South of Eden

Chapter 01 [Riza]

Riza-

     Another mother will have to bury her son. Poor kid couldn't be a few years past sixteen, his life cut down before it could began. His face is too mangled to identify, dental records will have to be pulled before notifying his family. No one should have to see their kin in this condition. It's sights like this that breaks my heart.

"What do we have here Riza?" I didn't even notice Cale come up behind me. He was probably standing there for awhile before he spoke up. I've been off lately. Six homicides in four days, no leads, no suspects, no M.O. nothing. None of the victims have had any connections except all the killings happen at night and all have had a failed attempt at faking a suicide. This one is particularly sloppy, the gravels from the roof tops are still embed in his knees. The bullet entered from the back of the head and exited out of the front. The killer isn't even trying to cover it up anymore. From this we can draw two conclusions. One, an ultimatum between taking their own life or having it taken for them or two, a copy-cat killer.

"No wallet, we'll have to pull dental records or run his prints to get a positive ID. Its all the same Cale, we need to catch this guy."  Cale was my first partner on the force. Seemed only natural since he was like a father to me since I lost my father. As far as I could remember Cale was always around. Always around and always old. He attended police academy with my father then became partners. Cale never forgave himself for taking personal leave the night father was killed. I never blamed him but, I always knew it. When I graduated from the academy Cale requested me as a partner, I always felt as if he only did this as a way to repent. 

"Who’s to say its a guy?" Cale sends me an almost perserve look. "We need to wrap up things quick before the press gets here. Six murders, what reporter wouldn't love to get their hands on this." Then I saw him, again I should say. The man in the black hoodie with a skull on it, he's been at the scene of every murder, always the same standing in the crowd. Hiding his face, the monster is probably enjoying his work! Not this time he's mine. I dart towards the dark figure.

"What the hell?" I hear Cale exclaim as I push past him. My hand is already on my side arm as I hit full sprint. I'm not allowed to use it unless I'm forced to, God after what I've seen what this guy is capable of I hope he forces me to! He's still not running. He either has ice in his veins or thinks he doesn't have a reason to run. I'll sure as hell give him one! I'm almost ten feet away when he spins around and casually walks away, five feet between us when he takes off at full speed. Time for a chase.

     He's fast, faster than I thought. He's doing it almost effortlessly, darting from alley to alley. If he keeps this up I'll lose him for sure. I push myself harder. I won't lose our only possible lead. Even if he's not our guy he has to know something. How else would he have known were the killings have been? It's too big of a city and the scene is always closed off fast to avoid press. We've been down a handful of backstreets but I know the streets I grew up on this town and have been protecting them for years and if he keeps going the way he is I know exactly where we will be, a dead end. Hes barely in my view when he goes around the final corner, hes mine now! I push myself harder I want to see his face when he realizes hes trapped! I come to the turn I pull my gun,

"Freeze don’t. . ." the alley is empty! How could this be possible? Buildings on all sides. Even if he manage to start climbing he should still be on the wall. I'm sure he went this way. I holster my gun, no point in pointing it at wall. I hear foot steps dashing up. I draw my pistol as I spin around.

"Whoa, whoa easy Riz its just me Cale!" Darn it he needs to be more careful!

"Cale I could of shot you!" He was panting even as old as he is he managed to catch up pretty fast.

"Ha, we both know you shoot like a girl. Plus I could use a paid leave, I'm too old for this shit."

"Cale, you just keep smirking and running your mouth and I just might!" Cale's face quickly switch to a more serious look.