Page 25 of Unhinged Cain

“Yeah, if anything happened to my computer and my projects were lost, I’d have to go jump off a bridge.”

I laughed, thinking Tina was being dramatic, but her serious stare made me snap my mouth shut. “I guess we better hope they show up tomorrow, then. I really don’t feel like the building burning down around us.”

“So what was with the slamming of the phone, guy troubles?” Tina had turned back to her book, but her headphones hung around her neck, which was her sign for ‘I’m listening.’

“Just Peter being Peter. I know I have to dump him, but….”

“Sometimes it’s easier to stick with the devil you know over the devil you don’t?” Tina looked over, and I nodded as I pondered her words.

Was that really why I was staying with him? Was it simply easier than finding someone else? Yes and no. It was easier not to deal with my mother when I would need to explain why I’d broken it off with Peter. But I didn’t think that was any better reason in the grand scheme of things.

“Yeah, that’s exactly what it’s like. Thanks for listening.” I looked up at Tina, but her headphones were back on. I guess that meant I was dismissed.

I made my way over to the desk and sighed as I opened the textbook on the different forms of psychological behavior issues. Taking a sip of my coffee, I pulled out my trusty highlighter and got to work. I’d only read the first line when I felt eyes on me and lifted my head to peer around the top half of my desk at Tina. She had her back to me with her nose buried in a book. Turning my head, I looked out the window. All was black except for the glow of the lamp light, but I swallowed hard at the feeling gnawing at my gut.

I couldn’t stand it any longer and stood quickly to close the drapes. I had no idea what was going on with me tonight, but I’d officially freaked myself out.

MARGARET

I pulled up to the multiple flashing lights and the bright yellow tape that was already set up. No doubt the stupid local cops would’ve destroyed what little evidence was around the bodies.

I turned to Hanson as we stepped out of the black car. “You don’t get more remote than this.”

“I’d say,” Hanson answered.

I took a moment to look around, and there was very little to distinguish this as a trail. The trees were tall and dense, and the only access to where the bodies were dumped was the well-hidden dirt road they’d driven down to get here. No one would have been able to find it unless someone was pointing and waving with a flare at the entrance. In this case, a police car had been stationed at the tree-lined opening and only allowed emergency vehicles to pass. Even the coroner’s van had gotten stuck trying to get in, so once they were done with the scene, the bodies would have to be walked out on gurneys.

Being unnerved wasn’t something that happened to me easily. I’d seen a lot of terrible things over the last twenty-nine years, but for some reason, this case felt different. It felt personal, and the fact that I couldn’t find a single solid clue made it feel like the killer was mocking us.

The entire area was blindingly bright with floodlights, and I was positive we would get a call that an alien ship had landed in the woods before they were done. Slipping under the yellow tape, I shook my head at the million footprints surrounding the scene. The bodies had been covered, the white material glowing brightly under all the lights. As Hanson and myself got closer, the Sheriff spotted us and made his way over.

“Sherriff Watts,” he said and held out his hand to shake mine.

“I’m Agent Lawson, and this is Agent Hanson,” I said and nodded toward him. Watts looked at Hanson and smiled. I knew right away that I’d just been booted out of the old boy’s club once again.

“Aren’t you that famous serial killer hunter? I know I’ve seen you on television.” Watts smiled and put his hands on his hips.

“I’m only assisting on this case,” Hanson said. “Agent Lawson here is the lead on the investigation.”

I had to give Hanson a point for that one. At least he tried, but it was no use. Watts stuck out his hand to shake Hanson’s like he was a red-carpet celebrity. “Well, I’m sure glad we have you on this one. Whoever this killer is, is one sick fuck.”

Sheriff Watts turned to walk toward the bodies, and Hanson mouthed, ‘sorry’ as soon as the Sheriff’s back was turned. There was no point listening to the Sheriff gab on like he knew what he was talking about as he tried to show off his investigation skills for Hanson.

Instead, I took in the scene and the two girls who once had been beautiful. Their bodies were mutilated and broken, and the pain and fear were etched into their features even in death. There was no mistaking that the girls were twins and no older than their mid-twenties. Their blonde hair was matted and thick with leaves and dirt, but their bodies were crisp and squeaky clean.

Hanson stepped up beside me and grumbled under his breath. “So, what do you think?”

My eyes traveled over the image of the girls entwined in a hug, their lips sewn together. “Whoever this guy is, he’s strong and capable of tossing around the combined weight of, say, two-hundred and fifty pounds.”

I squatted down and stared at how the girls were wrapped around one another like they were frozen in a lover’s embrace.

“I think our guy has a split personality and definitely has a thing for connections. I mean, look at the random abuse on the girl on the left. She has a breast cut off, and she’s missing fingers and toes. I’m not sure what did that to her buttocks and anal cavity, but it looks like the person just did random things to the body. It’s all very erratic.”

I looked up at Hanson as he scribbled a few notes into a small notepad.

“The other girl is not missing any body parts, and the lines carved into her body took time and precision. This was done by someone that values his work. The lips sewn together makes me wonder if this perp was abused…or maybe had a sibling that passed away or had something similar done to him. Or possibly someone wronged him.”

“Like turned him in for a crime?” Hanson’s tone was inquisitive. “Do you think our guy just got out of jail?”