Chapter 1 - Knightfall

Vlax is able to easily open her mailbox. Fortunately mail hasn't been dropped off yet, so there is only a plain white envelope with "Detective" written on the front.

Inside is a piece of paper:
Apartment 5F.

While numerous people heard a crash followed by two loud booms in rapid succession, an officer will tell the Detective no one answered at 5F. Which is the same response Vlax will get when he knocks.

When SWAT breaches the door, there is no shotgun. There isn't even screaming or yelling. There's an apartment, blood, and two bodies.

The apartment stinks, and the flies attracted to the coagulated blood aren't helping. The bodies have clearly been here for a bit... over a day, easily. Looking around the living room as he takes in the scene in front of him, he notices the family photos... at least Vlax can answer one question -- he knows why no one reported the little girl as missing.

Time continues its relentless march forward as the teams come in, and Vlax oversees the proceedings. Feeling a bit like air traffic control at SeaTac, the detective guides the others as they come and go about their business.

After double checking, he confirms the apartment building doesn't have cameras. It makes sense. This area... well, it isn't the slums by any means, but it isn't one of the expensive parts of town. A lot of blue collar workers and service industry folk. Mix in some elderly on fixed incomes and some university students, and add a sprinkle of families just starting out... the money just isn't there. The building is well maintained, they clearly aren't avoiding inspections or putting off repairs, but that type of technology isn't cheap. One can only hope the technology needed becomes more affordable with time.

Speaking of technology, Kimberly worked with technology.

Speaking of Kimberly... how did she know to check this apartment?

He's snapped out of his train of thought as the forensics team wraps up and is ready to pull out of the scene. Vlax notices as he gets ready to move into action himself that with everything that happened, his shift was technically almost over. He briefly remembers officer Rodgers' lamentation over being held even later yesterday as he accepts he isn't likely to be off any time soon.

The pictures of the parents and the little girl Vlax found trussed up in alleyway seem to watch over the Detective as he works.

As he works through the living room, he realizes it doesn't appear that anything is missing or even moved. The diamond ring is still on the mom's finger. It isn't a huge rock, but anyone looking to rob wouldn't have left it.

The mother's body is just inside the front door. There's blood spray... it looks like cause of death was a single cut across her throat. Seems like she barely saw it coming.

The forensics team took down data, sketched, logged everything they could. There wasn't much in the way of physical evidence to bag.

The dad's body was in the hall. Vlax finds bruising on his knuckles, suggesting he fought back. However, the number of light cuts on his hands, arms, torso, and even face... his death must have been torture. It looks like the killer played with him, taking his time -- unlike the wife, who was dispatched quickly. It strikes Vlax as sadistic, reminding him a bit of fencing. Not collegiate style, but old fashioned combat. The little cuts draw blood, slowly weakening the other person, slowing them down bit by bit and making it easier to score the next slice.

The girl's bedroom is small, but then again so was she. Some stuffed animals are haphazardly scattered on the floor, looking like they fell off the bed. The blankets are down at the foot, possibly yanked down... or fell when someone got up.

As Vlax sifts through the bedding, he finds traces of blood.

There doesn't seem to be much else to search... it's late afternoon, pushing evening. Coffee has helped, but Vlax is starting to feel his hunger.

And he still has nagging questions...

What happened to Kimberly?
Where did the person who impersonated the super get off to?
Who left the manilla envelope on his desk?
Will the officer that entered Kim's apartment pull through?

What's the next move?

Vlax grabs dinner at the same Denny's a few blocks away, then heads home for the night. He gets to bed, and it seems like he just fell asleep when he wakes to his phone ringing off the hook. Checking his clock, it's just after midnight when he pulls himself out of bed.

It's the precinct, calling because there was a phonecall and the caller would only talk to Detective Gnaf. They wouldn't have bothered him, but... it's Kimberly Hale.