Trigger Warnings: Murder, Death, Mayhem
This is not my typical writings. I am doing a little different just because I’d like to sharpen my skills in other areas. Hopefully this is a story that can find some followers on it.
Have you read part 1? What about part 2? What about part 3? What about Part 4? And What About Part 5?
Domingo Shaw looked through his email every morning when he got in. He made it a habit throughout the day to read each one sent in. He found a lot of information in the details and learned long ago that being prompt and responsive would be his ticket to the big promotion. The case he caught two days ago stuck with him for some reason. Things didn’t add up, and it made him take extra time in processing the scene.
The first sign something was off was the victim. She had no issues looking at the man who raped her as he laid dead on her floor. Most women he dealt with in the past couldn’t stand to be in the same room as their assailant, dead or alive. But this one, she seemed different.
If someone asked him what made him collect her DNA and run it through the system, he would have told them it was just standard procedure. But the truth was, it was his gut. While it may have been procedure, it wasn’t what drove him to the hunch.
When Shaw saw the email come in regarding her DNA test, he never would have believed what it said. He pressed print, grabbed the results off the printer and made his way to the Captain’s office.
“Hey, Captain,” Shaw called out as he walked into the captain’s area. “You won’t believe what I just got a hit on.”
“Tell me it’s the serial killer. Please, the mayor is breathing down my neck.”
He nodded, “Yes, but you won’t believe where I found it.”
“I’m all ears. You going to keep me in the dark?”
Shaw grinned at Captain Barns, “My rape victim’s clothes.”
“Why are you smiling? Wasn’t that pretty brutal, how she had to kill her attacker?”
He nodded, “Yup, but that’s not whose DNA matched.”
Captain Barns had a puzzled expression cross his face, “What are you saying, Shaw?”
“My rape victim is the killer.”
“Well, fuck me. Have you told the DA yet?”
Shaw shook his head, “I just saw the results and came to tell you.”
“Call the DA, get them started on the arrest warrant. Once we get it, then we can search her house and bring her in. What was the woman’s name again?”
“Asa Bowning says here that she has no record and her call to us for help after she killed the guy was her first encounter with the police.”
“Why don’t you meet with the department profiler? They were expecting this killer to be a man. Maybe there is something we’re missing. Could she have a relative? How conclusive was the DNA match?”
“No, sir, this is a 99.99% match. She’s our killer.” Shaw had a smile on his face, “You can tell the mayor once we bring her in. Let me go talk to the DA right now.”
“A female serial killer. That’s a new one for me.” The captain turned around and went into his office. Everyone in the bullpen watched as he called Mayor Turner to deliver the news.
“You know if you’re wrong, this is going to be the end of your career, right?”
Shaw turned around and saw his nemesis Andrew Trevor looking at him. “You’re just mad I caught this call, and not you.”
“Maybe, but if you’re wrong, it was nice knowing you.”
“For the city’s sake, you better hope I’m not wrong. I know everyone will sleep easier once this killer is put away.”
~*~
Asa’s Home
I knew things were going to smooth. I hadn’t heard from the police in two days and my gut told me I needed to run. One thing I always had ready was a go-bag. I was raised by survivalists, and we were always prepared to handle the worst of things. My family had a bunker off grid on land they had purchased in the fifties. My grandfather had foresight, and he put it in a cousin of ours name. The plan always was if we were in danger, we would retreat home.
My instincts were telling me I needed to cut and run.
Inside my closet I had a floor safe that held $250,000 in cash plus gems and gold bars. I had lived on half my income for over a decade, saving the other half here. There were three suitcases full of clothes already packed. I used my duffle bag to empty the safe. It was heavier than I thought it would be. I loaded my bags into my car. I had pulled two hundred in cash out so I wouldn’t need to use my debit card. My bank only had a few hundred in it, anyway.
I had a spare set of license plates in my garage that I used to swap out on my car. I dated someone at the DMV once, specifically to get a set of plates. My dad always wanted my escape plan to be solid. My cell phone needed to go. I took a hammer and smashed it. I knew they would probably get access to my cloud information eventually, but I hardly saved anything there.
Too much time was passing by, and my stomach was in knots. I knew I had to leave. I ran back through the house to gather any last-minute items. I took the few photos of my family, a couple bags of food and finally, my guns. When I went back into the garage, I pulled out a burner phone I had for years. My parents and I all memorized a set of phone numbers and a code. I plugged the car charger in, put the phone on it and once it powered up, I sent a text message to my dad’s burner phone.
Your pizza order is in route, delivery in under 30 minutes expected.
We made a habit of checking our phones before we went to bed. I knew I would hear from him tomorrow. Which gave me enough time to get to the bunker. I pressed the button to open my garage and as the door pulled open, my heart sank.
Four police officers were pointing their guns in my direction. I had a decision to make. I never wanted to be locked up like a caged animal. I wouldn’t handle prison. There were only four of them in front of me. Two, I could hit with my car, I could make a run for it.
I slammed my foot on the accelerator and took charge. I know I hit one, maybe two of them. The sounds of the gunfire were loud, and everything happened so fast. I knew I was hit; I knew the pain I felt was the bullet taking away my life.
The car ran into a police vehicle. I felt the impact as my body slammed against the steering wheel. It was like I had an awareness, but I couldn’t move. My limbs were still. The last thought I had was of my parents and my hope that they never learned of my failure.
My failure to get away.
~*~
“Detective,” one of the patrol officers called out.
“Yeah, what you got?” Shaw walked over to the lady calling for him and peered into the trunk of the car.
“It looks like thousands in cash.”
Shaw nodded, “Yeah, Asa was making a run for it alright.”
“We need to search her house, see if we have anything else to tie her to the killings.”
“Yes, sir,” the patrol officer said.
Shaw turned toward his captain, “She had a car full of cash, clothes and food. I think it’s safe to tell the mayor the threat has been taken care of.”
“You did some good work here; I know the brass will agree.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Shaw waited at the house until the crime scene had been processed. This would be the case he always remembered. The day he caught the JKKiller.
Damn she almost made it.
Not quite quick enough! Not as clever as she thought she was.