Gaslight (3) in Gaslight

The precinct was standard fare as far as offices go. The desks were generally disheveled and desktop computers hummed throughout the building. Kate had pulled her overhead fluorescents long ago hating the glare and the effects bright lights had on hangovers. There were no cubicles and Murdoch and Kate sat face to face.

Kate had her feet crossed and up on the desk as Murdoch keyed in the initial investigation report. Murdoch shook his head without looking up and said,

“You do know there is no way I am typing your supplemental on this fucking report, right? The captain is in the building and considering we don’t have shit to tell him other than the bodies are piling up you may want to look a bit more busy.”

“I am busy. I’m thinking and that’s accomplishing more than your sorry ass.”

With those words the captain’s office door opened and Captain O’Riley summoned Murdoch and Becker to get inside. Murdoch gave a sigh and softly said,

“I’m sure the cap will be thrilled to hear what all that thinking you’ve done has got you”

Murdoch and Becker entered the room and Kate went to the chairs positioned directly in front of the captain’s desk.

“You coming for dinner and drinks Becker? I can’t think of one reason for you to be parking that skinny ass of yours on my chair. It’s time to listen up and then get something to tell downtown. As far as I can tell I got one dead hooker, some shady character we were watching a year back for a store front operation and a neighborhood drug pusher. Dead. Very publicly dead. Now these are not pillars of the community but the last time I checked most of our citizen’s did not enjoy finding dead bodies lying out in the street when they take out the garbage in the morning.”

Kate was the first to brave an answer.

“I think these are random as targets cap but more likely victims of opportunity. The common denominator other than being dead is that they are creatures of the night. They are chump criminals but all were offed in public areas at night.”

The captain thought a moment and replied,

“That would mean no motive other than to kill. It also means hard to solve other than finding witnesses which we have none. Last it means you two are fucked. I don’t care how little you have but you better get something because the commission is not going to let us sit easy. I don’t care if you sit out on street corners being targets until someone tries to come and kill you. You will give me something. Soon.”

Murdoch opened his mouth to speak and the captain said,

“Don’t even think about it Murdoch. Get the fuck out of my office and get to work.”

Kate and Murdoch happily left the office. Kate laughed and said,

“I thought that went well, how about you Chazmo?”

Kate and Murdoch returned to their desks but Kate didn’t sit and said,

‘The cap is right about one thing. We need witnesses or something more than scuz-buckets getting smoked by the light of the silvery moon. I’m thinking the cold case files might be of help. Maybe there are some assaults or unsolved old murders tied to this that we aren’t putting together here. I’m going to sort out the violent crimes and see if anything comes together. This guy didn’t just pop out of a pumpkin on Halloween. He’s either not from around here or he is just escalating his need to victimize where murder is the only thing that satisfies him.”

“Knock yourself out sweetheart. I’m going to get with the boys in blue and set up some strategies on the streets. Let’s see if we can stumble across some nefarious fellow of the night.”

Kate chuckled at Murdoch’s attempt to use some fancy word and said,

“You do that partner. I’m going to pack up a box of case files and head home to go over them. I work better with bourbon in one hand and a vibrator in another.”

“Damn Becker, you better watch out. This killer has a taste for ladies of the night. I don’t know about lady but otherwise you fit the bill.”

Kate winked at Murdoch and went into the file room and closed the door. Once inside she scrounged up a box and indiscriminately loaded files until it was full. She looked at the box of files and whispered under her breath,

“Okay, which one of you motherfucker’s are next.”

Last updated November 13, 2014