A/N: Little warning: from this moment on there will be some violence. I'll put a warning before every violent chapter but I remind you the story is rated T (please, tell me if I need to bring the rating to M)! This post contains just some reference to violence.
A/N2: GC, your words brought tears to my eyes... ;-)
Chapter 9
Juc: Great news! This morning Jeff came at the gym. We're going to meet Saturday evening for my introduction to his others pushers. He should call me in a couple of days for the details. And if the intelligence about him is correct, from tomorrow on Jeff will keep an eye on me day and night. I think he already followed e a couple of times… This guy is really good! I haven't been able to see him yet. If everything goes as planned, we should be able to close this case next weekend! How about a picnic in the park after the Mass next Sunday?
Juc: Sue? Are you still there?
Juc: Sue?
SAT32: Sorry. I was lost in thought… I think your idea is wonderful!
Juc: What were you thinking about?
SAT32: It's not important.
Juc: Sue, please, talk to me! If it upsets you then it's important! Even if I'm at the other side of the ton, I'm still a good listener… or reader in this case… What did happen?
SAT32: Nothing happened. It's just that I can't get the Hourglass Killer's case off my mind.
Juc: Did Garrett assign this case to our team?
SAT32: No. It's Rogers' case but today I examined an absolutely useless tape for him.
Juc: Do you want to talk about it? Perhaps you'll feel better then…
SAT32: The fact is that this man is going to kill another innocent person in a couple of days and we have no leads, no suspects, nothing! We don't even know why he does… what he does! Why does he put an hourglass in the right hand of his victims? Why does he torture his victims for a whole day just to abandon them some hours later in a church in that position… like a penitent? How does he choose his victims? We just know that till now he tortured and killed four people, a man and a woman in New York and a man and a woman here in DC, that he kills every two weeks and that he's so careful that he doesn't leave any trace of his passage! It's so frustrating! What I really can't forget are the photos of the victims' corpses… Rogers didn't give me the results of the post-mortem but he told me that whilst the first victim had a dislocated arm and a broken one, the other three had both their arms dislocated. Howard thinks that our man is perfecting his MO… Jack, these poor people have been battered till their faces became unrecognizable, tortured then poisoned with the camphor!
Juc: Wait! With the camphor?!
SAT32: Yes. Apparently, the ingestion of an excessive amount of this substance causes a long agony and then the death.
Juc: But how did these people ingest this great quantity of camphor?
SAT32: I don't know. Rogers didn't tell me everything. Jack, how can someone elaborate a plan so cruel? How can a man do things like these to other human beings?
Juc: I don't know, Sue. And I'm glad that I'm not able to understand so well the mind of a psychopathic serial killer… But what really saddens me right now is not being there with you. I wish I could hug you and erase from your head and heart all the horrors that we're forced to face every day.
SAT32: Jack, I'm sorry. I know I'm not exactly a good company tonight…
Juc: Don't worry sweetheart. Why don't you take a long hot bath and then go to bed? You need to chill out a little. We can continue our little chat tomorrow.
SAT32: Well… this is really a great ides, you know?
Juc: Thank you! Glad to be of some utility.
SAT32: You have your moments…
Juc: Good night, sweetheart.
SAT32: Good night, Jack.
Juc: One last thing!
SAT32: Yes?
Juc: Could you make me a HUGE favour?
SAT32: I don't know…
Juc: If you should feel in danger, in any kind of danger, will you tell Bobby? Please?
SAT32: Ok, Jack. If this makes you more comfortable…
Juc: Immensely!
SAT32: I bet that you're suffering terribly for not being able to control me 24/7!
Juc: You have no idea! The thought of not being near you in case of danger or need is driving me crazy!
SAT32: Awwwww! My favourite knight in shining armour is frustrated!
Juc: Are you enjoying yourself?
SAT32: Immensely!
Juc: Ah! Ah! Funny!
SAT32: Good night, Jack!
Juc: Wait! What does it mean that I'm your "favourite" knight? How many knights in shining armour do you have?
SAT32: Hmm… Let me think… Four!
Juc: Four?!
SAT32: Yep! There's Bobby… Myles… D… and, finally, the most important of all…
Juc: Who?
SAT32: Levi, obviously!
Juc: Funny Thomas! Very funny!
SAT32: Good night, Jack! And be careful!
Juc: Good night, Sue.
Recalling the discussion with Jack while she's enjoying her hot bath, Sue felt a little pang of remorse. Watching the reproachful expression on Levi's muzzle, Sue took a deep breath.
"I know, Levi. I should have told him about the feeling I had of being observed at the park… but he would have worried unnecessarily. He needs to focus on his mission. Probably it was just suggestion. I think that the Hourglass Killer's case got to me more than I thought!"
