Chapter 4
The town's hall was packed with the council and confused spectators. The mother of the rat boy, Mrs. Tamara Gagné had posted a wanted sign for the person who murdered her son. She was offering one million in Canadian dollars as a reward.
"We don't know if it was person or a marine mammal," one of the council women said to the people.
Angel, Mok, and Cindy were there and they could tell that the panic was settling in. Then, Angel's cell went off, it was Hannah Gideon. "Yes?" Angel answered.
"Angel, you were right, the mayor did bully me into changing my report. Jean Coppin died from a stab to the heart. She was stabbed all over, but the real blow was to her heart and the shock and the sea water caused her to bleed to death," the coroner said.
"What about the boy?" Angel asked.
"Same thing. Angel, I don't know how the town's council is going to react to this, especially the mayor. I have a feeling that he's going to laugh this off and say some sort of lie," Dr. Gideon replied and they hung up.
Angel noticed that everyone in the hall was staring at her. "I just spoke to the coroner, Dr. Hannah Gideon," she said to the crowd.
"What did she say?" someone asked.
"Rex Gagné was stabbed by a sharp object, possibly a knife, to the heart and he bled to death," Angel answered and the whole hall erupted into shock replies.
"We need to close the beaches!" someone shouted.
"We need to set up a hunting party to find the bastard!" another person called out.
Suddenly, someone blew into a whistle and everyone hushed and saw the mayor, Vinny Giroux.
"Now let's think this through; Canada Day is almost here and closing the beaches would a terrible idea. We need the tourist dollars to help us—"
"Who gives a damn about the money?! People's lives are at stake as long as that killer is out in the ocean!" Cindy cut in and everyone gave their agreements.
"Mrs. Swagger," someone said to Angel, "What do you suggest?"
Angel began to think and replies, "Close the beaches until the killer is caught."
"Whoa! Whoa! Until the killer is caught?!" Mayor Giroux shouted and adds, "Now that will take months!"
"Mayor, it is best for the people and since the town's PD is short staffed, yes it will take months," Angel replied, but the mayor shook his head.
"I suggest that the beaches remain closed until Canada Day, whether or not the killer is caught," Giroux said, but the people began to shout their disputes.
"Mayor," Mok stepped forward and everyone looks at him, "Angel, mind if I tell them?" he asked his wife and she nods.
"Rex Gagné is not the only victim. A young woman by the name of Jean Coppin was discovered at Tranquility Beach this morning. She was murdered the same way as the young Gagné," Mok tells the crowd and everyone gasped.
Mok continues, "Now, I have a feeling that this killer may be deranged in the mind as he attacked two young people with no mercy. Which is why I am suggesting to my wife that she call the nearest psychiatric hospital and bring a psychologist to see the victims and see what he or she says."
The people looked at one another and they began to nod in agreement. "I agree with Mr. Swagger," a council man replied.
"Mayor Giroux, what do you say?" Mr. Higgins asked his employer.
The mayor looked irritated and answers, "All right, call whoever is willing to come. I will also allow a hunting party to form and search for the killer out in the water. As for the beaches, they are to be closed until Canada Day."
The people gave angry responses, demanding that the mayor extend the closure beyond the holiday. "I've made my decision and it is final!" the mayor shouted and leaves.
"I really hate that man," Cindy said as she and her employers left the town hall.
Angel spotted some people painting signs that said in big red letters, "Beaches Closed! Trespassers will be arrested and prosecuted! By order of the mayor of Mystic Rock Harbor!"
Angel and her husband went into their limo and Angel turned M.A.I. on. "Angel, is there anything I can do to help?" the computer asked.
"Yes, where is the nearest psychiatric hospital?" Angel said her question and M.A.I. went to work.
"Search complete. The closet psychiatric hospital, the Western British Columbia Sanitarium specializes in anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, depression, personality disorders, and schizophrenia," M.A.I. informed her mistress.
Angel began to think and asks Mok, "Do you think the killer has a bipolar disorder?"
"I believe so, from what I can remember, serial killers tend to suffer from mania or some sort of depression," he answered.
"M.A.I., can you connect me to the head doctor?" Angel asked the computer and M.A.I. went to work, again.
"This is Dr. Absolon Perrot, can I help you?" a male voice asked.
"Yes, I'm Angel Lyons-Swagger, I'm a C.S.I. of the Mystic Rock Harbor PD. Two people were murdered and we believe that the killer might have bipolar disorder," Angel explained to the doctor.
"Can you describe how these victims were killed?" Dr. Perrot asked.
"Both victims were stabbed to death, the killer blow was to the heart, and both victims were out in the water when the—"
"Wait a minute, did you say they were killed while out on the surf?" Dr. Perrot cut Angel off.
"Yes," she answered.
"Oh my word," the doctor breathed out the words.
"Dr. Perrot, do you know something that we don't?" Angel asked.
"I need to see the victims first, do you still have them in your morgue?" the doctor replied and Angel says yes, again.
"I'll head on out first thing in the morning," he added and hung up.
"Do you suspect that he had the killer as a patient?" Angel asked Mok.
"It sounded like that," he replied as they reached their home.