Within the last decade, there were 20 homicides with the same M.O.
Young men in their twenties were kidnapped, restrained, then beaten and raped for days, sometimes weeks. Then they were shot, twice in the head.
The bodies were dumped in secluded places where they weren't found for weeks or even months. In all likelihood, there were more as-of-yet undiscovered bodies in gravel pits, forests, and shallow graves.
Each man was good looking, lived alone, and 12 of the 20 found had reported some form of stalking to the police prior to their abduction. According to family and friends of the victims, each man was well-liked and had set patterns within their daily lives.
No DNA evidence was collected at any of the crime scenes and there were no viable suspects.
Zachary's DNA was collected and entered into CODIS. His DNA was not a match to any known or unknown sample. He was a ghost.
Continuation of last chapter
Mike finally stopped crying, but Harvey just sat on the floor with him. The younger man was exhausted and slumped against his boss's shoulder, just breathing deeply. After what felt like a lifetime, Mike stood shakily and Harvey sat him down on the sofa.
"Can I have a glass of water?" Mike asked hoarsely. Harvey nodded and retrieved the requested refreshment. Neither man said anything while mike sipped at the water and Harvey watched TV. "Harvey, I was thinking..."
"Always dangerous." Harvey teased gently. Mike gave him a small smile.
"What if they find out I didn't really go to Harvard? Or college? There's going to be an investigation, isn't there?" Mike's reddened eyes looked at Harvey. Harvey sighed.
"I probably should have told you this, but it seemed unimportant at the time." Harvey rubbed his eyes tiredly. "The morning you called me from thar place, I had just finalized some details with a gifted...hacker."
"Harvey, you didn't..." Mike started.
"As far as online records show, you attended a small private college and then Harvard. It's airtight and untraceable."
"How much did that cost you?" Mike asked.
"Not as much as you would think. He's a frequent...contact...of mine for difficult computer fraud cases." Harvey shrugged. "Don't worry about it."
"You could lose your job." But Mike was touched by Harvey's concern.
"That ship has sailed. Think of this as an investment in my future career." Harvey ruffled Mike's hair and received the customary glare. But it didn't last.
"I visited Dr. Reilly today, you knew that." Mike said suddenly. "I...um...I told her everything."
Harvey nodded but stayed quiet. He sensed that any interruption would cause Mike's walls to come back up.
"He hurt me, Harvey." Mike whispered. "Everything about him hurt me." Without thinking, Mike leaned into Harvey so his cheek was pressed against the older man's sternum and twisted his fingers in Harvey's shirt. Harvey rubbed Mike's back softly, unsure of what else to do with the unexpected contact. "I begged him to stop. But he wouldn't. And there was nothing I could do. I was wasn't st-strong-" Mike's voice broke.
"Hey, kiddo. You're stronger than you realize. You're here. You fought your way out." Harvey felt Mike tense.
"You don't understand. I know the detective and the doctor say my injuries were from...r-rape" Mike stumbled over the word and Harvey flinched. "And the first three times, they were. But...in order to get my phone call...he made me..." Mike took a deep breath but it ended in a shudder. Harvey wrapped his arms around Mike tightly but not painfully, as if trying to protect him from something. "I didn't want to, but...Oh God, Harvey, I was so scared."
Harvey sat quietly, waiting for Mike to continue when he looked down and realized that his associate had fallen asleep. Mike's face wasn't lined with exhaustion or pain when he slept, at least when he was sleeping peacefully, and to Harvey he looked so young and fragile. As Harvey made himself slightly more comfortable, he wondered for the thousandth time how this blue-eye puppy had managed to worm his way into the lawyer's life.
Just a short filler chapter. Hope you liked it.