the same time with the same rhyme addressed to Chief of Police, Augustus Vargas.
His children were away on a school field trip whilst his wife was working at city hall, leaving no witnesses as to what could have occurred. However, Mrs. Janet Flowers did report that she saw an unfamiliar black sedan pull out of Jackson's driveway, but didn't think much of it at the time because she believed it had been an old friend of Jackson's as he was known to invite old friends from outside of the state from the coast guard over to his home. Time of death was found to be Sept 15, XX97 at around 3:00 PM EST. Official cause of death determined to be rohypnol overdose.
...
Case Number: 02093125
Date: Sept 30 XX97
Reporting Officer: Officer Lovino Vargas
Incident: Homicide
Address of Occurrence: Amity Park, 345 Ridgeway Dr., Clover, OH 0293
Reporting Party: Roderich Edelstein
Persons of Interest: none
Witnesses: none
Evidence:
Spider eggs (found to be common brown spider)
Cottage Cheese carton
Plastic wiring
Thread and needles
Bone saw
Blood traces in bathtub
Gift Box
Letter containing rhyme "Little Miss Muffet"
Letter to Thompson family containing photographic evidence
Summary: On Sept. 30 XX97, the body of CHARLOTTE THOMPSON was found in Amity Park trapped within the higher branches of the Hope Tree, an old oak tree dedicated to a teenager who committed suicide there. The victim was placed in the tree similarly although the attempt to create a hanging effect seemed to have failed (as evidenced by the noose tied around the base of the remains of the neck) and the perpetrator settled for placing it in the tree. The discoverer of the body, local musician, Roderich Edelstein, came to the park around 8:00 AM EST to gain inspiration for his latest piece and discovered blood dripping down from the Hope Tree when he sat under it. Thompson's body was found to be dismembered but retied together a combination of thread, plastic wiring, and needles and stuffed with spider eggs and cottage cheese, the carton having been found buried in the soil underneath the tree. Her head was missing from the crime scene.
Her head was packaged in a birthday-esque gift box, delivered and addressed to the Police Department with a letter containing the nursery rhyme "Little Miss Muffet". A calling card had also been sent to the Thompson family, who lived out of state, enclosed with pictures of the crime scene. No one had been seen sitting under the tree before Edelstein and no one has witnessed any suspicious activity. Time of death was ascertained by forensics to be Sept. 29 XX97, at around 7:00 PM. Her apartment home in Urien Hall shows no sign of struggle and there were teacups left in the sink, leaving the suspicion that the killer had been invited into the victim's home. Official cause of death was found to be drug overdose on rohypnol.
...
Case Number: 0129385
Date: Oct. 14 XX97
Reporting Officer: Lieutenant Alfred F. Jones
Incident: Homicide (serial murder case)
Address of Occurrence: Kingsbury Run, Clover, OH 2093
Reporting Party: Yolanda Papadopoulous and Alexander Jenkins
Persons of Interest: none
Witnesses: none
Evidence:
Broken window and teacups
Rohypnol traces
Bone saw
Blood traces in bathtub
Letter containing rhyme "Little Boy Blue"
Gift box
Summary: On Oct. 14 XX97, the body of RODERICH EDELSTEIN had been found strew in the wheat field off on Kingsbury Road by Yolanda Papdopoulous and Alexander Jenkins. The two had apparently been on a date and stopped at the field when they came across Edelstein's severed hand and immediately dialed the police. The police searched the field and found the remaining parts of Roderich Edelstein throughout the field although his heart and head were missing from the crime scene. A small trumpet had been placed in one of the victim's severed hands.
The head and heart were missing from the crime scene and were discovered to have both been delivered to the police department, both wrapped in similar gift boxes as the earlier murders with a nursery rhyme and a calling card. The head was given to Edelstein's spouse, Captain Elizabeta Edelstein with the nursery rhyme "Little Boy Blue" and the heart had been given to Chief of Police, Augustus Vargas, with the calling card, taunting the Chief about the XX45 case he was apparently involved in (Details on pg. 8). At his home in Chaucer Apartments it was found that there was some degree of struggle as shown by the broken window and shattered teacups found in his trash bin. Again, the set out tea set seems to suggest that the killer had been invited inside.
The estimated time of death was Oct. 14, XX97 around 12:00 PM and the cause of death was ascertained to be overdose from rohypnol.
This case has been officially classified as a serial murder case and was given the file name "Mother Goose Murders". The public have officially nicknamed the perpetrator, "The Nursery Rhyme Ripper". FBI agents, Ludwig Beilschmidt and Eduard Von Bock have been called in to investigate.
...
Case Number: 120395
Date: Oct. 20, XX97
Reporting Officer: Michelle Bonnefoy
Incident: Homicide
Address of Occurrence: Chaucer Apartments, 653 Upton Ave., Clover, OH 2093
Reporting Party: Feliciano Vargas
Persons of Interest:
Natalya Arlovskaya, Female, Age 26, Caucasian
Witnesses:
Feliciano Vargas, Male, age 24, Caucasian
Evidence:
Bone saw
Kitchen Knife
Police Issue G23
Blood splatters
Fingerprints on murder weapons
Gift Box
Letter with nursery rhyme "'A Tisket, 'A Tasket"
Summary: On Oct. 20 XX97, the body of Lieutenant ALFRED F. JONES was found in the alleyway behind Caucer Apartments at 11:00 PM EST. Reporting party and witness, Feliciano Vargas, restaurant owner of Little Sicily, was walking to go visit Mrs. Edelstein in her apartment when he discovered the body of Alfred F. Jones and prime suspect, Natalya Arlovskaya, covered in the victim's blood. Vargas ran and immediately dialed authorities who quickly apprehended Arloveskaya after accidentally shooting her in the wrist when she raised her gun, apparently to surrender. She is being kept in St. Ives Penitentiary temporarily until questioning. The head of Alfred F. Jones had already been packaged and delivered to the home of Matthew Jones, who had been away to go check on his brother at the station. The package was later found and unlike the rest, had the nursery rhyme "'A Tisket, 'A Tasket" within.
Another letter had been delivered to the department addressed to Chief of Police, Augustus Vargas. A change in behavior has occurred as noted by crime analysts of Clover's Police Department, suggesting that the murder of Alfred F. Jones may be a special case. Time of death was Oct. 20, XX97 at around 10:30 PM EST and cause of death appears to be bullet and stab wounds caused by the perpetrator. As for now, the official suspect for the "Mother Goose Murders" and prime candidate as the "Nursery Rhyme Ripper" has been declared Natalya Arlovskaya.
...
A/N: None of those addresses up there are real. I made em up. And if by the off-chance they are real...well you know none of this stuff happened right? Right. And sincerest apologies to whoever lives in the US in the state of Ohio. Your state just happened to land on the wheel of fortune...or misfortune in this case.
To be continued?