Chapter 8

• Keera
• We all sat in silence for a few beats, studying the images of the killer's victims displayed on the screen. Exactly sixteen deaths within two weeks. I shifted my attention to Josie, knowing if anyone could get us started it would be her. I'd known for all about a day and I already knew that she was intuitive and watchful.
• "It's very strange, don't you guys think?" She said, causing the rest of the team to drag their attention away from the screen. She was trailing her forefinger down her chin, her eyebrows drawn together in thought. "The deaths are so. . .random." She finally completed. "It's like this guy has no MO. Their age differences are extremely wide. Same as their height differences, their ranks in the pack, their gender and even down to their build." She said listing things off. " It's almost like. . .the killer was trying to test if. . .he could take down anybody he wanted to."
• Take down anybody he wanted to.
• I fixed my attention back on the screen, this time with Josie's theory in mind. I could already see how that could be possible. The killer was probably trying to make sure whatever it was he was doing to finish them off could work for anyone. There was no time or cause of death stated on any of the victim's files but that was because they couldn't let just anyone run an autopsy on the victims. It was going to be one of the first things we'd have to see if we were ever going to stand a chance at finding the killer.
• "Think it's a werewolf?" Kathryn asked her, wanting to know.
• Josie lifted her shoulders in a shrug, twisting her lips to the side as she considered the question. "Maybe, maybe not." She responded vaguely. "I think we'd have to at least figure out the times and causes or cause of death first before knowing if the killer was werewolf or not." I nodded in agreement. Right now nothing was certain.
• And no one could be trusted.
• "Think it could be more than one person involved?" Joe asked, scratching his bald head. I pondered on the question for a little bit. I mean, it was possible that it was just one person behind the killings. But I also couldn't rule out the fact there could be more than one person involved. It would explain why they hadn't found a clue yet.
• "I don't see why not." I replied. "Anyway," I started wanting to conclude the meeting since we'd been on it for quite a few hours. "Our first line of action would be to get autopsies done on all eighteen of the victims." I informed them. "Lexi and I should be able to handle that since we also identify as forensic pathologists. We both got a second degree in forensic pathology."
• I clapped my hands together. "So while Lexi and I are working on getting the autopsies done, Josie and Kathryn, I'll need you guys to talk to the victims' families. Everything we need to know about them is in this file." I stated, distributing a second blue file to all of them. Just in case. "See if there's anything you can find. Their whereabouts especially, because the killer had to be picking them off from somewhere."
• "Copy that boss," Josie replied, already flipping through the files. "It's going to be a whole lot of work but we'll give it our best. We'll get as much information as we can, check if maybe there's a common enemy, follow leads." She gave me a little salute. "Whatever we'd be doing we'd definitely be letting you know." She said.
• I gave her a warm smile. I already knew I wasn't going to have any problems working with her. Or any of them for that matter. They were all nice people. Pushing my hair behind my ear, I split my attention between Kathryn and her. "That's wonderful." I told her. "But I also think we should all be involved with that at some point. It might help if we're all able to get a feel of the victims' families and friends. It would be easier to detect who's lying and who's not." I explained.
• When I realized neither of them had any problem with it, I continued. "Josie, I'll need you to come up with some kind of timetable. You and Kathryn do most of the visits but see if you can also try to get the rest of us to go with you every now and then."
• "I'll see to it." She responded.
• I nodded at her and then turned my attention to Joe. "I think I'll need you to just lay low for a while, maybe get in touch with the pack warriors and see how tight their security is." I informed the bald man. Trevor had informed me that he'd finally retired from work only weeks ago to spend some time with his grandkids after his line of work had kept him away from family for so long. "I hate that you're supposed to be enjoying your retirement right now but maybe you can also see what the werewolves are up to in general. See if you can get the scoop on what's going on in the pack and if there are any people we could trust among them."
• Joe smiled, waving his hands to indicate that his being here was no issue. "I have no problem with that," He said with a laugh. "I'd only be making use of my toys when necessary. Other than that, I'll help them tighten the pack's security and be your eyes and ears." I smiled at him, grateful that he'd agreed to it and even seemed to be looking forward to getting in touch with those people. It was definitely nice that they weren't as irritated by them as I was. We went over a few more details and a few minutes later, the meeting had come to an end and the team decided to go out for drinks.
• I decided it was time to finally pay a long overdue visit to the SPA.