Trophies of Terror

Rebecca spent hours looking through the microfilm trying to figure out how five men could just vanish into thin air. After reading everything the library had, and being no closer to figuring it out, she decides to ask for help.

"Did they ever figure out who the kidnapper was?" 

"I wasn't here when it happened so I couldn't say, but Doris has lived here her whole life so she might be able to help."

"Where can I find her?"

"She's in the back, I'll get her for you." Rebecca starts looking through the large selection of romances while she waits. She loves to read, but hasn't found the time since Evan was born. Seeing two ladies walk around the corner, she heads towards the front.

"Janet said you're asking about the kidnappings?"

"The Muller family in particular."

An inquisitive look crosses her face. "Why on earth are you asking about them?"

"My husband and I bought an unpaid storage shed from Wilbur. When I was going through the boxes I found a bunch of personal things. So I wanted to find her family and give the items back."

"His family is dead. They were killed in a car accident shortly after he disappeared."

"What happened?"

 "The eldest son was driving home late one night and ran off the cliff."

"How awful." Becca gasps. 

"It was a very tragic thing."

Is Mrs. Muller still alive?"

 "Her husband beat her to death a week before her children's demise. His oldest boy was the one who found her and called for help. She had already passed by the time paramedics arrived. His second wife that is. He was married once before. Margaret I believe her name was. The children were Tim, Susan, Brian, Toby and Victoria I think. She and the kids left the day the divorce was finalized." 

"What about his parents?"

"They were deceased long before any of this occurred." 

"Well somebody cared enough to store her personal belongings. Maybe a close family friend?"

"I doubt if they had any of them. They were all a strange bunch kept to themselves. Except for his second wife Angela, she was the sweetest little thing." Seeing a crowd coming in she says, "I really should be getting back to work." 

"I think I'll put an ad in the paper and see if anyone responds." Becca thinks, grabbing her things.

***

The normal daily chaos continues all around him as Joe heads to his office. There were days where he missed the action and others where he's glad to be away from it all. Joe steps through the doors to find a second letter on his laptop. Like the first, there were no postage marks and the only writing on the letter was his name scribbled across the front. Opening it, he reads

Dear Captain

Children are precious, don't you agree? You must since you have three. So I'm sure deep in your heart you can understand why I had to do what I did, save the children from their horrid fate.

I'm pleased to inform you that my interventions has paid off. The ones I saved have gone on to live happy, healthy, productive lives. Something they wouldn't otherwise be able to do if their situation remained unchanged. So looking at it from that perspective, I'd say the means justifies the end, wouldn't you?

I don't have time for small talk with my death drawing near, so let's get down to business, shall we?

You will find a treasure trove of trophies in the old storage facility on seven south, keepsakes I've collected from each of my victims. Their memorabilia will bring you a step closer to discovering who I am. 

Happy Hunting 

Phantom Kidnapper

Joe is slipping the letter back into the envelope when his phone rings. "Captain Bower. I see. Thank you for letting me know." 

***

The sun is shining brightly in the clear afternoon skies. Birds are chirping merrily in the trees all around her. Rebecca starts to climb in her car when she sees an officer running towards her.

 "Miss, Miss," Joe yells, darting across the parking lot.

Images of her family come to mind. "No." Becca cries grabbing a hold of her car for support.

Joe reaches her to find her face ghostly white, her petite body trembling. "This isn't about your family." The captain quickly reassures. Becca relaxes a bit. "it's about an inquiry you recently made." He glances towards the building then adds. "I heard you're asking about the Mullers." 

She nods then says, "I found some of their personal belongings, pictures and that in an old storage unit, so I wanted to find the family and return the box."

"How did you take possession of the unit?" 

"My husband and I bought it and three others from Wilbur Murphy today. He said the automatic payments had stopped so he wanted to clear it out and rent it again. I assure you, captain, we haven't done anything wrong. My husband looked into the legality of it all when we first began." 

"You're not in any trouble. I'd just like to see what's in the box and everything else in that unit if you don't mind."

"I don't understand, captain. What would the police want with forgotten junk?"

 "We received an anonymous tip that the things in the shed will help us solve the cases from 93. See neither Muller nor the other four other men were ever found."

"And you think the stuff in the unit will help?"

"That's what we were told."

"Everything is still in there as far as I know."

***

 The captain asked his three detectives to meet him at the storage building. The way Rebecca described the unit he figures he's going to need all the help he can get. He sees his right-hand man, Jerry talking to the owner when he pulls into the lot. He looks over to find his sergeant busy organizing. 

Rachel, his second in command, started at the Berryville PD fresh out of the academy. Her career change began soon after she helped them solve the widow maker case. Graduating from the academy, she worked her way up to a detective in a little under four years, becoming a sergeant when Jerry stepped down. 

She and Joe married three years later. An off again on again relationship that began in grade school. The couple now have three children, Joe Jr, Lulu and Noah. 

"The gang's all here I see," Joe replies, climbing out of his car."

"You said you might have evidence on an old murder case, Captain?"

"Yes, the five missing men from back in 93 "According to the letters I've been getting, the killer claims that something in this unit will lead us to him."

"It'd be great if we could finally give the family some closure," Rachel says.

"Angelia Muller was beaten to death by her husband the night he disappeared. Their four children died in a car accident a week later, but I think the families from the remaining victims are still around."

"That's kind of suspicious, don't you think then dying shortly after he disappeared?"

"The oldest child was trying to evade the police, misjudged a curve and ended up flying down the mountainside. The driver Tim was the only one that survived. He ended up serving time for their deaths and a man he'd killed, the initial reason for the chase."

"At least the family is all together," Rachel solemnly replies, looking towards the sky.

"Yeah, but we still have a killer to catch. So I want you guys to look through the storage unit to see if we can find anything that'll help us locate their assailant."

"Boss, I don't think this is the kidnappers unit." Jerry says approaching the group. 

"Why do you say that, Jerr?"

"Wilbur said an elderly couple, by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley, rented the unit. He said they put their stuff in storage when they moved out of their farmhouse. They'd planned on coming back for it when their condo was ready, but they never returned.

"Where's the couple now?"

"He said they both have passed. Since they don't have any living relatives, he was told he can do whatever he wants with their belongings. So he decides to sell them, to cover the balance."

"Why would the elderly couple have the victim's things?"

"Maybe they didn't, but the killer somehow gained access to the unit and hid then in there." Rachel suggests. 

 "Since perps normally protect their trophies, he'd have to know the Wesley's wouldn't check the shed and they'd keep their bill up to date." Jerry adds.

"Rachel, Rick, start searching this room, Kirk and Jerry, I want you to start on the other two units and I'll look into Wesley's acquaintances."

Rachel looks up and says, "I found another box of stuff, but I don't think it belongs to the Mullers." She pulls out a picture and adds, "it's from a different family."

"There were five missing men in all." he says, reaching for his phone. "Captain Bower, I'll be right there." Change of plans, Rachel, you're on your own, Rick you and I are headed to the park."

"The park, sit?"

"A body was found on the biking trail."