pretty sharp but you can still trust me!’ He admires the way it fits over and hides the slight puffs of his abdomen, it is a good jumper he decides. Even its familiar sweet smell of laundry detergent and cookies comforts him. Everyone who sees him today, won’t be able to take their eyes off the green offender, wondering what had possessed the man to buy such an ugly jumper. Fletcher tries to keep his thoughts and feelingsfocused completely on the jumper, trying hard not to think. Where is Claire? Is it her this time? No, no Bullface would have told him, then again she might not know. No no, Claire would be at work, there is no reason it could be her. There is every reason it could be her. Fletcher’s fingers hover anxiously on his mobile, there is no harm in just checking right? Under the pretence of telling her he will be late home again. Depression slinks in, the green jumper just isn’t as comforting as it used to be.
Florescent lights glare accusingly above Bullface. The room is silent apart from the chorus of office sounds breaking through when someone softly opens the door and solemnly takes a seat. Bullface does not turn around to meet them nor even acknowledges them. Instead she continues to write on the board in front on them. Neatly, carefully printing every damned word. The computer next to her projects a screen-saver on the awaiting screen.
2- Jane Doe 217 (Deceased between two to five years)
Age 17-25 (estimated)
Trauma to the left hand
C.O.D - Unknown
22- Fran Lizzie Taylor (March 9th)
Age 22 (and 22 days)
Number inflicted on left hand
C.O.D – Throat cut
Number Not Known – Adelina Sasha (August 21st)
Age 38
Trauma to the left hand
C.O.D- Throat cut
Trauma inflicted to face, stomach and arms
28- Stella McQam (August 24th)
Age 37
Number inflicted on right hand
C.O.D – Stab to the heart
30- Shannon Leona (August 30th)
Age 29
Number inflicted on left hand.
C.O.D – Exsanguination
Trauma inflicted across the body
Here her writing becomes heavy, she presses down so sharply on her marker pen, willing it to break in her hand. Creating a squeak that makes the other members in the room look up sharply.
34- Isobel Hilarie (November 11th)
Age 19
Number inflicted on left hand
C.O.D – Throat cut
36 – Madison Albrook (November 11th)
Age 20
Number drawn on right hand
C.O.D – Throat cut
“Shall we begin?” She asks quietly to the assembled room, checking for any missing or unwelcome faces. But where to begin? All of the assembled have been briefed before, everything she knows about the first few deaths, they already know. But now they have two more. Start from the beginning, she tells herself, but what was the beginning?
“This morning, the body of Isobel Hilarie was found. She had been dumped on a quiet street.” She clicks the computer, projecting the image onto the screen. The assembled detectives see a young girl with dyed purple hair, lying down on the grey pavement, haloed in red. Despite the cold weather she is wearing a short purple top and a bright blue skirt. The multi-coloured drawings can clearly be seen on her revealed skin.
“The drawings are self-inflicted.” Bullface says, knowing that someone is about to ask. “High levels ofalcohol were found in her blood. The victim’s boyfriend said she had left to buy food, the cashier confirmed seeing her at ten forty nine p.m., which is ten minutes before that store closed. The area she was found in was on her route home.” She pauses, allowing the officers time to scribble down the details. “This was not a usual pattern for her, the assailant may not have been targeting her specifically. It is possible he noticed her going into the store and then waited for her to come out.”
“Do you think he was waiting in that particular area?”
“It is possible. We don’t know anything for certain at the moment. I have two officers going through the CCTV footage for both attacks. See if anyone was caught waiting
Florescent lights glare accusingly above Bullface. The room is silent apart from the chorus of office sounds breaking through when someone softly opens the door and solemnly takes a seat. Bullface does not turn around to meet them nor even acknowledges them. Instead she continues to write on the board in front on them. Neatly, carefully printing every damned word. The computer next to her projects a screen-saver on the awaiting screen.
2- Jane Doe 217 (Deceased between two to five years)
Age 17-25 (estimated)
Trauma to the left hand
C.O.D - Unknown
22- Fran Lizzie Taylor (March 9th)
Age 22 (and 22 days)
Number inflicted on left hand
C.O.D – Throat cut
Number Not Known – Adelina Sasha (August 21st)
Age 38
Trauma to the left hand
C.O.D- Throat cut
Trauma inflicted to face, stomach and arms
28- Stella McQam (August 24th)
Age 37
Number inflicted on right hand
C.O.D – Stab to the heart
30- Shannon Leona (August 30th)
Age 29
Number inflicted on left hand.
C.O.D – Exsanguination
Trauma inflicted across the body
Here her writing becomes heavy, she presses down so sharply on her marker pen, willing it to break in her hand. Creating a squeak that makes the other members in the room look up sharply.
34- Isobel Hilarie (November 11th)
Age 19
Number inflicted on left hand
C.O.D – Throat cut
36 – Madison Albrook (November 11th)
Age 20
Number drawn on right hand
C.O.D – Throat cut
“Shall we begin?” She asks quietly to the assembled room, checking for any missing or unwelcome faces. But where to begin? All of the assembled have been briefed before, everything she knows about the first few deaths, they already know. But now they have two more. Start from the beginning, she tells herself, but what was the beginning?
“This morning, the body of Isobel Hilarie was found. She had been dumped on a quiet street.” She clicks the computer, projecting the image onto the screen. The assembled detectives see a young girl with dyed purple hair, lying down on the grey pavement, haloed in red. Despite the cold weather she is wearing a short purple top and a bright blue skirt. The multi-coloured drawings can clearly be seen on her revealed skin.
“The drawings are self-inflicted.” Bullface says, knowing that someone is about to ask. “High levels ofalcohol were found in her blood. The victim’s boyfriend said she had left to buy food, the cashier confirmed seeing her at ten forty nine p.m., which is ten minutes before that store closed. The area she was found in was on her route home.” She pauses, allowing the officers time to scribble down the details. “This was not a usual pattern for her, the assailant may not have been targeting her specifically. It is possible he noticed her going into the store and then waited for her to come out.”
“Do you think he was waiting in that particular area?”
“It is possible. We don’t know anything for certain at the moment. I have two officers going through the CCTV footage for both attacks. See if anyone was caught waiting
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