Chapter Nr. 10.

Home

It was late night when Melinda and Jim got home.

"Mel, are you hungry? "

"Yeah, I'm starving." she smiled.

"Great, I'll cook something, honey!" he kissed her deeply and went into the kitchen.

"Thanks sweetheart, I'll be at the livingroom...working. "

"What kind of work?" he asked from the kitchen.

Melinda came out with her laptop in her hand.

"I'll search for the common thing in all of the victims of the serial killer. Maybe I can find something else, not just the outward similarity... "

"What do you think what can you find? "

"I don't know, maybe a common school or a restaurant where they were eating, maybe they were friends... "

"And if you find something what do you want to do with it? I mean with the information, just tell the police or what? "

"Maybe...but if I'm standing here I am never find a thing!" she smiled and went back to the livingroom, sat down to their sofa, opened her laptop and started to search about the victims. Jim was cooking a delicious dinner while Melinda was working. Suddenly she found the memorial page of all the victims of the SK. She started with the first one, called Miranda Smith. She graduated at the Rockland University on the Arts Department. Mel thought she could ask tomorrow Payne, he remembers nearly all of the students. Another page popped up with the name of Mary Close, she was the second victim, she died 4 months ago. Melinda scrolled down on the page and became excited. Mary graduated at the Rockland University too and she was a close friend of Miranda and Dr. Madison who also took her degree at the Rockland University. The third victim's name was Monica Dawson.

"Same University again." she said to herself.

Suddenly Jim came from the kitchen with 2 plates in his hand. He placed them to the table.

"Hmm, smell's delicious. "

"Did you find anything common about them? " Jim asked ignoring Melinda's compliment.

"Actually yes! They all graduated at the same University, and I bet that Rick knows them, because they finished here at the Rockland University, most of them at the Arts Department. And, their first names start with „M" just like mine. "

"But you didn't graduate at R.U., and how's that the police couldn't find the common points before? "

"I don't know, but what could be the killer's reason to choose me except that mine name starts with „M" too? "

"Maybe he knows about your...you know...so called gift. "

"Maybe, but then I have to know the killer, because I'm not telling everyone, that I can talk to the dead. "

Jim sat down beside Melinda.

"Honey, could the killer be Gabriel? "

"I think so, who else could be so insane and also perfectionist? "

"That's a good question, but now let's have dinner." he smiled and handed Melinda her plate.

Grandview CrimeLab

Joy and Gavin was working on plenty of evidences, which were collected at the Same As It Never Was and at the Weekend-House too.

"We've arrested the right guy, Gave! Gabriel was the one who shot Melinda at the shop. A match came back from the bullets. " Joy said looking up from a report.

"That's great! Did you checked out if Gabriel's bullets matches with the ones from the serial killer case? You remember the message we got before the day Melinda was shot, „I'm coming for M.G.". "

"No, I haven't thought that he could also be the serial killer. "

"Give me those bullets, I'll check them out. "

After Gavin left with the bullets to the ballistic lab, a new investigator, Emily came in.

"Hey Sara, how's the case going? "

"Great, we've got a match at the ballistics. "

"We have another hit too, you remember the message, „I'm coming for M.G."? "

"Of course. "

"It was a handwritten message, I've collected a sample from Gabriel and it matches! "

"Gabriel is the serial killer? " Joy looked up surprised

"Could be, and in the bullets, which were shot at the shop, we've found the remains of a strange liquid, but the cromatograph couldn't analyze it. "

"Thanks Emily, you did a great job! I need to talk with my brother, Jim, maybe he knows more... "

Home

Next day Melinda was still sleeping when Jim suddenly woke up. Jim called in sick for this week se he could be with his wife. He looked at the clock, 8am... He was already awake when the doorbell rang. He got up from the bed, went downstairs and opened the door.

"Hey sister, what are ya doing here? "

"Hi Jim! Can I come in? "

"Sure, but Mel is still sleeping. "

"No problem, let her rest, I just want to talk with you... "

Jim let his sister, Joy, in and they went to the kitchen.

"Okay, do you want a coffee? "

"Yep, thanks. "

They sat down and started to drink their coffees.

"So, go ahead with your questions. "

"How do you know Gabriel? "

"Not really well, I just met him a few times... "

"And do you think he could be the serial killer? "

"Well, I'm sure that he is the one who shot Mel, but I dunno if he shot the others. "

"You're right about the shooting at the shop. It was really him, we've got a match at the ballistics... "

Hospital

Rick was half-asleep in his bed when Eli stepped into his room.

"Hey prof! What's up? "

"I'm fine Eli thanks. Did you speak with Melinda? I don't want her to feel so sorry for me... "

"Oh I bet you'd like if she'd feel for ya anything." he laughed

"What's the point of your disturbing, buddy? "

"I need to ask something. I was searching about the serial killer's victims and just because Madison asked me to do it. So do you remember any students called Miranda Smith? She was one of your studemt amd she nearly always got an „A".

"That's strange. Because I remember every students I taught, and of course especially for those who get „A" marks too. But her name doesn't ring a bell. "

"Then maybe Mary Close's name does... "

"Oh yes, I remember to her, she was a bit shy but really clever. "

"Thanks, I'll speak with Melinda, I gotta go now. Bye. "

Same As It Never Was

Delia opened the shop this morning. It was already 10am and she was cleaning the big mess what the police left after the investigating, when Melinda and Jim arrived.

"Hey Delia! " Melinda smiled

"Oh hi!What are you two doing here? I thought you'd be at home this week. "

"She said she can't left the shop to you. " Jim pointed at his wife.

"Yeah, it'd be soo much work for you, it's even easier if we work together altough I just work half days. "

"No Melinda, you two are going home immeadiately and I don't want to see ya this week in the shop, Melinda! "

"Hey, I'm the boss here! "

"Yeah, but till you're sick, I'm the boss." he smiled and picked her up like the grooms used to do with the bride after the wedding.

"Put me down, Jim" she laughed

"Oh no, we're going home now! Have a nice day Delia, and thanks. " he smiled and started to go back with Melinda to his car.

"Have a nice day too! "

Home

Melinda and Jim was home for like 3 hours when Jim's phone went off.

"Clancy! "

"Hey Jim, it's me, Olga. "

"Oh hey, what's up? "

"I know you want to stay at home with Melinda, but we need you! There's a huge fire at the forest... "

"Oh great...okay I'll be there within 10 minutes. "

"Thanks, its a huge help for us!" they hanged up the phone and Jim looked at Melinda.

"What? No, you can't go now! I'll go with you. "

"No Mel, you can't come with me! "

"Sure I can! "

"Sweetheart..." she kissed him.

"Stop...I'm going with you and you can't do anything to prevent that. "

To Be Continued