The Cat Sees The Mouse

"Dad," Collins' said, to his phone while leaning on the hood of his parked car.

"Hey Jacob," his dad's voice came through. "How's Ridgewood treating you? This is the first big case, huh?"

"It's fine though sleeping has become a slight problem," Collins said with a nervous chuckle.

"That's what ya signed up for, Jay," he said with a hint of humor. "So, why'd ya call? Just to check up on ya old pa?" 

"I was thinking," Collins paused, exhaling. "I want to move you, Mom, Emma, and Evan out here in Ridgewood California."

"You mean..." his dad chuckles. "Leave Texas?"

"Yeah," Collins replied, nodding to himself. "Look, Ridgewood feels... different. It's quieter here, peaceful. I think it could be good for all of us. A fresh start, away from everything back home."

"Jay, my boy," his dad paused for a long time. "That's a big ask you know your mom's got her work at the church, Evan is finally settling into his school and Emma..."

"I know Dad, I know" Collins interrupted sighing. "I've been here for two months and I already feel better here than in Texas... I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

His dad paused longer than before. "Are you sure son? I mean we can continue living here like we always have."

"I am sure, Dad," Collins replied his voice firm but earnest. "This city will be much better than that sh*t show of a town." 

"Ok, I will talk to your mom," he said.

Collins thanked his dad and cut the phone call. He sighed as he leaned back on his hood. Just then he got an email from Hensley. Another body possibly the same killer as Mia Carter it read. 

******

"Dan, wake the f***k up." 

The sharp voice cut through Daniel Nerss' dream, jolting him awake. His heart thudded in his chest as he sat up, squinting at the source of the interruption.

It was had a friend 'Ronnel Banks'. He was tall for fourteen, maybe 5'9 still shorter than Daniel, with clean brown hair combed to the left , glasses perched on his nose, and light blue eyes that made him look like something straight out of a fantasy novel.

"Dude, what the hell?" Dan muttered rubbing his eyes.

"Dude there are ten minutes left for class," Ron said as he pointed at the clock which was placed above a vending machine.

Daniel looked up at the clock and blinked his mind finally processing the moment. "Oh... understandable," Daniel said as he stood up and stretched "Where's Aren?" 

Ron shrugged, his expression indifferent. "I don't know maybe he's already in the class. Unlike you."

Daniel smirked, running a hand through his jet-black hair as he reached for his glasses on the table beside the bench. "Well, you are just jealous that I get first and you always second."

Daniel stood up and grabbed his backpack as they walked off to class. "Hopefully Aren is there or he'll get another detention from Mrs McCarter."

"As always," Ron said matter of factly.

Dan smiled shaking his head as they walked off to class. Daniel Bob's body will be found soon enough i killed him in the same way I did Mia Carter so they know a serial killer's loss. 

Ron noticing Dan's grin asked "Why are you grinning so much? Won the lottery?"

"You know how rich I am why would I grin at winning a lottery?" Daniel said looking at Ronnel. "I am grinning because I can."

Ron looked him up and down, shook his head, and said nothing.

******

In a taped-off area near the Dale River. Police officers and onlookers surrounded a garbage bag. An officer opened it to the site of a dead body wrapped in plastic. 

"Holy sh*t," one of the officers gasped.

Hensley and Collins arrive. They step out of the car and approach the crime scene. Collins observes the crime scene and all the onlookers. Hensley slips on his gloves and hands another pair to Collins.

Collins puts them on and walks up to the garbage bag and crouches near it. "Male Victim," Collins reports as he observes the body. "Late twenties to early thirties. Wrapped up like a package."

Hensley crouches beside Collins and opens the plastic. "Same M.O. as Mia Carter... even the same goddamn cloth was used to gag the poor man."

Collins stood up and removed looked around. "We might have..."

"A serial killer on loss," Hensley finished Collins' sentence.

Collins leaned in closer, careful not to disturb the body. His gaze locked on a faint stain on the plastic wrap—a smear of something dark and reddish-brown.

"Blood spatter," he muttered. "But it's smeared like it happened before the body was wrapped."

Hensley Hensley straightened, glancing at the surrounding area. "What's the proximity to the last dump site? 

Collins glanced downstream and thought for a moment. "Three miles downstream near... Riverview Park where... Mia Carter was found."

Collins exchanged a look with Hensley. "The Killer's escalating," Collins said, his voice low. "Two bodies in quick succession, both left near the river. They're sending a message."

"And that message is: Catch me if you... can," Hensley sighed as he ran his hand through his hair.

"Send the body to forensics," Collins told to a few officers. "A cat and Mouse chase has began."

"Sir," an officer calls out as he approaches Collins. "I've found something." 

He hands Collins a small wooden figure of an owl with its eyes open wide and it was made of oak.

"What should we call this sick bastard?" Hensley asked no one in particular. 

Collins examined the small wooden owl carefully, turning it over in his gloved hands. The craftsmanship was meticulous, almost delicate, with the wide eyes staring up unblinkingly.

"The Owl," Collins said, his voice thoughtful. 

"The Owl it is then," Hensley looks around. "Let the hunt for the owl begin."

The officers loaded up the body on an ambulance. Soon media reporters arrive at the scene making a fuss. Collins and Hensley leave the site to the remaining officers. 

"A serial killer is on the loose near the Dale River responsible for two murders, one of Mia Carter and now of Bob Grant," a female reporter says to the camera.

Another reporter this time male reports. "The authorities have named this killer 'The Owl' or 'The Owl Killer.'"

As reporters swarm the scene the ambulance leaves with the body of Bob Grant inside of it.