"So, you're a forensic pathologist?"

"In part, sir," I said, "I also have a background in police force training."

"Hmm…" The chief of the Ithaca police department sat back in his chair. He ran his fingers through his peppery hair, dark circles prominent on his brown skin, "Well, Miss Blair. I can tell you now we have a mighty need for someone like you. Our last examiner retired just recently and we've been getting a slew of cases since he did."

"Well, sir, I can assure you I have all the right qualifications to start right away." I said confidently, my legs had been set together tightly, giving away to the fact I was extremely nervous.

"I can see that," He chuckled, "I'll warn you now, Miss Blair, this is a small town, a lot of the local boys work here. And if you don't mind my being blunt, there's only ever been one woman who worked here."

I smiled, "Sir, my father used to work in the local police department, I used to sit with him when he had to fill out files. I can handle myself just fine." Then I added, "I also spent a majority of my free time while I attended school taking kickboxing classes."

The chief laughed, "Oh, I'm sure they'll have another thing coming. Welcome aboard." He leaned over his cherry wood desk to shake my hand, "I'll show you around."

We left his office, I followed close behind him. We went past an area where a few desks piled with paperwork were left unattended and down a set of white linoleum steps that led to a door which read 'Caution: Forensics Lab Authorized Personnel Only' in big red letters, underneath, in smaller black letters, it read 'Please do not touch evidence unless authorized'. I had a small chuckle at that, feeling like that must've been put there for a reason.

"Well," The chief said, ushering me into the lab, "This is primarily where you'll be working. We used to have interns from the schools come in and out, but now we only have one student working with us. We call him Harker, he ain't here right now, but he's been stuck with all of the work. I'm sure he'll be relieved he ain't alone anymore." He scratched the back of his head, "I don't know much about all this stuff, but I'm sure you'll fit right in. Ithaca might be a small town, but it gets plenty of action and unrest, I assure you." He turned towards the door, but then turned back to me, "Oh, another thing. Sometimes the boys like to come down and bother Harker, I'll try to keep them out of your way, but they can get annoying. They're good at what they do, but damnit if they aren't pains in the ass."

"Duly noted, sir." I smirked, setting my jacket on the empty desk.

I let out a relieved sigh when the door finally closed.

"Let's get to work, Cory." I said to myself.

The lab was in poor shape to say the least. It seems this Harker kid didn't know much about cleaning. I changed into some dark purple scrubs, slapping on some latex gloves and got to work cleaning the floors with bleach.

It was important to keep the lab as clean as possible, as to not contaminate anything. There was dust everywhere, so I put on a flimsy face mask and safety goggles and set about cleaning it all away. The cobwebs were the worst part.

It had been almost 3 o'clock when I had finally finished. I changed my gloves and threw away my mask. The whole place smelled like bleach and my Tommy Girl perfume, but at least it was sanitary.

There were a few files the Chief had set aside for me while I had been cleaning, so I sat on my desk pouring through the top file.

"Jonah Johansen, you've been a naughty boy." I said, flipping through the evidence that had been recorded, "Why haven't they locked you away?"

The next paper answered my question, no solid DNA evidence.

"Let's see if we can fix that." I closed the file.

I went to a file cabinet, where there were voice recordings of what Harker and the last medical examiner had saved. I found the ones for the Johansen case and sat down to listen. Only the first girl had been recorded by the original examiner. The last few had been done just by Harker.

"Small abrasions on the wrists, suggesting the hands were tied with rope." His voice was shaky, "A-and. No obvious signs of struggle…"

I cocked my head, the file said that some of the women that had been raped and killed in the same way put up quite the fight. Did Harker overlook something? I looked at the name written on the tape.

"Camilla Haverford." I said to myself.

I switched on the radio, changing it to the classic rock station. The song was a minute into In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.

I hummed along to it while I searched around for the evidence bags that had Camilla's name on it.

It seems that everything that could have been swabbed was done so...except…

"Did he not swab the teeth?" I asked myself.

I thought, if I had been in these women's situation, what would I do. I closed the evidence bag, placing it neatly where it had been. Then I backed up to a more open space and I held my hands above my head, like I had seen in the photos. Their legs had been tied also, so I spread my legs a bit.

The song on the radio had since then changed to Glycerine...

"If he's above me," I said to myself, "What's the one thing I could do? I'd take a bite out of him if he got close, hoping I'd get a good chunk out of him."

I had to ask the Chief if he had Harker's number…

I ran out of the door and up the stairs. I hadn't noticed that the empty desks now had a few officers sitting idly. The chief's door had been open and he was on the phone, so I stood in the doorway waiting for him to finish.

"I agree," He said said, "Don't worry, ma'am, we'll get some officers to check it out. Don't you worry. Thank you...bye." He slammed the phone on the receiver, "Yes?" He asked.

I stepped into the office, standing before him with crossed arms, "Sir, I was looking at the Johansen case…"

"That case was closed a few weeks ago, he's been found innocent."

"Yes, sir, I know. But I think there were a few things that might have been overlooked." I said, "When you were interviewing Mr. Johansen, did he happen to wear long sleeved turtle-necks?" I asked.

"Well, I'm not sure," The chief said, "You might have to look at the tapes. Officer Evans had been the one interviewing him."

"Sir, if I'm right, he might have bite marks from the victims that he's covering." I said.

"Bite marks…" The chief mumbled, then yelled, "Evans!"

I heard a loud sigh from outside and a few remarks from the others.

"What'd you do now, Evans?"

"Did they finally find the bodies?"

"Shut up, dickheads."

An incredibly tall man had appeared in the doorway, his blond hair had been mussed up and his deep brown eyes spoke of mischief.

"Yes, your imperial chiefness?" He asked.

The chief glared at him, "Was Jonah Johansen wearing a longsleeved turtle-neck when you interviewed him?" He asked.

"Well fuck if I know, sir. I've been doing a lot of interviews lately." Evans shrugged.

"Then get your head out of your ass and show Miss Blair the tapes of his interview." The chief motioned towards me.

Evans looked at me, "Blair, huh? Charlie Evans," He shook my hand, "I will certainly oblige." He raised his brow, "Follow me."

I rolled my eyes, following close behind him. He went into a small back room where there were shelves filled with labeled tapes.

"Johansen. Johansen." He muttered to himself, searching for the tape.

"It's on the desk." I pointed.

"An astute observation, Blair." Evans smiled, he sat down motioning for me to st next to him, to which I reluctantly did so.

He inserted it into the player. The screen lit up and I could see what I could only assume was the interrogation room. There, Jonah Johansen sat. He was alone, twirling his thumbs, occasionally scratching at his covered arms. He wore a black turtleneck under his overly large leather jacket.

"Is there a Mr. Blair?" Charlie asked me.

"Did he happen to roll up his sleeves at any point?" I asked, ignoring his question.

"Not to my recollection," He said, "But just in case…" He clicked the fast forward button.

We went through the whole tape, not once did Johansen reveal his arms or neck.

"Son of a bitch…" I muttered.

"Did we miss something?" Evans asked, looking closer at the screen.

"Well, I think so. It's a hunch though." I stood up, walking back out, stuck in my own head.

Evans followed close behind me, "More importantly, did I fuck up?"

"When don't you?" Someone said.

"Shut up, Jack."

I noticed the sound of multiple footsteps following me as I went down into the lab. The radio was still on, and Rock Me had been playing.

I opened the file on the last victim, Aisling Gates.

"Where are her teeth?" I asked whomever would listen.

"They were taken out before we found her." The man named Jack told me, "They still haven't been found."

"Jonah Johansen knew he was going to get caught. So with Ms. Gates he removed her teeth because she had taken a big chunk out of him and he couldn't risk us finding the evidence." I said.

"Who is she?" I heard someone else whisper.

"Cory Blair," I answered, "And possibly your worst nightmare." I looked at the group of men who had followed me down into the lab.

"How do you know that's why he took the teeth of the last victim?" A ginger haired man asked me.

"Look," I stepped out in front of them, holding my hands above my head again, "All of the victims had their hands tied above their head, their legs too." I spread my legs, "There's no way they could have tried to fight him like that. How tall is Johansen?"

"About 6'3"." Evans answered, "Just a little shorter than me."

"Oh good, come here." I motioned for him to stand in front of me.

"All of these women were under 6 feet tall. So," I positioned Evans so he was intimately close to me, right between my legs. I brought his right hand to hold my wrists. I ignored the wolf whistles, "If Johansen is raping them, there's a good chance they have a good reach of biting his arm or neck." I explained, "He's just tall enough for them to do so."

The chief cleared his throat, "Black, Thorough, Evans," He ordered, "Bring Johansen back in for questioning. I wanna see these marks."

The officers set to work, Evans lingered a bit longer.

"We should do this again, Blair." He winked.

I released his hand, "Don't you have a rapist to bring in?"

"Duty calls, darling." He shrugged, "But I'll be back."

"Oh how I wait with baited breath." I rolled my eyes.

I heard Evans laughing to himself as he ran up the stairs.

A while later I heard the intercom click.

In an awful impersonation of Darth Vader, Evans called me up, "Blair to the interrogation room."

I walked upstairs and through the main area to interrogation room 1. Evans, the chief, and a bald officer whose name I think was Jasper Black.

Johansen was sitting on the other side if the glass, wearing the same attire he had worn in the video Evan's showed me.

"He certainly has fashion sense." I remarked, getting a snicker out of Evans.

"How should we approach this, Chief?" Jasper asked.

The Chief looked at me, "All of his victims were brunette women."

"What?" I asked.

"Go talk to him. See if you get him to show you his scars." The chief said, "You said you have experience in this area."

"I have experience in the field." I corrected him.

"Might be worth a shot." The chief said.

I sighed, "I'll try."

I went through the first door, taking a deep breath before I went into the interrogation room.

When Johansen saw me, he sat up straight, smiling widely. He might have been handsome if he had kept his beard trimmed and hadn't enjoyed chewing tobacco so much.

"How do you do, ma'am?" He asked me.

"Just fine, Mr. Johansen." I said, sitting opposite him.

He tsked, "You can call me Jonah."

"And you can still call me ma'am."

Jonah laughed, "I like when a woman is assertive."

I smiled coyly, "Do you now?"

He nodded, "They can't hold me long on those pot charges. What say you and I grab a drink after this is over?"

I pouted, "I don't date men I meet at work."

"C'mon, I'm sure you could make an exception."

I smiled again, looking at a red star tattoo he had on his hand, "That's some interesting ink you've got there."

"You like that, baby?" He asked, "I got plenty more."

"I do like that." I lowered my voice, it was soft and sultry, "I've a few myself. You show me yours I'll show you mine."

Johansen chuckled, "You first, baby."

I bit my bottom lip, "Alright." I stood up, slowly lowering the pantline of my scrubs. I lifted my shirt slightly so he could see the brightly detailed roses on each of my hipbones, there was a little more to it, but I didn't wanna show all of it.

"Just a little lower." Johansen begged.

"Not on the first date, sweetheart." I cocked my head to the side, pulling my pants back up, "Your turn, big boy."

He chuckled, absent-mindedly taking off his jacket and rolling up his left sleeve. Just under his marines tattoo was an infected bite mark, to which I can only assume belonged to Aisling Gates.

I sighed, "Thank you, Mr. Johansen. This has been lovely."

I could see the look in his eyes turn from thoughts of sex to rage in less than a second.

"You, cunt." He slammed the table.

Evans burst in, "Sit your ass down, Johansen." He demanded.

Jasper came in with handcuffs, "Jonah Johansen, you're under arrest for the rape and murder of Camilla Haverford, Abigail Lowe, Renee Dubois, Jessica Mathers, and Aisling Gates. You have the right to remain silent…"

"I know my rights!" Jonah struggled against Jasper as they brought him out to process him, then eventually throw him in holding."

"You alright, Cory?" The chief asked me.

"I'm fine." I nodded.

"Blair," Evans laughed, "I'm in love." He held his hands to his chest, "Any chance I can take Johansen's offer? I'm much better company."

"Nice try, Evans. I'm an engaged woman." I smirked, shrugging as I exited the room.

"I'm wounded, Blair." Evans said dramatically.

"Cory?"

I looked up and saw Boromir, he was looking at me with concern, but I didn't know why.

I was on my parent's leather couch. The clock said 10:00pm. I rubbed my eyes.

"Sorry, I must have fallen asleep watching the movie with the kids." I smiled.

Boromir had been silent. He just kept looking at me. I couldn't make out what he had been thinking.

"What's wrong, love?" I asked, kissing his cheek.

His face was freezing to the touch. I panicked, touching his forehead with the back of my hand.

"Darling?"

Boromir's eyes turned black.

"Wake up, Cory." His voice was distorted.

"What?" I asked.

I noticed the rest of my family had been in the living room now. They all had black eyes, their skin turning blue, like those I had always examined in the lab.

My heart raced, "What's going on?"

"Wake up, Coraline." My parents said.

I held my hands to my head, trying to shut out their chanting.

"Stop it!" I screamed.

My head pounded, the back of my eyes hurting. My entire body felt like it was burning. Then my vision went black, and I wasn't in my parents house anymore.

I was alone.

My hands were tied behind my back. I couldn't move. Panic set in.

"Wake up."

"Wake up."

"Wake up…"