An Illusion

another murder on the City of Bridgeport streets

12

　

　

It was an illusion of tears and nothing more. The rainwater collected in small beads and ran

through the hollows of her face. Her dark brown eyes were fixed wide, and it appeared that she

was watching O’Brien and Cruz walking toward her. She had jet black braids of hair that

surrounded her deep brown skin. Her cheek bones were high and she was very beautiful. She

appeared to be resting on her left hip, her head cocked to one side. Her back arched and she was

partially covered in a yellow raincoat. Around her neck there was a deep impression of a rope or

cord. Her pants were ripped and her legs scarred.

From that moment of discovery, O’Brien felt the need to choke back some tears. She was a true

victim, innocent as few of those murdered in his city. The city that paid him for protection. In that

moment, he felt that he was not earning his paycheck.

"What maniac," he whispered.

"She’s young," Cruz added.

"Teenager."

Cruz nodded.

A child, a high school girl, had been used and discarded, a monstrous sacrifice to an unmistakable evil.

"I’ll call it in," Cruz said.

O’Brien nodded.

O’Brien and Cruz really hated working this type of scene. The other uniforms were walking

slowly in the light rain through adjacent yards and trash-filled alleys, eyes fixed on the ground

looking for a blood trail. They were looking for a knife, a piece of rope to match the impressions

around her neck. Some of the uniforms were looking up on roofs checking for anything not

visible from the alleys.

"A prostitute," Cruz whispered.

"What?"

"I picked her up three weeks ago for soliciting."

"Damn, looks like we have a serial killer."

Cruz nodded.

"Just what we f*****g need!"

"I think we should get Nick Barnum in on this."

"Victor, this is police business. We don’t need that hot shot poking around. He may get more of

these women killed."

"It’s a killing spree, we can use his eyes."

"I don’t think so."

"You know Captain Roque would agree with me."

"Are you planning to go over my head?"

"Come on, you know I wouldn’t do that. I’m just saying, he’s good at what he does. We can use him."

"Nah, my guys are very capable," O’Brien said. "We’ll get to the bottom of this killing spree."

Cruz grimaced.

"You have a problem with my decision?"

"Not at all."

"We got nothing," a uniform called.

"Keep looking!" O’Brien shouted.

"You want us to knock on doors?"

"Do everything!"

The uniform turned back and headed for the houses.

"I don’t think any of these people would get involved," said Cruz.

"We just might get lucky."

"She wasn’t so lucky."

O’Brien walked away.