A/N: Standard Disclaimers Apply

A/N: Eileen MacDonald is an OC, and I'll claim her…

Chapter Two: Reports

The only light in my room was the one over my desk. I opened the files MacDonald handed me and went through their reports several times. I started with the earliest killing, Wollencraft's, and looked for any differences in the later slayings. All three were drugged with the same thing, Rohypnol, tied with the same cord, a thin, quarter-inch nylon braid, in the same manner, around the wrists, ankles, and then garroted with the same type of rope.

The rope was easily available everywhere, supermarkets, building supply centers, discount store, you name it, so tracing the rope was next to impossible. Rohypnol, on the other hand, was much easier. It's banned in the United States, so it must have come from south of the border. The dressing of the bodies happened before the bindings, I concluded. So, the girls either willingly dressed as Raven, or were drugged first. I read the report again, and remembered MacDonald saying that they were "possibly raped." The descriptions of their mutilations were sickeningly blunt. Each of the girls' sexual organs had been cauterized, and then the stone was fused with their skin, probably at the same time.

We were dealing with a true sicko.

The killings happened in three to six month intervals, but there was no set pattern to the dumping of the bodies. Wollencraft was found in the warehouse district shortly after Halloween, so her costume wasn't questioned. Tolberson was found in a gulley near her high school while Michaels was found in a field ten miles south of the city. But matching carpet fibers were found on each of the bodies.

I wondered why the newspapers hadn't picked up on this yet.

"Richard?"

I was wondering when someone would come around. And I should not have been surprised that the others sent Raven, but she, given the situation, was really the last girl on earth I wanted to see at the moment.

"I'm busy," I snapped.

"Open up, Victor made you a dinner tray."

Once Vic got it in his mind that you needed to eat, he was worse than a pen full of mother hens. I took a deep breath and went to the door.

Raven looked up at me with her large, violet eyes. "There is something deeply troubling you," she said softly and pointed out the obvious.

"Your powers tell you that, Rae?" I barked, snatching the tray from her.

"No, but if you're going to behave like an ass, I won't stop you."

She turned to go, pulling her hood over her dark hair. I pursed my lips together and set the tray on the table. She needed to know something, but I didn't want to upset her.

"Rae, wait," I said before I could stop myself.

Raven turned and looked up at me. "Yes?"

"Raven, there's a serial killer stalking you."

The color bleached out of her already pale face. "What did you say?"

"There's a killer stalking you. He's killed at least three girls and dressed them to resemble you."

"How do you know this?" Normally she hid under a mask of biting sarcasm, but I watched it crumble away revealing her vulnerability.

"Detective Sergeant MacDonald has asked me to assist in the case," I said bluntly. "I thought you should know."

Raven bit her lower lip and crossed her arms, rubbing her upper arms as if she were cold. "Th- thank you for telling me this." She leaned into me like a scared child. I reflexively wrapped my arms around her and tried to sooth her.

"Richard," she said shakily, "why did you say 'at least three?'"

"He had to practice on someone."

Raven pulled away from me and looked at me as if I'd just slapped her. "What a heartless and horrid thing to say!"

I grabbed her by the shoulders and locked my eyes to hers.

"Unfortunately, it's the truth. I've just studied the reports on his victims. The way they were murdered was practically identical. Serial killers go through a progression, and whoever this guy is, he's already found his niche." Raven wanted to look away but I leaned into her. "Look, sugar coating it won't help the girls this maniac has already killed, or let you know what danger you're in. Promise me, that whenever you have to leave the Tower, you don't go alone, that you always have your communicator on you, and that you take care of yourself."

"I… I will."

I pulled her into a deep embrace, "Thanks Raven."

I knew she could sense how scared I was.

"Promise me one thing," Raven said as we hugged.

"Anything."

"Stop this madman."