Chapter 1 - Knightfall

Vlax pauses and make sure to stop and chat with each of the first responders, seeing the anguish in their face. This wasn't his first encounter with horror, although this particular seen might be unique. What was most disconcerting at the moment was the look on the faces of his comrades. He took a few seconds, making sure to reach up and touch them on the shoulder, his training coming in and knowing that physical contact was important when delivering a psychologically influenced message. He reminds each of them that they've done a great job this evening, and while they would need to remain a while longer to keep things secure, they should remind themselves that this is why they chose this life. They want to make sure that these kind of things don't happen very often, and while there's no way to stop horror forever, they can certainly work together to protect the next family who would be victim.

Once he feels confident that he has supported that crew, remembering back to the days when he was just a beat cop, Vlax approaches the edge of the scene and prepares to study it with the tenacious fervor of someone who now must deliver on the sermon he just gave to the other cops. He would leave no stone unturned, and make absolutely sure that if the perpetrator of such a horrendous crime could be found, that they don't muck it up. As his training dictates, he starts at the furthest edge, slowly working his way inward, searching for evidence so that it can be properly cataloged and collected. Only after this is done can he take a step back and study the wider picture.

Ooc: Sorry, I didn't get a notification on this one, because it's a new thread I suppose which I just subscribed to. In any case if there is a special convention that I should be using, let me know. If there isn't one then I tend to just write in there to style like you would if you were reading a novel.

Ps: If possible, Vlax will utilize his skill set involved in investigations. I don't know if a roll is needed, if we're just working through the initial story. If one is, you might better work me through the methodology of how to make this roll thing work... Or point me to some directions if it's the same in every game on this website, then I'm sure there's somewhere I can read up on it.

PSS: spectacular first post by the way. I don't know if you're copying and pasting this from somewhere, or if you are truly the narrative genius that this writing in tones. I can totally feel myself drawn to the scene. Takes a true PbP GM with a gift of literary writing, not to mention the creative mind, to pull this off. Admit, I am not easily impressed having been a DM for long as I have but this is a spectacular start.

Vlax draws his own weapon and begins to back out of the scene, toward the officers who are there to render aid, but his vision trained on the dark alley. You no longer cares whatsoever about preserving evidence, when preserving life takes presidence. It's not that he believes the officer saw anything, but he's not stupid enough to discount the observation. Fear can do a great many things to people, and they can see things, but these men went through the same training he did and they are supposedly readied for situations that required discretionary use of a firearm. Most people never actively discharge their weapon in the line of duty, so no one will ever really know what happens until they face it, and his heart races as he wonders if that's about to be the case here. Head on a swivel, he's backing up and trying to get to the relative of safety of his comrades.

Vlax explains the footprint he saw, but he can't besure it wasn't there before. He doesn't recall it, but... considering the darkbess and noir ouster of the alley, he admits an oversight is entirely possible.

"I need to get up on these rooftops, or access the fire escapes from higher up. Which one of you wants yo join me and watch my back. Better yet, which one of you isn't affraid of heights," he tries to add a little levity as he holsters his sidearm.

Vlax slowly draws his weapon and keeps it at a Rodgers and nodding to him to prepare. "Just in case" he says, as takes a really good look at the door and the knob, to make sure there's no blood or evidence on it. If clear, he reaches out to see if the door might already be unlocked or ajar.

"I suppose they could be out? It's late but who knows." Vlax lowers his guard and holsters his sidearm.

"Let's see if we can find our own way up, and failing that maybe get someone else on an upper floor to come to their door and let us out their window onto the fire escape" he suggests.

Vlax spins and takes in the attire of the fellow, immediately "Did we interrupt something " the detective asks? Without waiting for a reply he adds, "Looks like you are dressed for a party, although it is..." and he glances at his watch.

Vlax is unsure what to think. Something about this guy is incredibly unnerving. The detective explains the fact that there has been a murder, and the buildings fire escape was used by the perpetrator, therefore it is part of the crime scene. Without giving out any details, he asks if the man would escort the two of them to the point where that fire escape can be accessed, presumably the roof.

Vlax says, "If the door does not lock, then you had best return to your flat, sir. Will you be home, in case we need answers to questions?"

Upon suitable response, the detective moves to the fire escape and inspects it.

"Rodgers? Ideas? I'm honestly at a loss here. I have no idea what to make of this. I guess it's time for me to go wait for the coroner, so we can lower the body" He turns to go back down, "I suppose we can get the rest of the crew to start canvassing, and see if anyone saw or heard anything." he concludes.

Vlax descends as planned and takes up a position at the edge of the crime scene, so that the other officers can start canvassing.

While there, he starts taking notes and makes a few sketches in his notepad. The scrap of cloth, texture, size. The bizarre rope, how it was wound and cut. The odd super in 10E, and his over-the-top 5am attire. The cuts on the body and their uniform size and dimensions. The bootprint, and its general size and shape. The gunshot!

"Can someone get on the damn radio and see where the coroner is." he yells at no one in particular. "Get us more help out here."

Vlax says "Sure, but we may need help from the fire department lowering the body. The killer didn't leave any extra rope to lower her. A fireman can tie more rope to the rope up there, then cut the first one, and lower her that way." He pauses. "... But I suppose we let them sort that out. They know best what they are doing, and how to do it."

Vlax makes one final pass through the alley, fairly certain that he won't find anything, knowing that his colleagues are relatively thorough but you can't just leave a place like this without hoping that one very important little clue might jump out.

Just before the detective leaves, on his way to the morgue, he tries to catch at least one of the patrol officers (or radios it in, if too late) and ask about who called in the crime and reported it. More importantly, had anyone questioned that person. He intimates that he might like to get that person into an interrogation room back at HQ and sweat them a bit.

Vlax makes sure that a crime scene crew is sent to that phone to try and see if they can get any prints, or other forensic evidence. Realizing that pay phones are used by a lot of people, the chance of getting a lead from there is slim, but cases have been solved with less.

His next preferred destination is the morgue, and the body. As much as he doesn't look forward to closely inspecting this particular corpse, it's necessary.

Vlax sighs, "Perhaps there will be something in the toxicology that explains the lack of blood. I know how absurd that sounds, but I'm at a loss for other options. I also know the tox lab takes quite some time, but perhaps you can put a rush on it. This is clearly a special case, and not a routine toxicology."

He looks at the body, while keeping a respectable distance, and of course touching nothing. He's appreciative of the corner offering up these early condensed versions of the final report, so he can get started on his investigation. He doesn't want to betray that trust.

"So, the strips are flesh. Any ideas what someone might do with, how many? Have we counted them yet? Anyway, what someone would do with this many pieces of flesh, not to mention this exact size and shape?" He asks.

Vlax says he understands. "I really I don't have any other leads. There were no witnesses. We call came from an anonymous source. There's no one to even talk to about it. I suppose it was that one creepy super. Think I'll go see if I can get patrol to bring him in for questioning."

Vlax excuses himself, and ask the corner to call as soon as he's finished, or sooner if you find something of merit. "As usual, dispatch will know where I am, and can reach me by radio.".

The detective makes more notes, regarding the skin and blood, basically just documenting the conversation he had with the corner. He then heads back to his desk, so he can await a phone call, and the range for that weirdo to get picked up.

Vlax says to the coroner that he understands. "I really don't have any other leads. There were no witnesses. The call came from an anonymous source. There's no one to even talk to about it. I suppose there was that one creepy super. Think I'll go see if I can get patrol to bring him in for questioning."

Vlax excuses himself, and ask the corner to call as soon as he's finished, or sooner if you find something of merit. "As usual, dispatch will know where I am, and can reach me by radio.".

The detective makes more notes, regarding the skin and blood, basically just documenting the conversation he had with the corner. He then heads back to his desk, so he can await a phone call, and the range for that weirdo to get picked up.

a look of shock on his face, Vlax jump's up, grabs his weapon and holsters it. Grabs his badge. And then rushes out the door. On the way there, he's been scenarios through his mind. Certainly that individual was bizarre, and seem to be far too well dressed to be living there much less dressed like that for early morning. He had resolved himself to the fact that the man had been involved in some kind of overnight party, that lasted into the a.m. Now he wonders if the man had actually seen or knew too much and the killer got to him. Then he starts to think about the girl's body and wonders if this guy will be treated the same way. He smashes the accelerator and activates the siren.

"Damn!" Vlax mutters. Turning to the other officers already here, we need to immediately identify this victim. Who found him? We need to confirm that this is, in fact, the lessor here and also the super".

He quickly looks forofficer Rogers and if he is not on scene already, he insists someone radio for him to get here, ASAP.

He then quickly explains that the person he and officer Rodgers met earlier is not this person? He gives a description of that person who creeped him out, and insist that a APB / BOLO be broadcast, with that man's description. He is to be considered armed, and dangerous, and a person of interest in a murder investigation.

After all that, he starts his scene investigation, same as others. Teying to avoid contamination of evidence.

Vlax explains to Rogers that he wants confirmation not only inpersonbut in their reports, that this victimis not the person who pretended to be the super earlier. He also needs to compare his memory of that guy and the description he put out, to Rogers memories.

Vlax considers what the officer said about 30 years older and tries to consider that option. Might the man here be an older version of the other? "Is that just because he's older, or do you think there is a resemblance?" He asks.

Vlax makes a note in his notepad, a reminder, to ask if the station has a sketch artist on staff or retainer that had been trained in any kind of age progression or in this case regression. It was a stretch to hope for, but perhaps a larger, neighboring jurisdiction might have them, or the staties or feds? He sighs at the though of having to ask for help.

He also writes a few bullet points in the margin, to ask the coroner later.

No wounds?
No blood?
Skin strips?

"Make sure crime scene folks get good pictures, especially of his face, and collect those family photos. Since we had someone impersonating him earlier." he tells some of the on scene officers.

Turning his attention to the bigger picture he starts looking for signs that the victims clothing may have been taken. Versus the impersonater just dressing differently. Matter of fact, it doesn't look like anything's been taken.

Lastly, he searches for items that would identify family members, friends, and better yet a list of tenants.. If this person in fact was the super, then they should have all kinds of records somewhere.

Vlax first puts the numbers into his notes, for safe keeping. He scans the safe for any type of anti-tampering mechanism. It wouldn't do much good to ooen it and set something off that destroyed the contents. Maybe he's paranoid, but this murder has him on edge.

Only after he's convinced it's safe does he try to open it.

Vlax tells processing to get a picture of what's in the safe, and then spend some time studying the list of dates. He tries to see if there's anything logical or any kind of pattern to the dates. Clearly it's one day each month, but rent is typically collected on a specific date each month such as the first day or maybe twice a month the first and 15th. He wants to compare the next date coming up, to the current date to see how far out it might be. You might be beneficial to have someone here, staking this place out on that day.

Sighing. He makes one more pass through the place, hopeful that the crime scene folks can make heads or tails of it. He tries to get a really good look at the body too, without touching it of course. Looking for anything out of the ordinary. He then of course asks everyone else on scene if they have found anything.

Vlax turns his attention back to the numbers...

Vlax scribbles in his notepad, trying to suss out anything pertinent.

He rips oit those pagewla. Realizing that he was totally on the wrong tack

He thinks me might be on to something... He refers back to hos prior notes.

Vlax decides he needs to find and talk to Ms. Hale

Time for a meal break, he thinks. Somewhere with lots of strong coffee, he thinks to himself realizing how little sleep he's got and how little sleep he's going to get. He writes "Call me ASAP" on the back of one of his business cards, and then sticks it in the door jamb of her apartment. He decides to look for somewhere close by, a diner, where you can grab a bite but not be too far away. As a matter of fact he thinks he'll get it to go, so he can stake out the building from across the street, and eat in his car while he watches to see who comes and goes and what they look like. Is always the chance she'll see his card in bolt. He has no reason to believe she's implicated really, but other hunches have found out in the past.

Vlax will try the door again at 630pm and failing that once per hour. He looks for signs that someone has exited or entered.

When back in the car, he checks in with dispatch to make sure no calls came in for him while he was on stakeout.

Vlax will try the door again at 630pm and failing that once per hour. He looks for signs that someone has exited or entered.

When back in the car, he checks in with dispatch to make sure no calls came in for him while he was on stakeout.

Vlax, as he speaks, takes quick note of her features, troes to estimate her age, and any other moles, marks or striking features. He also glances behind her to see what he can of the apartment beyond.

Detective Gbaf, and sorry to disturb you but we need to chat about the super, Mr. Schmidt. I'm investigating a series of criminal behavior both in and around this building. Do you mind? I thought you might prefer to chat her, and save us a trip downtown. he tries to convey a confidence pinned to an authoritative tone, not to mention the seriousness of it all.

Vlax gets out his notebook and prepares to take notes as he accepts the seat offered, "As long as this computer stuff isn't criminal, then your secret is safe with me". he grins as he speaks to hopefully disarm and maybe relax her, hopefully.

"Let's start simply, as I'm sure you understand... I can't and really and shouldn't openly discuss the fine details of an active investigation, but I should tell you that Mr. Schmidt may have been mixed up in something criminal.". He begins. He doesn't intend to mention much yet. And instead keeps her in the dark. He asks how long she has been a tenant. He asks how well she knew the super. How was her dealing with him, fairness vs contention. Had she ever been involved with him outside of a landlord relationship. Does she know his friends, or the building owners. Did he or any tenant have issues or disputes. Last time she saw him.

He will shift toward the end...
Why does her business require her to work in the evening if it's just computer related. Why the blackout drapes, and how does sunlight affect computers?

Vlax starts asking about her payment and does she have any idea why he would mark down the exact day that she paid her rent. Every month. Locked up in his safe was a list of dates and they correlated exactly on the dates that she paid rent. Sure other apartments paid rent, but we're not consistently on the exact date that he marked down. Did she ever catch him lurking and watching her? Yeah

Vlax explains, "The super did in fact write down everybody's date of payment. Meticulous with his notekeeping, in fact. Oddly enough though he had a separate list in a safe with a lot of cash, and with that is a list of dates that are only the dates she made payments. A list separate from the official records, is odd ... Wouldn't you agree?

Regardless of her answer, he feigns an intent to wrap up the interview. He thanks her for her cooperation and asks her if she minds providing ID, so he can officially annotate his report.

What he doesn't tell her is that he's looking for her date of birth. If she's in her early twenties, and she's been a tenant for over a decade.. when did she start renting, age 12. Things don't seem to be adding up.

Vlax nods, visibly as he writes down her ID number, issue date, etc. "Well, I guess that makes a lot of sense. I don't know much about electronics but I can imagine," he shares as he smiles at her and gives back her ID.[

He then clears his throat and explains, "Well, I should tell you that Me. Schmidt is deceased. In fact, he appears to have been murdered.. He gauges her reaction, then describes the suspect impersonating the super to see if he sounds familiar to her, and gauges that reaction and response. Finally, he doesn't give details but he tells of another murder, in the alley between the buildings ... involving a little girl. He describes the girl, her age, hair, features, bit not the gruesome aspects of the scene, to see what kind of response that elicits.

Vlax stands and once again thanks her for her cooperation. He discourages her from doing anything that would put her in harm but should she see anyone suspicious, be at the person she described or anyone else, she should get to a safe place then call it in immediately.

Vlax realizes He should reach out to persons, and see if he can identify the girl. Perhaps there's a correlation between the two victoms.

Vlax goes back to his office, seeking out first ...a refresh to his coffee. Sometimes he thinks if you cut him, he will bleed coffee...he drinks so much of the stuff.

He then calls missing persons, to see what he can learn about the girl victim, if anything.

Vlax is stumped. After the little girl be, not missing? He in turn makes a call to the coroner's office to see if there's been any developments from the corpse brought in, from the supers apartment.

Vlax is stumped. How could a little girl be, not missing? He in turn makes a call to the coroner's office to see if there's been any developments from the corpse brought in, from the supers apartment.

Vlax decides to retire for some much needed sleep. He might be able to think of something after trying to relax and shutdown for a few hours. He packs everything up and grabs a few ciluos of water from the water cooler on the way out. Time to flush the caffeine out and get some shut eye.

"Anyone see who brought this in? Anyone ask the person who brought it in who gave it to them?" he asks the other colleagues in the office.

While waiting for all that he calls Kim.

Vlax will wait until someone dusta the prints, but he calls for dispatch and asks they send a unit to Kim's apartment and do a welfare check, but for the patrol officer to call him first.

When they call, he explains that considering that there have been two murders in an adjacent to that building, and she's a person of interest, that if she does not enter the door look around and make sure there's no signs of blood, forced entry etc and if there is go in, and be ready for a fight, but also be ready to preserve a crime scene.

After he hangs up, he hopes upon hope that there's not been yet another victim, and this time is poor young lady who was so nice and helpful.

Vlax drops the envelope immediately, both out of a hint of shock, but also to preserve any evidence inside the envelope. He does manage to express and explicative as he does so.

Get that forensics team back in here, he blurts out to no person in particular, just whomever might be in earshot. He notices he's holding his hands up as if the thing was acid, probably a subconscious reaction to the shock.

He gathers himself, gets his notebook, and starts looking through to see the exact number of those trips that were missing from the girl's body, and comparing the size. He has little doubt that this is from her, but he just wants to make sure. Plus he can't remember exactly how many were cut off of her.

He waits to see if the forensics team can get anything from inside the envelope, be it latent trace evidence, or just something else. He didn't really take time to see beyond the skin. You might want to get the corner involved, as they will have a pretty good idea where this came from. Maybe they can run some tests and confirm it, he adds, when he speaks to the forensic team who collect the evidence.

Vlax leaps to his feet, making sure he has his gun, badge, etc and racist to his car. Lights, sirens, fret, he makes way to the scene already very much worried about what he's going to find.

Vlax sees that the patrolman is beyond help. He immediately starts looking for anyone else, but he does so very carefully, and very stealthfully.

If Kim we're in here and asleep, that blast should have woken her. Then there's the question of who called this in? As soon as he thinks it's safe to do so, he'll probably radio in and ask. He looks for footprints in the blood, or any trail that would show anyone coming to or away from this area. If it was a trap right to the back side of the door, someone called in ...officer down.

Vlax quickly calls on the radio. " Tell those medics to hurry, he's alive, but barely. And where's my backup? the detective kneels down beside the man, taking off his own shirt to use it as a bandage. He looks for somewhere safe to put it but is reluctant to put pressure on an exposed skull. Instead he tries to hold the man still and if he sees any spurting arteries, concentrate his efforts there.. We need help, he calls out! hoping someone nearby might be willing to help.

Okay guys, stack up. Just like we did at the academy. I know you probably haven't done it since, but we need to clear this apartment and do it properly. We should all look out for gun wielding thugs and I don't know if this was a trap but we'll know soon. As far as I know the only occupant should be a woman in her thirties who looks younger, named Kim.

He calls out on the radio, to dispatch, "I say again, who called in officer down?" Even before he gets a reply he start making hand gestures, dividing the crew into three teams of four. Instructing one team to go left, one to go right, and hos team the third, to cover.

Once the place is swept and declare clear...Vlax tells the patrolmen to start setting up a perimeter, and to coordon off pretty much the entire building.

if tenants need to come or go, they will have to be escorted, and only after their identities and credentials are recorded. Tell them only that there have been multiple murders, and at least one person is missing.

Anyone puts up a fuss, detain them, as a potential suspect at a crime scene during an ongoing investigation, to be questioned by detectives. You can frisk, for officer safety, but don't search, not without probable cauae.

With that he begins his investigation of the crime scene, both inside and out.

Vlax convinces himself she would not have shot an officer, announcing himself. He thinks it might not have been Kim, but possibly an abductor, the person who took her electronics, or someone else.

He decides to look for evidence that she took her purse and other important things that no woman would leave without. He wonders if she left of her own accord.

On the off chance that there WAS a reson be in the closet, he focuses his search there for a hidden compartment, or a back door.

Vlax now thinks she was either not home when this happened, or she made a strategic exit.

Vlax is forced to resort to good old fashioned searching for clues. Are their signs of fixing a meal recently? Do the cabinets and refrigerator look normal with normal contents? Are their leftovers? Are their journals or a diary here? Do bedroom nightstands have anything? What does the medicine cabinet in the bathroom contain? Are their cleaning supplies in the apartment?
Are their financial records, taxes, receipts anything in the form of official paperwork? Looking under furniture to see if anything was accidentally discarded and overlooked? What about shell casings, were there any left on scene?

Vlax radios dispatch and asks if the person who heard the officer down can say woth any certainly if the voice on the radio was male or female, and if they record radio traffic?

Did the medicine cabinet contain prescription bottles or just over the counter stuff?

Once again, baffled, Vlax looks for some of the other officers on scene a lnd tells them we need another canvas. Maybe someone saw or heard something.

What kind of apartment doesnt have a bedroom? He says casually to one of the nearby officers. would you rent a place without a bedroom?. Vlax tries to recall if any of the documentation in the supers office indicated the size of each apartment. If there were any studios that would not include a bedroom?

Vlax continues his sideline pondering, boucing questions and ideas off of the officer. "Come on man! One of our own is down, and evenif he lives..." Vlax starts getting visibly angry, a mechanism for his anguish. "I mean, what moron would build apartments with no bedroom and hope to rent them?" He is definitely reaching.... his mind scrambling for reason. [b]Are there murphy beds in the walls? Something.. He starts pulling down portraits, anything on the walls. Bookshelves? Finny looking wall paper.

Vlax resigns himself to the fact that there is nothing more to find here, as much as it disenheartens him. He will now turn his full attention to this Kimberly Hale.

While he waits at the station for the results of the canvas, he thinks of the patrolman who is likely in surgery at the hospital. He.tells himself he should be there, stacked up in the waiting room, where undoubtedly the entire precint has taken up residency. Then he reminds himself that he can do more good tracking down the killer.

Vlax begins and all out background on one Kimberly Hale. He pulls out his notes and the information he took from her ID card. He calls every resource, every neighboring jurisdiction, the staties, the feds, national records, social security, the DMV, media resources, confidential informants. He wants a criminal history, verification of her birth, anything the proves who she is and more importantly who she knows. He has to track her down.

Ugh! What the..., Vlax realizes that he was so distracted by the damn creepy envelope that he misread the message, and thought it said to call her back, since she had called in. What a stupid mistake.

He rushes back to the scene to check her mailbox and to see if she has a lan-line phone and an answering machine. If he's lucky it will still have the cassette tape in it. She was into electronics, right.

Vlax calls HQ an arranges for the desk sergent to secure a warrant for entry into 5f, based on the evidence on hand, connecting that unit with the ambush of the officer.

He then calls for SWAT because he doesn't want to walk into another ambush. He wants to make sure the building is surrounded.

While he awaits the warrant and for SWAT to gear up and arrive he radios and checks in with the officers who did the canvasing, each time. He tries to see if anyone spoke to 5F during any of those attempts, and if so ... gets that person on scene as well, so he can question them. Failing that, at least on the radio.

Only after everyone is in position and he alerts the entry team to be prepared for a shotgun reception, does he okay their attempt to gain entry. Knocking and asking first, then the SWAT way second.

Vlax sighs and his shoulders visibly slump, as does his heart. Progress is good in any case, but the bodies just keep stacking up. Homicide detectives are able to motivate themselves, push past the horror, and contend with the psychological impact because they know that when they do the job well, they save lives.

Shaking off the turpor and the frustration he rolls up his sleeves and tells the officers on scene to prepare for another lengthy investigation. He backs everyone out nx calls inthe forensics teams, with the photographers first. There just isn't a rush on this one.

While he waits for those crews to go first, he looks around for security cameras. They are rare, expensive, and the quality of the image is usully very poor but it is worth looking.

Vlax tells Rodgers to go home, get some sleep, Your relief can help cover here, and quite frankly, you might need that rest. Something tells me we're not going to get a lot of sleep till we catch whoever started this mess. Take advantage while you can.

Vlax is very concerned about this Kimberly, and hasn't been able to get the thought out of his head regarding her involvement. "Did she stumble up on it? Was she involved? If so, why would she send him there? Could someone be setting her up? Certainly didn't seem to know anything or even suspect anything when I spoke to her.., He mumbles to himself, pondering all,the possibilities. He is very much aware that there are other possibilities that he hasn't probably entertained yet, but thinking them through is what .. eventually surfaces ...the other ideas.

Before starting his own walk through. Vlax asks the Forensics team to summarize what they found and expects at least one member to remain on scene in case he finds more on his own. With that, he starts circling the first room, at the walls, expecting every surface and under every item, radiating inward until he ends up in the middle of the room. You will have to finish his shift and rest later, realizing this is going to be another long one.

Can someone get this crew some coffee? , he barks out into the hallway...

Vlax moves on to try and continue his spiral method of searching, room to room, area to area.

Vlax jota down the details in his notebook, having learned that.those little details sometimes matter. He moves on.

Vlax is surprised to find the blood in the child's bed and makes sure forensics gets photos and samples for type matching.

Eat, sleep, regroup. it's time to let all this sink in, and when coroners reports, more toxicology .. and anything has a chance to land on hos desk he can start sifting through the mountain of photos and evidence to try and find a hidden gem. Maybe there's a hint at an answer and all that.

Vlax answers, "Detective Gnaf here. Kimberly!? Is that you? Are you okay?". He wants to convey concern for her welfare, and not a hint of accusation.

That is not the response the detective anticipated, so he flips the switch (figuratively) and turns on the tone of an authitative dominant figure, explaining life's hard lessons... as he says, "Well, Kim, he thought you might be in trouble. Hurt?! That is what police officers do. You did call me, but not take my return call, then leave me a message that pointed to a murder."

He waits in silence to hear what she has to say, paying particular attention to the tone of voice, choice awards, and inflection. He's praying that his specialty experience in criminal investigation will win to his abilities who pick up on anything out of the ordinary.

He's not lost on the fact that it might not have been her that left a message. It could easily be this weirdo putting skin and envelopes, watching us, and knows I visited her, so they somehow arranged the entire thing. Her response will be very telling, but it also needs to very surely be her.

Vlax responds in kind with disgust, So, wait?! What changed? One minute you are mortified with the prospect of it all. You never go anywhere. You never see anything. Then you suddenly know all this, and I'm NOT supposed to bash your door in?

He decides to test her, what about when you said to call or come by any time? We talked about your little fo not disturb note. We all like our sleep, but don't you think this qualifies?

Well, I guess we now know the REAL you. The ugly, not-,pretending, you. Now who was the liar? The fake? ( He chuckles) Now, seeing that you are the lead suspect in multiple murders, including fleeing the scene of an officer involved shooting, I'm just going to recommend you just turn yourself in. I have no desire nor any intention of sharing anything about this investigation with you further. You are suspect numero uno. You are someone who everyone in the city is going to be looking for. sketch artists are going to plaster your mug all over this town and I want every new station to know your name when the sun cimes up. Proud of yourself? Psychopath much? I hope you never sleep undisturbed again, because several innocent people lost their lives, and they dont get that chance. They will never live, breath, eat, or have a choice to sleep EVER AGAIN! He slams down the phone, jerks the cord out of the wall, gets dressed, packs enough clothes to last him several days (plus all the save kit, toiletries and such). He loads it in the trunk of his vehicle and goes back to work. He doesn't care if has to sleep in his desk, he's about to put in more hours than he has ever put in, trying to hunt down this .... (none of the explicatives he can think of are profound enough to describe what he thinks of her).

Vlax first reaches out to the hospital to check the condition of the officer that was shot.

Then he pours over the evidence. Studies the crime scene photos, the evidence lists of what was collected, and every finite detail. Works out a timeline.

Truth is, He has nothing to do and plenty of time to burn. This narcissist called once, left notes, called twice, and decided to play games... First pretends to be an innocent disinterested, disconnected and meek tenant, only to turn around and become a vicious, hateful, creature... then she won't be able to avoid her next move.

Coffee time. Research time.

Thoughts & notes...

1. Identify this city and state of her birth from her birth certificate. Search those local records, libraries, newspapers, for any mention of her family name and start tracking down relative..

2. Search for school records that include any mention of a high school, from which she might have graduated. Colleges as well. Start identifying classmates, and individuals who could speak to their affiliation.

3. Brainstorming ways to take this computer electronics thing that she was so desperate about keeping quiet and blowing that up in their face. Perhaps PR releases that mention clandestine work and computers, and how the person of interest might be involved with institutions, colleges, electronics manufacturing and design organizations. Piss her off, and prompt a response.

4. Post extensive surveillance on the apartment building. It didn't appear to be anything left there that would be of used to her, but that means she had to go back ready. She already had her stuff bundled up and ready to leave when she encountered the patrolman.

5. Needs to work with local building and health officials to come up with a reason to go into every apartment in that building and search for, something dangerous. Radon gas? Lead paint? Infected rodents? He doesn't care and quite frankly it need not be real. He just needs a reason to get in that building and scour it.

Vlax immediately thinks he has fallen asleep... and tries to shake himself awake. Failing that, his detective instinct kicks in, and he starts trying to debunk what he's seeing... I mean this girl is dead. He saw her body. So now he's looking for the scars that would be left over from her autopsy, all the while taking cover behind his desk and trying to remain quiet. He's a pretty avid sci-fi reader, and enjoys the occasional sci-fi movie... So he knows a zombie when he sees one. Even if he thinks it's just a dream.

What is this thing looking for, if not brains of the living. He reminds himself, this is not a cheap movie. He waits and watches her, still believing he is in some kind of dream... induced by exhaustion, poor diet, odd hours, and the general horror of what he does.

He just tries to remain stealthy ... Not that it seems to matter if she's looking through him, but it's instinct. if she moves on, down and out of sight he will follow, quietly... Curious. Just maybe his psychy saw something in the evidence that he missed and his subconscious is trying to tell him something.

Why the hell is it speaking to him in night.are fashion?

Vlax follows, looking around to see if anyone is around, anywhere? Clearly. it's early bit shouldn't there have been some kind of response to the claxons,as he was leaving the station? A police station maybe a little less busy, but still active at all hours. Streets still have folks, driving by. even early morning. His dream seems flawed, but aren't they all? He follows, still trying to debunk the maddness of it all.

Vlax is shocked to have realized he must have slept walk out here. He was sure all along that he had been dreaming but he had no idea that he had actually left the station and staggered here. How in the hell did he avoid getting run over?

Drawing and raising his weapon to a low ready, he barks orders like all cops do, "Halt Police! Turn around and put your hands behind your back.". He prays that he brought a radio with him, and with one hand reaches towards his belt to feel for it. You practically sleeps with his service sidearm, but the radio... ???

If run is all that he can do, and that is exactly what he does.. intinctively he tries to brandish a firearm and discharge it even if it's over his shoulder or reflexively. He also continues to reach for and look for that radio. Perhaps he can call for help. He has the feeling that no matter how much training he's had in hand to hand, this psychopath is probably more skilled. Was he drugged? How is it that he froze like that?