"I've never done anything like this before in my life. I swear to you."
Sergeant McKinley sat with his head in his hands. "But I couldn't say no. She's – she has some sort of psychosexual hold over me. When she asks me to do something I can't refuse her."
John looked down at the Sergeant in disgust. "What about your wife? What about the integrity of the job?"
"Don't you think I know this? I love my wife. I do. I can't explain it."
"What about when the assaults started?" Monica broke in.
"She – Fiona – knew all the details before I even told her. She asked me..no, she suggested to me that it would be in the victims best interest that I leave certain details out of the official report. It seemed perfectly plausible at the time."
"What about the doctor? Is Fiona seeing him too?"
"No. He's seeing the youngest sister – Michelle."
"And the judge?"
"Michelle's husband – Rodney."
"No wonder he doesn't want that to get out." John whistled. "That leaves Winfield's wife and Fiona's husband. Are they involved at all?"
"Seanna – Daniel's wife – spends a lot of time with the medical examiner. And Justin – Fiona's husband – doesn't seem to do much of anything."
"A medical examiner would come in handy in case a body turned up with forensic evidence attached to it." Monica murmured to John.
"Seems like it's a whole family affair. Were you offered money too?"
"Yes."
"Did you take it?"
"Yes. But it's all still there – I haven't touched a cent of it."
"So you do have some scruples then." John said in disgust.
"I used to."
"Sergeant McKinley, we need your help. There will be an eighth victim, but this time she won't be dropped off at the ER for treatment. She'll be dumped somewhere, dead."
"Dead? Are you sure?"
"Yes. It'll happen on the night of the 30th of April. She'll be abducted like the other seven women, probably from off the street. But this time we need to find her before she dies."
"Of course I'll help you. Whatever it takes."
"If you want any hope of redeeming yourself you can't speak to any of the Winfield's about this." John warned.
"I won't. I'm sick of the whole business. I suppose. . . this has ruined me, hasn't it?"
"Not a word." John said, as he and Monica made to leave. "We'll be in touch. And we'll be back on the 29th."
"Yeah." McKinley said, almost oblivious to their departure.
XxX
"So I guess we go back to the motel and pack our bags now." Monica said.
"Guess so. Want to catch a movie to fill in some time tonight?"
She smiled. "Sounds like a plan."
XxX
She was lying on a slab, and her blood was on fire. She was sweating, filled with a need, an overwhelming desire. She couldn't breathe with the intensity of her need. And then she felt hands upon her. Rough, calloused hands. Hands that sought out all her secret places and teased her beyond imagining. She cried out in frustration at the injustice of it.
"Soon, my love." A faceless voice soothed.
"Soon you'll get to enjoy all of us."
Her body writhed in impatience. She couldn't wait – she wanted release now. A laugh echoed from across the room. Suddenly the faceless voice took on form, and she found herself looking up into the cruel blue eyes of her partner.
Sergeant McKinley sat with his head in his hands. "But I couldn't say no. She's – she has some sort of psychosexual hold over me. When she asks me to do something I can't refuse her."
John looked down at the Sergeant in disgust. "What about your wife? What about the integrity of the job?"
"Don't you think I know this? I love my wife. I do. I can't explain it."
"What about when the assaults started?" Monica broke in.
"She – Fiona – knew all the details before I even told her. She asked me..no, she suggested to me that it would be in the victims best interest that I leave certain details out of the official report. It seemed perfectly plausible at the time."
"What about the doctor? Is Fiona seeing him too?"
"No. He's seeing the youngest sister – Michelle."
"And the judge?"
"Michelle's husband – Rodney."
"No wonder he doesn't want that to get out." John whistled. "That leaves Winfield's wife and Fiona's husband. Are they involved at all?"
"Seanna – Daniel's wife – spends a lot of time with the medical examiner. And Justin – Fiona's husband – doesn't seem to do much of anything."
"A medical examiner would come in handy in case a body turned up with forensic evidence attached to it." Monica murmured to John.
"Seems like it's a whole family affair. Were you offered money too?"
"Yes."
"Did you take it?"
"Yes. But it's all still there – I haven't touched a cent of it."
"So you do have some scruples then." John said in disgust.
"I used to."
"Sergeant McKinley, we need your help. There will be an eighth victim, but this time she won't be dropped off at the ER for treatment. She'll be dumped somewhere, dead."
"Dead? Are you sure?"
"Yes. It'll happen on the night of the 30th of April. She'll be abducted like the other seven women, probably from off the street. But this time we need to find her before she dies."
"Of course I'll help you. Whatever it takes."
"If you want any hope of redeeming yourself you can't speak to any of the Winfield's about this." John warned.
"I won't. I'm sick of the whole business. I suppose. . . this has ruined me, hasn't it?"
"Not a word." John said, as he and Monica made to leave. "We'll be in touch. And we'll be back on the 29th."
"Yeah." McKinley said, almost oblivious to their departure.
XxX
"So I guess we go back to the motel and pack our bags now." Monica said.
"Guess so. Want to catch a movie to fill in some time tonight?"
She smiled. "Sounds like a plan."
XxX
She was lying on a slab, and her blood was on fire. She was sweating, filled with a need, an overwhelming desire. She couldn't breathe with the intensity of her need. And then she felt hands upon her. Rough, calloused hands. Hands that sought out all her secret places and teased her beyond imagining. She cried out in frustration at the injustice of it.
"Soon, my love." A faceless voice soothed.
"Soon you'll get to enjoy all of us."
Her body writhed in impatience. She couldn't wait – she wanted release now. A laugh echoed from across the room. Suddenly the faceless voice took on form, and she found herself looking up into the cruel blue eyes of her partner.