CHAPTER FIVE

AVERY'S POV

I was about to have my dinner when I noticed a news that flashed right in the television. There was a dead body found and it was believed to be the body of one of the two women who have been previously reported as missing a couple of weeks ago. One was reported to be missing for three weeks, the other one was missing for two weeks already from the day they were last seen. I suddenly thought about the day that Peach was last seen. It seems like someone was missing in every week. I have this weird feeling that the culprit behind all this alarming issue are just the same person. Now, I'm starting to fell a little bit afraid for my own safety because I am also a woman. I should better be keen in observing my surroundings at take extra caution with people I'm with. We know that not every wolf wears a fur but a sheep's clothing.

"Avery!"

My boss approached me while I was preparing the costumes that I'll be wearing for my performance later on.

"Are you really okay to perform tonight? After what happened to Peach, are you really sure that you really are okay?"

"I am trying to be okay boss."

"By the way, I contacted some of Peach's relatives back at her hometown. Even they were shocked with the news about Peach's death."

"At least, I will be relieved knowing that she still have some relatives left to take care of her until her very last day."

"Once her body will be recovered, she will be sent back to her hometown at to gave her a decent burial."

I then became quiet while I was just standing — spacing out.

"I know how close you all are to Peach. She is a very happy person. If you're going to take a few day offs, I'll consider it."

"Really boss? But I'm afraid that your business will be affected if I will took a day off."

"Nah, it's okay. This is a drinking hub, not a call girl manufacturer."

"Thanks boss! You are always the best!"

"You may go home now and please be safe."

"Yes, boss. I will."

"By the way, Sasha told me that she will having her day off too. She wants to take a rest and some time alone."

I just nodded and then left the building so that I can go home for tonight.

TYLER'S POV

I drove back to the office to get Patrick and immediately head to the crime scene and to conduct initial investigation. It wasn't that long when we arrive at the said area and we immediately saw the woman's poor dead body covered with lumps of soil. The body is showing the post mortem stages to immediate post mortem stages that could only mean that she was dead for more or less than two weeks.

"Sir Tyler."

"Yes?"

"Are we going to check Ms. Avery's workplace for the CCTV footage?"

"I already have the thought of it Patrick but we still need to finish this one first so that her body will be sent to the lab immediately."

"Right."

It was already getting dark before Patrick and I could leave the place. We went straight to the bar where Avery is working — The Bar Code. It seems that her performance is not yet starting but when I took a quick check on the time, she should be starting her performance by now. I guess, she will not be performing tonight because of what happened today. So we decided to go to the bar's counter and introduced myself before presenting my I.D. Then I ask for their boss which they immediately took action upon my request.

"Good evening, detective."

"Good evening. We just want to know more about Peach."

"What do you want to know, Mr. Detective?"

"Do you have any idea about the last person Peach was with that night?"

He didn't answer my questions immediately but it seems that he is avoiding some eye contacts with me. After a few seconds, he finally answered and told us that he doesn't know or remember anything.

"By any chance, do you have CCTV cameras in this establishment?"

"About that. We just replace some of the cameras earlier because we just found out that some of our CCTV in this building are having some technical issues, in other words, they were down for a few weeks."

"So you're saying that, you don't have any recordings for us to show on some particular areas in your building?"

"I believe so. You can come with me and see the security room and to check our available footages yourself, Mr. Detective."

"We would like to see it, please."

"Sure, come with me."

We went straight to their security room and immediately showed us some footages that were taken from a week ago.

"This is Ben, by the way. He is our head security and responsible for the cameras."

They have recordings for the whole week, including the day that Peach disappeared. It seems that he is telling us the truth because we could see that there are CCTV cameras that didn't work in some areas last week.

"Mr. Ben, why didn't you notice that some of your CCTV cameras were not working for a week?"

"I was back at our home town for more than a week because my father died. I really did not expect that there are unexpected technical issues happened to the CCTV cameras in this building."

"No one took over your place temporarily?"

"Boss, is a meticulous person. He doesn't hire people easily that's why only I am trusted when it comes to the security room. Only I know what are happening from the outside of this room but unfortunately, during those specific time, I wasn't around."

"It's okay and I'm sorry for your loss."

"We are sorry for this inconvenience, Mr. Detective."

"It's okay."

"If you want to know more, we are willing to cooperate and to help in anyway possible."

"That would be appreciated."

I raised my hat and decided to leave from the said bar. I guess, we didn't get the answer we've been looking for. While we are now at our car, Patrick was just being quiet which made me curious about him.

"Are you okay, Patrick?"

"I just notice something off, sir."

"What is it?"

"Did you notice something about how calm and confident the boss is?"

"Hmmm."

"If I were the boss, even though I hated my employees, being remorseful would be seen on my face."

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't he a bit too confident to answer your questions, sir? I could feel that he is smirking deep inside."

"You're just imagining things, Patrick. Maybe that's just how he acts."

"It's just my observation anyway, Sir. Just like what you said, we should not believe at things just because they look believable."

"Yeah, you're right. Let's just call this a day and finally have our rest. You did a great job, Patrick."

"Thank you, sir."

Before I could even start the car, someone called me and it was Dr. Bryan. Why is he calling me all of a sudden?

"You called?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm here at the victim's workplace, hoping that I could find some footages behind her disappearance that night."

"And? How was it? Did you find any clues?"

"Negative."

"How come?"

"I don't know but the way they answered my question regarding their CCTV cameras having technical issues are just too good to be true. Patrick also feels something's off about their boss."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I'll tell you some other time once we could prove some of our listed assumptions. As of now, I'm still gathering additional informations."

"Okay."

"So, why did you called?"

"I want you to come here in my lab. I've got the autopsy report and I want you to see this now."

"What's the matter?"

"I'll tell you once you're here."

After that call, Patrick and I immediately went to the crime laboratory. I wonder what Bryan found out from Avery's friend.

AVERY'S POV

I was at Sasha and Peach's dorm. I gave a few knocks at their front door. The door was immediately opened by Sasha and I noticed and saw that she was packing all of Peach's things.

"Boss told me that he have contacted some of Peach's remaining relatives back at her hometown. He even told me that her body will be sent to them and to give her a proper burial."

"Yeah. He told me about that too. So, are you done packing her things?"

"Not yet. There are still some few things that needs to be packed. You didn't go to work?"

"I took a few day offs from work."

"I see."

"Hmm. Are you having a new roommate?"

"Unfortunately, no. Since, I'll be living in this room alone, I will be paying this place at a full price."

"Why don't you come with me, Sasha? I live on my own anyway. Maybe it will be a lot more easier for you."

"Really?"

"Yes. Who else would be having each other's back? Of course, that's us."

"Thank you so much, Avery. You know, you really are our big sister even though, we only have a short age gap. Peach and I are really lucky to have you."

"I'll help you with packing Peach's things before our conversation would take us somewhere else."

Sasha smiled.

"Yeah."

"Let's grab a bite after this."

"Sure. It's been a long time since the last time I had dinner outside."

"Same here."

I smiled and did my best to lighten up our sad atmosphere while we finish packing all of Peach's stuffs. Sasha and I continued talking and in a few minutes, we finally finished packing all of Peach's things. We both took a deep breath and took a short time to relax before we decided to go outside and have dinner together.

"Where should we have our dinner?"

"Hmm. I think I saw a food house right at the corner."

"Ahh! Yes, there's a food house near here. We could buy something from there."

While we were walking at the side walk, we encountered a young man and gave out flyers and immediately went to the next person and handed them the same piece of paper. As we look at the paper, there was huge 'missing' word written on it. It was a woman that was missing for two days already. Both of Sasha's eyes and mine meet because of this serious consecutive missing cases which are until now, it hasn't been solved yet. I could feel fear in my heart about my safety, our safety. This is no longer a simple coincidence but this is already a very alarming case of kidnapping and from the looks of these victims, they are all in their early 20s, just like Peach.

"What's happening to our city, Avery?"

"I don't know anymore, Sasha."

"We didn't even get to know the person behind Peach's death and now, there are new missing cases already."

"These cruel people will be caught someday, Sasha. Especially the person that killed Peach."

"I really hope so and finally put an end to this."

We went to the food house as fast as we could and order our dinner. Instead of eating it here, we want to take it out and have our dinner back at the dorm. To be honest, I've never felt so much anger and fear at the same time about what's happening to our city right now.

SOMEONE'S POV

"Hello, sweetheart."

"What are you going to do to me?"

"Sshhh. We will just have some fun."

"Let me go! I want to go home!"

"Why so hasty? We didn't even have started yet."

I took and show her a syringe that is filled with a plenty amount of Benzodiazepines to make everything more exciting.

"What are you going to do?"

"This? This will help us to have more fun."

"Help! Help! Somebody help meeeee!!!"

"Stop shouting! All the girls before you already did that. Your efforts will be futile."

"Help me!!!"

"Hold her still."

"Yes, sir."

"I want you to calm down, sweetheart."

"No. No! Noooooooooooo!"