"Caucasian female, black hair, blue eyes, approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, 125 pounds 4 ounces, between the ages of 24 and 30."
"Total damage?"
"Minimal actually. No defensive wounds, no immediate per-mortem injuries..."
"What do you mean by immediate?" Cora asked.
"24 hours or less. I can tell by what I observed during the autopsy and the x-rays that at some point in her teens, she fractured her Tibia and Fibula. Also," Olivia pulled the sheet down to her abdomen, "See this scar? She had her appendix taken out."
Cora made mental noted of everything, "Was there any sexual activity before death?"
"Yes, but it appears completely consensual and her male partner used a condom. Use of a condom means..."
"No semen, got it," Charlie said.
"Which means no DNA to even begin to build a suspect pool," Cora pointed out. "Any hairs or fibers of any kind?"
"Only hers. I wasn't able to find a single piece of evidence to identify her sexual partner and/or her killer. Look," Olivia lifted the right had of the body, "Nail beds are completely clean. In fact, the whole body is. Whoever killed her, made sure to clean her up damn good so that there wouldn't be any trace of him left on her."
"And/or? You're saying that it's possible that whomever she had sex with also killed her?" Charlie and Cora looked at each other and then back to Olivia.
"It's not only possible but highly likely. No defensive wounds might suggest she was drugged, but I found no traces of anything in her system. However, her stomach contents revealed a very nice dinner and about a glass and a half of red wine. Also, I would place her time of death at about an hour, maybe two at the most after the sexual activity. So, I would say that the man that treated her to a very nice evening, was just luring her in to be murdered, but that's just my opinion."
"Well your opinion is valued," Charlie said, "and I think we can all agree that is sounds like a probable scenario."
"Probable, yeah, but she could have been sneak-attacked by someone leaving that guys apartment or something like that," Cora stated.
"Okay, I get your point. Let's continue."
Olivia nodded, "Cause of death was a single deep laceration from Jugular to Carotid, made with a jagged blade, some kind of serrated instrument. Her face however was removed with a precise, smooth blade. Something very small. And from what I can tell, it was removed very slowly and kept in one single piece."
"So, basically, her face has become a mask?"
"Precisely, and was replaced by the one that was found on her."
"Right the full face, white mask. Was there anything found on that?"
"Nothing but very tiny bits of her skin. Her heart had stopped pumping at least an hour before it was placed on her."
"Where are her eyes?"
"I removed them. Her eye lids were taken with the rest of her face, and it made her somewhat easier to look at as I performed the autopsy."
"Fair enough," Cora let out a long sigh, "Can we see the other body?"
"You can if you want, but the report is the same."
"Exactly the same?" Charlie asked stunned.
"Almost completely. There are small, trivial differences but..."
Cora cut Olivia off, "The differences, what are they?"
"Well the second victim is roughly 5 feet 4 inches tall, 110 pounds 7 ounces, and she has had no surgeries, but has had multiple fingers broken on her left hand. The injuries are at least 10 years old, I would say that she played some sort of sport."
"Is that all?"
"I'm afraid so. Everything else is the same."
"Olivia," Charlie piped up, "Cora and I were lead to believe that the bodies weren't killed in the order they were found; that the second victim was actually killed first. Also, we believe that they were not killed where they were found."
"It's funny you should bring that up, because I was just about to. The second victim is at least 3 days older than the first. And no, from what I see, they weren't killed in those alleyways. Levity had already set in on both bodies before they reached their final destinations. The first victim had been dead at least two hours before she was laid in that alley. I would put her T.O.D. at around 9:30 last night. As for the second, I'd say she died around the same time on Friday night, but say that she was only dead about an hour before she got to the alley."
Cora spun around and headed for the exit. "Cora, wait!" Charlie shouted, "Thanks Olivia." He ran after her and caught her just before she reached the lift, “Where the bloody hell are you rushing off to?"
"Research Charlie."
"Research? What kind of..."
"Locations. I told you this morning I wanted to look for shops where masks like that could be purchased. Also, the alleyways the victims were found in are about an hour apart, and we now know how long the bodies where dead before they got to their locations, so I wanna search for places we might be able to further investigate that are roughly two hours from the first alley, but only an hour from the second."
Charlie laughed, "Hey slow down there kiddo. That's a fantastic idea, but you need to have something to eat, and so do I."
"Alright, alright. We'll stop for a quick lunch, but then it's straight back to work.
Charlie leaned back against the wall of the lift as the doors closed and it began to rise, "Ha, okay then, ALLONS-Y!"
Chapter Five - More Murders
"Cora, I think I found something in one of the buildings we were looking into."
"Well it's about time we find something Charlie," she said as she spun her chair around, "We've been searching for over a week. None of the shops could offer any help, and every building we've looked at so far has just been worthless to the investigation."
"Well it may not be much but..."
"Hey guys," Billy interrupted, "how’s your case going?"
"Well Billy, I was just about to tell Cora about a lead I may have picked up on."
"Well I hope it's a good one, but it’ll have to wait."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Your case just got a bit more complicated. Three more bodied were found matching the first two vics."
"Three more?" Charlie and Cora exchanged frustrated glances."Well, let's go check em out..."
Charlie and Cora returned only hours later with nothing. The three new bodies were killed and mutilated the same as the first two, and all five now shared the same physical descriptions. The only information that might prove useful would be the times of death and the locations where they were found. Maybe those facts would help narrow down a location to where they were being killed. They knew they had a rough time ahead of them.
The days passed and they scouted new buildings one by one, doing all the investigating and researching that they possibly could without having warrants; which they couldn't get because they didn't have any evidence that would lead to a reasonable search. One afternoon while looking into an odd warehouse, Cora received a call from her father. "Afternoon Dad, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Not a pleasure I'm afraid my dear, I have bad news."
"What kind of bad news?"
"Have you made any progress in your case?"
"Nothing to be proud of, why?"
"Because I'm afraid I'm about to send you right back to the beginning..."
"You mean..."
"Unfortunately, yes. More murders."
Cora sighed and shook her head, "How many more?"
"Two."
She called to Charlie to head back to the car, "Alright we're on our way back. Have the files ready."
"They're already on your desk." When Cora turned to Charlie and informed him of what she just learned, he exploded in anger. Cora had to take a step back, she had never seen him like this.
"HOW MANY MORE? HOW MANY MORE INNOCENT WOMEN MUST DIE BEFORE WE FIND ANYTHING AT ALL TO HELP US CATCH THIS GUY? IT'S BEEN WEEKS AND WE ARE NO CLOSER TO FINDING HIM THAN WE WERE ON THE FIRST DAY! WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL DO WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO G
ET SOMEWHERE? JUST WHEN WE THINK WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO SOMETHING, WE GET KICKED IN THE ARSE WITH MORE SHIT AND END UP RIGHT BACK AT THE FUCKING BEGINNING! HONESTLY, SEVEN BODIES AND WE ARE NOWHERE! I..."
Cora thought she saw someone in the window of an upper floor of the building behind Charlie. She stepped forward and reached out to touch his arm. "Charlie I think there..." Before she could finish he pushed her hand away and snapped at her.
"YOU THINK! YOU...YOU WERE BROUGHT IN BECAUSE YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AN INCREDIBLE DETECTIVE! AND I HAVE STUCK UP FOR YOU SINCE THE VERY FIRST DAY! YOU SHOULD HEAR THE THINGS PEOPLE SAID BEHIND YOUR BACK, AND I DEFENDED YOU! 'JUST GIVE HER A CHANCE' I SAID, 'IT'S A ROUGH CASE, BUT I KNOW SHE'LL COME THROUGH.' YOU HAVEN'T PROVEN YOURSELF AT ALL! WHY SHOULD I CONTINUE TO STICK MY NECK OUT FOR YOU, IF YOU'RE JUST GOING TO KEPP LETTING ME DOWN AND PROVING THEM ALL RIGHT?"
Cora backed away and went to the car. Silently she sat down in the passenger seat and waited. When Charlie got in, she shifted her gaze from her lap to the window. They road back to the station in silence, tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. They took separate lifts up and read the new files silently to themselves without a single glance at each other. Everybody in the room could see that there was some sort of problem, but nobody said a word. The air became dense and the room uncomfortable. Cora left first and headed to the locations where the new bodies were found. Charlie went down to the morgue after she was gone. Neither stayed long and soon they found themselves once again side-by-side silently at their desks.
Chapter Six - Getting Nowhere
Two weeks time passed since Charlie yelled at Cora. Four more bodies had been found and still they were no closer to catching the killer than they had been before. Charlie and Cora still barely spoke to each other or anyone else. It was Friday, December 18, 2015, one week before Christmas, and roughly 3 months since Charlie and Cora read the very first case file. The press hounded the two of them every time they took one step outside. At six o'clock, Cora headed home. There was no work to be done, she had no reason to stay later. Her father offered her a lift, but she told him she would rather walk. It was cold, snowing lightly and starting to get dark. Cora couldn't help but notice somebody was following her. A block or so from her apartment, Cora spun around and screamed at the young woman, "WHO ARE YOU, WHAT DO YOU WANT AND WHY ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME?"
"Sergeant Jones, I'm Rebecca Mitchel. I work for Mr. Edward Anderson of the local newspaper..."
"A reporter? I have nothing to say to you people."
"That's why I'm here. I just wanted to ask you, why is everyone so silent? The whole city is well aware of what's happened, and I'd be lying if I said the people aren't scared. Why hasn't anyone made a statement to at least calm nerves or say what to watch out for?"
Cora sighed, “I guess you're right to wonder. Look Miss Mitchell, you have no idea what my partner and I have gone through with this case, you have no idea how hard it has been. I'm sorry I snapped at you, but you can't imagine the stress I have been under, and people like you don't make things any easier."
"Then tell me. I will make a deal with you detective. You give me one interview, one statement so I can give something to the people, and I will do everything I possibly can to make sure nobody else bothers you. And if you have any information afterward, any at all, please let me be the one you trust to tell it to the public."
Cora could see that Rebecca meant well, and the snow was starting to fall harder. "Alright, I have a day off tomorrow, unless there is some sort of emergency, or a break in the case...So you can join me at my flat for tea around noon, and I will do my best to give you something."
At about ten minutes after noon, Cora buzzed Rebecca into the building and led her into the lift and then down the hall of the 3rd floor to her small flat. It had and open kitchen/den area with a door off to the left that led to the bedroom and bathroom. Rebecca was dressed very casual with dark jeans, boots, a chocolate brown shirt and matching knit cardigan. Her long dark hair was in a loose pony tail, her blue eyes were wide in eagerness. She had brought with her a handsome young man. He was tall and lanky with messy brown hair and dazzling brown eyes hidden behind rectangular glasses. When Rebecca saw Cora looking at him she introduced them. "Sergeant Jones, this is my camera man Davy Kroeger, he will be filming our interview to be given to the local news station that our paper works with."
"Oh I see, well won’t you both please have a seat and set up I guess. I’ll get the tea and cakes."
"Thank you miss," Davy smiled at her. His smile was very charming and innocent. Both of them seemed like very nice kids, neither could've been more than 23. They must have started working straight out of high school. They set out their things on the small table in front of the couch and sat down. Cora placed the tray on the tiny end table and sat in the armchair to the right of them. She had a roaring fire going to warm the room. She could tell by the snow their boots left on her mat that it was very deep outside.
"Where do you want me to begin Miss Mitchell?"
"Wherever you see fit. What you tell me is completely up to you. I may ask a question or two, but other than that, everything said here is under your control."
"Alright then, let's get started."
"Davy, roll the film..."
Cora talked for what seemed like hours until she felt she said everything she possibly could. It was about 3:30pm when Davy stopped the camera. He looked a bit worried. "Davy, what's wrong?" Rebecca asked him.
"Sergeant Jones, you said that the young women that have been killed are of small stature with dark brown hair and blue eyes..."
Cora understood where he was going, "Yes, and before you ask...yes, I think Rebecca should be very careful. Since you're going to put your name on this, you could be putting yourself in danger. Please be very cautious, don’t go out alone, and don't go out to dinner anywhere with any man you don't know, as charming as he may be."
"You don’t have to worry about that ma’am." Davy put his hand on Rebecca's shoulder and Cora smiled.
"Well, keep her close and take good care of her then Davy."
"Oh I will ma'am."
"Make sure you keep an eye on the telly and the papers. I'm going to push everybody to run this as fast as they can." Rebecca said. Cora walked them all the way down to the front stoop and watched them until they were out of sight. Once back in her flat, she phoned her father.
"Dad?" Hello it's me."
"Good afternoon dear, enjoying your day off?"
"As much as I can, I guess."
"Well was something on your mind? To what do I owe this call?"
"What? I can't just ring up my own dad whenever I want without other intentions then to simply talk to him?"
Dorian chuckled, "Of course you can. But if I know you my dear, and I do, there's a reason you called."
Cora rolled her eyes, he knew her too well. Even though she spent most of her time with her mother growing up, it still ended up being her father that really knew her the best. "Yeah, your right. I talked to a reporter today. A Rebecca Mitchell. She works for Edward Anderson. I called because I was wondering if you had talked to Charlie recently at all and may have anything, anything at all to tell me about our case."
"I'm afraid not Cora. But I don't understand why you ask me these things. Why don't you just ask Charles yourself?"
"Charlie and I still haven't talked about that little incident we had a while back and it makes things uncomfortable."
"Well maybe you should call him then." Again, Cora rolled her eyes, her dad was right. They were partners after all, they needed to communicate.
"Alright Dad, I will. Thanks. I love you."
"Love you too dear, I'll see you on Monday." As soon as her dad hung up, she rang Charlie.
"Charlie?"
"Cora? Um...hi...What...what do you want?"
"We need to talk Charlie."
Silence on the other end and then a sigh, "Yeah, yeah we do, are you home?"
"Yeah, I am. W
hy?"
"Don't go anywhere, I'm on my way."
Chapter Seven - A Friendly Stranger
It was four days before Christmas. Cora and Charlie were talking again and things seemed to be back to normal. There hadn’t been a new body in over a week and they hoped they wouldn't find another so close to the holiday. Even though there was joy around her, Cora was feeling beaten down and anxious. She had been going over the case files again, all 11 of them, and it seemed every time they were a step closer to solving the case, they ended up two steps back. She could still feel the pressure weighing down on her, as though the entire world was resting on her shoulders. Charlie did all he could to keep her spirits up, and even though he apologized, Cora couldn't help but feel she was still a disappointment, and she could see that he was having doubts that they would ever solve this case. She really did have so much to live up to, she felt like she was letting everybody down, especially her father.
This case had gone on for far too long with nest to nothing to show for it. Cora left the station that night, depressed and in desperate need of something to calm her nerves and slow down her racing mind. It was a fine winter evening, not too cold, and no snow falling. The street lights were aglow and they set the snowy sidewalks ablaze. Everywhere you looked you could see decorations celebrating the holiday season and it made the street rather beautiful. Cora decided to walk home, she figured the fresh air might do her some good. As she walked she asked herself so many questions: had they missed something? How was it possible for a criminal to slip through their fingers for so long? Was this man really going to get away with murdering 11 women? As Cora rounded the corner, she found herself in front of a small pub. She sighed and shrugged her shoulders. She walked inside, and her nose caught the delicious cinnamon fragrance in the air. She sat at the far corner of the bar in the shadows where she could be alone to wallow in self pity.
"What can I get for you doll?" The elderly man behind the counter gave her a soft, sweet smile.
"Just a scotch on the rocks, thanks." Across the bar, a voice called out, "Hey Stan, put it on my tab." Cora looked up to see who the generous offer had come from, and found herself locking eyes with a very dashing gentleman. His hair black, shoulder length and wavy, with soft tendrils framing his chiseled jaw. His dark blue eyes shimmered in the dim bar light. He smiled at her, sweet and gentle, sending a fluttering feeling through her stomach. When she nodded and smiled back, he got up from his stool and approached her. Upon closer inspection, Cora could see that he was tall with a fine physique. His movements were graceful and even though he dresses very plainly, he still looked very put together and well kept. "I appreciate the offer," she said as he sat down, "but you really don't have to..."
Cora Jones and the White Mask (The Cora Jones Series Book 1) Page 2
