by Mary Mahoney 18th December 2014, 7:41 am
It was a dark day for the city of Era, 10 murders in equal amount of days. The dead girls were silenced by the darkness of death with no words to tell the story of their demise. Yet there was no clues, evidence or even equipment to deal with this criminal. The Rune Knights were undertrained, understaffed and underequipped to face the new evils that await people nowadays. The innocent living in fear of the Dark Mages that abuse the laws that this Maker given land blessed it's people. Was this a way to live? Living in fear of being the next victim of a murder? No it wasn't, but what could the young private do? She was not even a true Rune Knight, but a drafted conscript to forcefully serve. Her status was even less than a private in the unofficial sense. Meaning no leverage to push for things she needed to crack this case.
Mary was eventually given the file on tracking down the criminal and attempting to bring peace for the families that lost love ones. However as Mary could attest to losing her entire convent to a demon... There was nothing that could bring peace anymore or stop the nightmares. The nightmares would forever haunt their dreams forever, giving them a life of regret that would amount to wishing they had more time for them. To wish that they had done better with them. There was no worse feeling than burying the people that you love. Something that Mary did for every single soul lost in that fateful day. Something that ate your soul and forged you into a new person. Some people collapse withing themselves, but to Mary it only hardened her. She was a weapon of the Maker now, to be the one that would deliver her judgment so that innocents could live in peace.
The file was finally placed into her room that she bunked in and looked through the papers that were given. Immediately Mary noticed some similarities between the victims by reading some of the names. They were all low class working girls that probably were hired to give a night of entertainment, before being killed. However if that were the case, then there would have been witnesses to the crime. In fact there was nothing, no sign of rape or any major physical abuse. Was this a form of vigilantism? He was taking out the dregs of society where others couldn't touch? Maybe there was a connection at the crime scenes that others missed, but she was not too enthused. It never was a pretty sight to see the dead and the art of murder.
Mary walked down the streets of Era and to the crime scene. A dirty alleyway with blood stains on the ground. This was a messy killer so it should leave a lot of evidence right? Mary walked up to the scene while showing her Rune Knight badge. with a single question: "What am I looking at? This does not seem to be a typical murder." The man looked like one of the Policing Rune Knights as opposed to the true military branch of he Rune Knights. This series of murders must have been more important than she thought.
"We have a Jane Doe, looks like in her early 20's. A local found her dismembered and -"
"Dismembered?"
"Yes, pieces were everywhere. We still occasionally find a piece here or there. Just 5 minutes ago we found the Pancreas. It looked like-"
"They were detonated from the inside out. I read the case files before arriving here private. No signs of any explosives or any physical evidence to who did it. I also know there was no witnesses or even any sound of violence. We have not figured out a pattern yet, so they sent me to psychologically profile this murderer."
"You took those lessons?"
"I wanted to find out more about myself so I took them. It just happened to help me profile criminals, read people to know their intentions. Like you sir have been working for about16 to 18 hours based on your eyes, demeanor about this crime scene and that the fact you been eying that coffee and doughnut shop across the street for a good chunk of this conversation."
"Ma'am how did-"
"Everyone has habits, tells and motivations. This criminal is no different. We just need to figure out the man's habit and Modus Operandi-"
"What?"
"Method of Operation. People may evolve, but in their core they always remain the same. What have forensics found?"
"Well this body has not been identified yet, but we believe that the same thing will be said with this one. "
"So appears that pressure was built in their bodies until they basically detonated like a human bomb. Worse case is that one day they will blow up in a street full of people. Hence the urgency to complete this job."
This was disconcerting, any physical evidence that could be found was anywhere. Most of it was destroyed in the explosion and contaminated by the environment. Contamination by environment would make any DNA irrelevant, a persons dust particle could screw the whole strain. Mary realized that this was why she was the one leading this case. No discernible evidence and no witnesses. This was going to be solved by profiling the target and caught in the middle of the crime. What was this man or woman's goal? What compelled the person to target hookers, but not take advantage of them? Vigilantism? Hate? Or was there more to it? It just seemed out of place. There was something missing to the whole equation. A piece that would put all the other pieces together. She just needed to figure out the pattern to the whole murder spree. What was missing though? Mary watched silently as the final pieces of the body was loaded into the vehicle and clean up crew arrived to remove the blood. Her time was over, but the job was not done. It was far from over.
Mary was finished with the scene of the crime, the answers were not going to be here. However she still needed to visit the morgue to find out more about the bodies. Any scrap of evidence that could give her more of a clear picture would be appreciated. Flashing her badge to the front desk, the secretary nodding her head as the back door was opened. The first thing that Mary noticed was the smell of disenfectant in the air, in fact a little bit more than usual. Overly clean Mortician? That would be a first considering the career path chosen hear. Eventually she walked up the person that was here and in time to see the body of one of the girls be put in or what was left of it anyways.
"You can wait on that Miss. Private First Class Mary Mahoney on orders from the Magic Council to investigate the murders of the girls. And your name is?"
"Mortimer Bundy, Mortician. They said you were coming."
"Not head Mortician? Usually high profile cases have someone of higher rank to investigate."
"My boss is taking a sick leave... after seeing the first victim. I believe that this case got to him."
"It's got all of us on edge. It appears that he has a weak stomach for the job. What can you tell me about these bodies?"
"Well there is trace amount of magical energy, but its so minimal that it couldn't possibly be the reason they died. And with these brothels using magic to attract the clients and amount of magical check ups interferes with the tests."
"*Sigh* And of course you are working with tools from before Acnologia. Magic Council has not bothered to fix damaged equipment or modernize our tools. What about the DNA? There has to be some kind of DNA that could trace somebody or something."
"None or too many I am afraid. As you can read in my reports the Jane Does are contaminated by the enviroment or they are clean. This person was very thorough with the way he kills. There is no evidence of an entry wound, ingested poison or even a needle for drugs."
"Must have been a very thorough search if you went through every piece of their bodies. Takes you like what? 4 hours each body?"
"6 and I don't get paid overtime for this. And nevermind the reports that I have to write to-"
"I will make sure to make a letter of commendation for your good work. However it looks like you are still full of energy."
"I am just motivated to catch this killer. We don't need people living out in fear especially after the Acnologia incident. The civilian population just does not have as much faith in us like they used."
"And in turn hire mercenaries that turn out just as criminal as the people they were hired to stop... I want the files and autopsy reports of every woman here. See if I can get you a pay raise later after this is all done."
"Yes sir. I hope that you can catch him."
"I hope so too."
There was something wrong with all of this. A piece that was missing from the whole picture as she went back to the bunk with a set of files under her arms. It was the witness reports (or lack off), autopsy and whatever information that she could get with her measly private rank. The amount of bureacracy was apalling when it came to even getting a copy of the case file itself. Was it jealousy in their eyes as she picked up the pieces or were they hiding something? It was getting to be more suspicious than originally thought. Fiore wasn't known for sexism after all...
Mary spread all the papers and case files on her bunk. Brain straining to find some kind of lead or clue that was overlooked. How did this man work? What was he getting out of this? Mary looked at the autopsy reports and sighed, this was one was definately not a proffesional. The detonations most likely had to be immediate, but with no weapon or a method to do so... Or was there? Mary looked at the autopsy reports and read each case file. Each victim had the same thing, muscles were tensed up in pain. No entry wound, but there was some kind of hidden unidentiafiable magic. Then there was the victims that he targetted. Hookers were not easily missed and represented the base of society. However their rise was only after...
"...Acnologia incident..."
It started to unravel as she looked at the incidents. It was making sense now. This wasn't something that had immediately occurred overnight. It was something that was buiding up until it reached this point. It meant that this person was affected by the incidents, but that was most of that population. Something had to narrow the search, but that was easy. How else could someone hide all this time and miss Rune Knight Patrols? Because the murderer was an Ex-Rune Knight. Why Ex? Because the person would be too far gone to function as a real Rune Knight anymore. And it would explain why the murderer was not getting caught by all the patrols, because he would know about them or had friends in the Knights to feed him the intel unwittingly! Mary looked at the clock and swore under her breath, it was almost 10 when she came to the realization. Meaning she needed to react fast or another woman was going to die. She needed a plan and the patrol routes of tonight. Luckily for her, that was something she could easily procure. Who was it though? This needed to be discovered now or there was going to be consequences.
She brought up a list of Ex-Rune Knights discharged for violent tendencies and PTSD. The list was too big, because Acnologia scarred the minds of many people that day. Profiling however narrowed the list down to 20, but it made no sense. Who was it? Mary then came to one profile in particular. Jonathan Grim, dishonorably discharged for assaulting an innocent woman. Not only that, his official magic was sound. This was almost looked over until Mary remembered method of death and how the bodies were found. There would be magic mark, but no entry wound. Mary's eyes opened wide as she ran out of the room writing a letter to be delivered to Isaac Grand. To the first officer Mary saw, she handed the note telling the man, "Get this letter to Isaac Grand and get people to investigate Jonathan Grim's house. As soon as Isaac Grand signs the warrant, you will search his place with a fine tooth comb." Mary rushed out as soon as she could, having memorized the patrols at night. This would have to be a hit or miss, for she could only choose 1 black hole in the patrols. Mary would simply have to guess.
She chose the one furthest from the man's house. The man was smart to not kill where he ate after all. Mary loosened her jacket, started walking seductively and attempted to attract attention. She would be the bait and target, but was this going to work? What if she was too late and the man preyed on another innocent life? Mary was about to give up and go the house to see if the warrant went through. It was then that something sank into the back of her skin, but it was not metal or any blade. No it was the feeling of sound numbing and chilling the nerves in a persons body. It was painful and triggered every single fight or flight survival instinct in a person. Mary fell to her knees as the sound bounced off withing her body, no sound as it happened. Pressure building up as her body had the sound bounce from the inside. No sound could be heard, it was all silence. The sound of death in the final moments of a persons life.
Mary fell down on the ground as she panted, the Jonathan Grim watching Mary as she was going to die. Mary's eyes began to bleed the black blood that ran in her veins. However easy she could self-resurrect, it would let the man get away. She needed a plan, but what? And it was at that moment that she could feel a bit of anger. A man cheaply conquered her? She lost to the lowest scum of of the world? No, she would not let this be her outcome! Mary grabbed one of her Celestial Keys that she could not summon due to lack of concentration, but instead jammed it through her hand. It was almost immediate, the bone, blood and sinew flew out of her hand. However the numbing feeling made it hurt much less that it should have. Jonathan Grim was frightened, nobody did that to herself before! He ran as fast as he could. He knew that his freedom was almost over. Mary gasped for breath as she picked up her guns and aimed down site. Sight blurring as she aimed down the barrel and made the only shot she could manage to do before passing out as the pain returned. One shot that seemed to fly at slow motion to its target through the air. The gun made no noise due to the sound mage, but returned as the .45 caliber bullet sprayed the mans brain matter on a wall. It was over, but Mary could not celebrate as her vision went black and passed out from the blood loss. The job was complete, but Mary Mahoney would have to be rushed to the nearest hospital. Arteries were damaged with the stunt that she pulled off, but as she dreamed in her new way to die the Dark Celestial Mage could only think about her keys...
