DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but the character of Allyson. Anything familiar belongs to someone else and I mean no disrespect or copyright infringement.
Cyrus pulled up at the scene. His partner was already there, interviewing the uniforms.
"Hey, what'd we get," he asked Kevin.
"Hey. Same guy," Bernard said.
Cyrus cursed. He and Bernard were assigned to the task force that was chasing this serial killer. He hated what the fiend did to the victims before killing them. It made him sick to his stomach.
He examined the body, as much as he was allowed, and saw the wounds were nearly identical to the previous three he and Bernard had investigated.
The victim's face was bloodied and the nose appeared broken. He was willing to bet the victim had several bruises on their torso from being kicked. The knife wounds would be exactly 13. No more, no less. Exactly 13. The fatal stab wound would be number 6. The ME could always tell because of the bleeding pattern after the fatal blow.
Cyrus shook his head. He had sent out information to other law enforcement agencies, just to see if they had killings with similar MO's. Cyrus was hoping there were no other killings in other places because this man was causing enough of a headache for the NYPD.
He wondered what had happened to cause this person to snap. The first victim had actually been killed several years prior, but had only recently been connected when Cyrus and Kevin had decided to check cold cases for comparisons. This killer had three victims in the last three weeks and had killed at least one other person nearly a decade ago. The ME had matched the DNA from the decade old corpse with the first killing three weeks ago.
Rogers came up to the detectives. "This one is at least a day old. Apparently, it was buried under this trash and only uncovered this morning. Until I get an ID, I have no idea who this woman is or anything about a crime scene," Rogers said.
"Same person," Cyrus asked.
"Looks like it. But you've studied the killer. You know the signs," she said.
"Let me know," Cyrus started to say.
"If I find anything, you'll be the first person to tell. The mayor wants this solved quickly. I'll be in touch," she said, heading toward the van that held the equipment needed to safely transport the body.
Cyrus turned to Kevin.
"Something is throwing this person off. Why kill ten years ago, stop and then return and do three in three weeks," Cyrus asked his partner.
"Prison? Moved? I don't really care, I want this scum bag off the street," he said.
They spent a few hours at the crime scene before heading back to the station. As Cyrus parked the car and headed up to the bullpen, his phone went off.
He didn't recognize the number, but he answered it.
"Detective Lupo," he said.
"Detective Lupo. This is DI Natalie Chandler. I'm with the London police. I got your inquiry to law enforcement agencies via Interpol and I think we have a couple of cases that match yours," said the accented voice on the other end.
"In London," Cyrus asked.
"Yes. I'm going to email you the information we have on the four victims we have here. Compare your information and call me back. I'm sending the information from Interpol as well. I believe we have a lot to discuss," she said.
"Thank you. I'll be looking for your email," Cyrus said, hanging up. He jogged up the stairs and headed straight into the Lieutenant's office.
"Lieutenant, have a minute," he asked.
"Sure. What's on your mind," she asked.
"I just got the oddest call from a DI Chandler with the London police. She said she has some cases that look like they might be connected to our case," he said.
"In London? That seems rather odd," she said.
"She's emailing the information. I'll call her once I look over the file. She said Interpol has a connection and she was going to send that as well," Lupo said.
"Check it out. This does change things. We might have to give jurisdiction over to the FBI and Interpol," Van Buren said.
"I'll let you know," he said, heading out to his desk.
Bernard was seated at the computer and cast him a questioning look.
"Long story. I'm waiting on an email from London. They think our cases are connected to a few cases from London. I'm going to look and call," he said.
Cyrus pulled up his email and clicked on the file from DI Chandler. He hit the print button and stood by the printer while the large amount of pages printed from the computer.
He handed half the information to Bernard and, together, they read the reports from London.
LONDON
"Guv, did you see this query from Interpol? Apparently a detective in New York City is looking for other crimes that might be connected to a serial killer they have in New York," Ronnie said.
Matt took the paper from Ronnie and read the MO for the New York killings.
As he turned the page, he was shocked because it read just like Allyson's attack.
"This is the same sicko that attacked Lyssa," he said, his fist clenching the paper.
Natalie took the paper and read the information. "Sounds like it. Pull the files that we've linked to Ally's attacker. I'll call New York and talk to this Detective Cyrus Lupo. Maybe we can finally give Ally some justice," Natalie said.
She went into her office to make the phone call and Ronnie and Matt went back to their desks. They pulled the files from the computer and made them available for Natalie to email.
When Matt pulled up Allyson's file, his insides went cold. He remembered that day in vivid detail. He could tell you what he was wearing; the fear that went through him when Allyson hadn't come home. He could tell you how he felt seeing Allyson tumble down those stairs and landing, literally, at his feet. How the memory stills turns his stomach. He could tell you every single mark on Allyson's body. He closed his eyes.
Remembering Allyson's attack was what caused him nightmares. He had found her after the initial attack and he'd stayed by her during her recovery. He'd developed strong feelings for Allyson. He saw her everyday when he went to the CPS offices to talk to Alesha and her new boss, Jake. James, Alesha's former boss and current beau, had recently left the CPS to go into private practice. This paved the way for him and Alesha to have a relationship without fear of losing their jobs.
Matt and Alesha had dated, but Matt and Alesha knew they were friends. Best friends. The two had parted on friendly terms and Matt wasn't the least bit upset at Alesha budding relationship with James. Alesha was the one that had encouraged Matt to explore things with Allyson.
Then he'd been shot.
Alesha and Allyson had taken turns sitting by his bedside until he had woken up. The pain was unbelievable, but Allyson wore a smile every time she had seen him. Matt drew on her positive re-enforcement that he'd recover. He wanted to get better because he wanted to tell her how he felt.
Allyson even opened her home for him to stay while he recovered and he got the chance to know her during their late night talks.
He wasn't sure when it happened, but he had fallen for her.
He had stepped away from investigating Allyson's attack, since he cared deeply for her. The last thing he wanted was for some defence attorney to say he'd tampered with evidence because he was 'personally involved' with the victim. He had the blessing of his boss and Allyson knew Henry and Jake didn't object. He loved the woman and he missed her like crazy. He just hadn't told her. Now, she was across the Atlantic living in New York and he thought he'd lost his chance.
Natalie came out of the office.
"I sent the information. I'll be getting a call back from him after they look at the files," she said.
Matt nodded. "What is this guy doing? I mean, he attacks seven women in London before dropping out of sight. Someone in New York is doing the same thing. Why," he asked.
"Well, if it turns out there is a connection, the DA has the option of trying them in the States or shipping him off to us. Interpol wants him for global drug crimes. He's going to prison," Natalie said.
"As long as he stays there," she heard him say.
"If they find a connection, I'll send one of you to the States. Think you can handle being in New York for a while," she asked, grinning at her 'boys.'
"I think I can handle that," Matt said.
He turned back to his computer. He answered a few of his email and wondered which of them would get sent to the US. He was hoping it would be him.
Ronnie caught his partner staring at the photo of Allyson in the file.
"Call her Mattie boy. You miss her and you're driving me crazy with all this moping you've been doing since she left. And you'll be the one going to America. I don't think I could stomach that," Ronnie said.
Matt ignored his partner. He closed out the computer and picked up his phone. He headed out to the stairwell and pressed the speed dial.
Despite his best not to, he couldn't pull his mind away from the memory of Allyson's attack.
NEW YORK
Allyson was engrossed in her work. She nearly jumped out of her skin when her cell rang.
"Hello," she said.
"'ello. How are you doing this evening," he asked.
"It's afternoon here, Matt," she said.
"Yeah, well. I just wanted to see how you were doing. I miss you," he said.
"I miss you, too. I went to see the sights with one of the detectives I met yesterday. He's coming by this evening so I can treat him to dinner. He bought yesterday, so I'm treating this time. I'm just reading some reports," she said.
"I'm glad you're having fun," he said.
"I'm trying. That's what you told me to do, right," she reminded him.
"I know. I'll just have to plan my vacations and make trips to the States," he said.
"Only if I don't buy tickets to London first," she said.
"I just wanted to hear your voice. I'll talk to you later. I miss you," he said.
"I miss you, too. Now, what else is on your mind," she asked.
She heard Matt sigh. "We think we've found a connection to your attack," he said.
"Really? What," she asked.
"I can't go into details right now, but Natalie's waiting for a call from another detective. They think they may have linked your attack, the other attacks here to several in the States," he said.
"States? You mean this guy is global," Allyson asked.
"We don't know, but I'm certain we'll call you when we have the information," Matt said.
"Thank you for telling me," she said.
"Anything for you," he told her.
"I'll talk to you tomorrow," she said.
"Tomorrow. Bye, luv," Matt said.
Allyson said her goodbyes and hung up the phone.
Matt stared at the phone. He had told Allyson when she left London that he wanted her to have fun, even if it meant dating. He didn't tell her the thought of her dating someone else turned his stomach and he couldn't eat or sleep. He'd discussed it with Alesha after he'd dropped Allyson off at the airport. Her insight was remarkable and he remembered why he called her his best friend.
"Did you tell her," Alesha asked her friend.
"Tell her what? That I'd miss her? That I'd be waiting for her to come back? I did tell her that. I also told her to have fun," Matt said, staring at his coffee.
"You didn't tell her you love her," Alesha asked.
Matt looked at her, startled. He had just begun to realize how he felt about Allyson. "What," he asked.
"Come on, Matt. We might not be a couple anymore but I can still read you. Everyone knows you're in love with Ally. So why didn't you tell her before she left," Alesha asked.
"Because I didn't realize it until she was already on the plane," Matt said.
"You knew before that, you were just afraid," she said.
"Afraid? Of what," he asked.
"You found her after she was attacked. She was there when you were recovering from your shooting. You were scared your feelings were just feelings of gratitude after what you both went through. You told me, before all of that happened, that she was beautiful and nice. You were interested even before all that happened. And you're still a little shy about relationships after what happened between us. She's not me, Matt. She loves you," Alesha said.
Matt stared at his friend and realized she was right. He had been in love with Allyson before either of them had been injured. He'd been in love with her when he'd asked her to join their little group at the pub on Friday nights. Now, Allyson was on a plane heading to New York and he couldn't do anything about it.