(2) in Gaslight

The brill of the phone seeped into Kate’s boozy sleep. Not knowing whether it was a dream or reality coming to pay a visit Kate laid staring at the ceiling considering her options. Roll over and pretend it didn’t wake her or be the dedicated cop and answer like always. Kate picked up.

“Somebody better be on fire and needs to be pissed on so help me God Murdoch.”

At four in the morning there was only one person who would be calling her cell phone and that’s Chas Murdoch.

“If I’m up you’re up Becker. You can start by pissing up a rope. Dead body calling your name in the gaslight district. Get your drunk ass out of bed and head to Chestnut Street. I’ll be waiting. Pick me up a latte on the way, sweetheart. “

Kate thought to herself what is it with this sweetheart shit all of a sudden? The last person didn’t fair so well tossing that name around but Murdoch’s good people. Honestly, she could use a cup of joe herself.

“Give me twenty and shoot the address to my phone. “

Kate didn’t need the address but one thing a cop knew about crime is cover your tracks and play as dumb as possible. Mouth shut and eyes wide open.

Kate dug out the wide belt loop jeans she favored for the job. They worked well with the gun belt she liked over the shoulder harness the other detectives wore. She packed all the toys the men in blue carried and not just the gun. Kate wanted to be more gunslinger than cop so her holster was on her hip. The seasoned veterans found her comical looking. Kate was petite in stature and her belt overwhelmed her size. They also knew she was not to be underestimated. Kate was tough as they come and would put a bullet into a felon without blinking. She always had your back and would take a bullet for you. There was no better kind of cop than that.

Kate walked up to the familiar murder scene and found a dozen men in blue maintaining the crime scene and directing what little traffic passed by.

“Morning boys. One of you guy’s girlfriends finally wise up and kill herself rather than look at your ugly face one more day?”

The street cops liked Kate. She never treated them as anything other than pals on the force. The detective badge meant nothing to her other than define her part of the job. Kate treated everyone like part of the team.

Officer Phelps who everyone called Mickey laughed with the other guys and asked,

I see two cups of coffee detective, you seem a little short this morning.”

“Just like your dick Mickey. I guess we are both sorry about coming up short this morning.”

The group busted into laughter including Mickey. It was all good fun under the stress of the job. Everybody blew off steam and usually at the expense of a coworker.

Murdoch broke up the conversation.

“Hey Becker, you want to get your ass over here and stop showing the whole neighborhood what a sleazebag you are. Try impressing the crowd that you are a detective for a change.”

The girl in black still lay in the grass under the gaslight. Dead as ever and even more pale than her white pancake make up made her.

Murdoch spoke first.

“That’s some nasty shit here Becker. Looks like someone tried to tear her brain out through her throat.

Kate nodded and replied.

“Yep, no need to check a pulse here. Don’t suppose any of the guys drummed up a witness around here?”

“Nah not so far but we are pounding on doors. She probably didn’t have a chance to yell even if she wanted. Between the entry through the throat and how quick she died she probable was dead when she hit the ground. “

Kate looked for any pockets in the girl’s clothing and there were none in her dress. She wasn’t carrying a purse as far as any crime scene evidence. Kate finally said,

“This is starting to look bad Chas. We have three dead murder victim’s in less than a month and nothing to brag about to the captain regarding progress. This guy seems to know what he is doing.”

Murdoch continued to look at the body and offed a nod.

“We’re going to be out of a job if we don’t get someone in one of these murders. They don’t make any sense. Damn random shit. The worse case scenario seems the likeliest. We got a serial killer in the gaslight.”

Last updated November 13, 2014