Chapter 12
It was already 11 am when Don and his team finally arrived on the spot. Since yesterday Los Angeles was struck by a heat wave. And when Don and his team strode along the path lined already by policemen the unmistakable smell of decomposition hit their nostrils. Colby looked worried at Theodor. The color had drained from his face completely.
"Hey Junior, everything's okay?"
Theodor nodded weakly, "I think I just have to get used to all the corpses and the things that come along with them."
Megan stopped and rummaged about in her coat pocket. She pushed the newcomer a little tin into the hand, "Here you are this is menthol paste. You put it under your nose, then it won't be so bad."
Theodor unscrewed the lid and examined the content mistrustfully.
"It's okay Junior," David said, "we're not telling anyone. C'mon I've used it myself at the beginning?"
"No bullshit man?"
David shook laughing his head, "no bullshit Junior."
Don liked the way his team helped the newbie along. Every one of them had been a newbie once and discovering a body left no one cold. Even now that they were on duty for years their stomachs churned from time to time. The closer they got the more penetrating the smell was. And Theodor fought frantically his nausea despite lots of paste below the nose. They came across a clearing and Don discovered Dt. Gary Walker few feet ahead.
"Hello Walker", he yelled and lifted his hand.
Walker nodded and waved the FBIs over. Numerous flies buzzed around.
"What the hell is that?" Don said and crouched next to Walker while putting on the latex gloves.
Walker lifted one end of the tarpaulin that covered the body.
Out of a reflex Don put his right hand protectively in front of mouth and nose, "holy shit", he hissed and blew out a breath.
"That's exactly what I had on my mind," Walker stated dryly.
Don barked some orders at his people. Then he took a closer look at the crime scene and the corpse itself.
"She's been here for three or four days."
Walker nodded, "the ME means approx. four. We'll get more information after the autopsy and the forensic examinations. It's terrible; she must have been a real beauty. "
"And very young, she's not older than fifteen", Megan considered, "any idea who she is?"
"Her name is Lydia Wise. Her parents reported her missing two days ago."
Walker took a little branch into his hand and twisted it, "Don am I mistaken or does something seem familiar to you and me?"
Don swallowed hard; he'd already feared that somebody else would notice it.
"This looks like a copycat of the last two murders we assigned to Craven. The tarpaulin, the surrounding, the lethal wounds at the neck, no doubt he used a garrote. All they have to do now is to confirm she had GHB in her blood system and we're back in the game ..." Walker scratched the back of his head thoughtfully.
Megan got closer and put a hand on Don's shoulder.
He was still crouching next to the corpse.
"Then he's been telling you the truth."
"Who?" Walker asked irritated.
"Adrian Craven," Don replied dryly, "I've paid him a visit a couple of days ago. He has told me that he didn't kill the last two victims but he knows who did it. He said it's a guy who calls himself Raphael."
"And nobody thought it would be worthwhile to inform LAPD about this development?" Walker could not conceal its anger and got up.
Don followed him, "listen, I went straight to Novak to inform this asshole and got nothing but trouble. The AD told me to cut down on Craven's case cause nobody is interested to obtain a list of new inquiries for what reason ever."
Walker put a chewing gum into the mouth, "Unfortunately according to Lydia Wise's death they will have to deal with it now. Cause Craven was behind bars during the time of murder. It can't be him."
Cursing Don shoved his fingers through his hair leaving it spiky, "his lawyers will be very happy about it, again more evidence that exonerate their defendant."
Colby joined them, "we have found numerous tire tracks over there. No wonder. Except for the fact that a there's a rotten corpse hidden in the brushwood this place is very popular for people who prefer outdoor to indoor sex, if you know what I mean."
Walker barked a laugh, "a wisecrack here and a hard growl there, I like you, Colby."
Colby flashed a smile and got serious, "I do not think we will find any usable traces."
Also David in tow with Theodor returned from their fact-finding-tour.
Don cast a questioning look at them "and?"
"Lots of garbage, furniture and other stuff. It's unbelievable what people unload in the wild but nothing that could really help us," he replied.
Don sighed and turned to Theodor, "are you doing well?"
The newbie sprang to attention, "yes Sir! Thank you, Sir that I was allowed to explore the area together with agent Sinclair."
Don and the rest of the team including Dt. Walker almost cracked up.
"Make yourself comfortable recruit ", Don chuckled and took off his latex gloves.
With a mischievous look on his face he said, "I am not your drill sergeant Theodor. Behave like an agent."
Don secretly was grateful to the newbie for his unintentionally comical behavior. Finally the whole strain that felt like Damocles Sword was gone.
"You would've been the perfect Marine," Colby said and patted Theodor's shoulder brotherly.
Walker took Don aside when he was about to follow his team back to their SUV's.
"If you want, I can talk to Novak this time. I have heard some rumors..." he grimaced, "that you loathe him."
Without going into it Don said, "Excellent. I'm sure you'll handle it."
"And you won't tell me anything about the rumors, I mean you know me already a couple of years now and I think ..."
"No comment," Don cut him short and turned round.
"Okay, I don't need to know everything. Maybe at another time at another place with a six pack on our side ..." Walker yelled.
Don lifted his hand without turning round.
Shortly afterward Walker passed Megan who had stopped to tie up her shoe laces.
"I know you guys for some time now but I have never before experienced a case that is such a blow for Don," he said to her in a low voice.
"You weren't the one who received an abominable threat either," she replied and wanted to continue her way.
He gently put his hand on her lower arm, "what threat?"
"I thought he told you about."
Walker shook the head.
"Craven has given a certain meaning to his "request" for resumption by sending Don the bloody heart of a pig, supported by the words: "Home is where the heart is. Don assumed not only his life but also that of his family is in danger."
"And what are the opinions of prosecutor Novak and the FBI concerning this matter?"
"You don't want to know. They don't think like us the guys who are out on the streets of LA risking their lives day by day."
"Fucking pencil pushers," Walker snapped, "they seemed they need something terrible to happen before they get into gear. I'm going to instruct my people to boost patrols and increase their attention around the area of Don's apartment and also the house where his family lives. I know, it's not much but no one can forbid it and I'll sleep better, too."
Megan squeezed his hand gently, "thank you very much Dt. Walker, that's very kind of you, I tell Don. And by the way congrats on your promotions even it's been awhile."
He nodded at her and went back to the crime scene while she hurried to meet the team.
"Larry won't be amused if I tell him about your flirt with Walker," Don joked. He'd watched their conversation.
"There's nothing about a midday flirt with an LAPD detective. Especially if he's as charming as Walker," she got into the game.
"Wow, Megan did he brainwash you? What did he want?" Don's face got serious.
"He doesn't like how authorities deal with problems between certain FBI employees and serial killers named Craven. He decided to instruct his people to boost patrols around the area of your apartment and also Charlie's and Alan's house."
Don fired up the engine, "if you consider that at first I did not like the fellow at all ..."
Megan grinned mischievously, "I think your enmity was mutual."
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Raphael stood in front of the house of Rose Winters and her parents. No, not exactly. He had sat in his unremarkable, brown Chevy Nova. He watched them with Zeiss field-glasses. Rose and their Dad had returned from school. He glanced at the watch. Right on time, like every day. Rose got off the car. She moved like a true princess. He was aroused to the utmost. His mouth was watering and he started already to imagine what beautiful things he would do to her, if she was living with him. Her parents couldn't give her what he could. Rage was bubbling inside of him. Rose walked around the car to meet her father.
The wind played with her long blonde hair. Raphael imagined it would be his fingers that caressed her soft colored cheeks. Sweat beaded on his upper lip. His mouth got dry. He put the field glasses aside and took his camera to his hand. He started to shoot photos. He could hardly concentrate on the job because his body was yearning for sweet Rose. Rose and her father fortunately talked a while.
Later, he sat in his room in the shabby motel. With shaky fingers he jabbed the printer button. One photo after the other came out, everything in high-resolution quality.
He was about to undress when one of the pictures caught his full attention. Furiously he took it into his hand and he looked at it closely. What's that? What was Rose's father doing to her? How did he look at his own daughter? He huffed out a sob and swept another stack of photos from the table. He was taken aback. A father wasn't allowed to look and touch his daughter in such a way. Disgusting!
"She's not innocent. She's a filthy bitch like all the others. She don't deserve to live she has to die!"
He fell on his knees and whined. Then he curled up. Why did it hurt so much? Why? He was the one who should be at her side and not this miserable SOB. And now she'd spoiled it all by behaving like a hooker. He rolled on the back, the picture slipped from his hand.
It showed Rose kissing her father gently on his cheek nothing any other kid wouldn't do either. tbc