"And how are we going to do that?" the chief inquired. "We seem to lack any suspects and we don't know who this alleged killer is going to target, and we can't guard the entire city all at once, so unfortunately I say we need to wait for more evidence Sage." Chief Johnson returned the file to Detective Sage with an apology. "We've got plenty on our hands as it is. You two did hear about the botanical gardens in the Druid Hill Park that the Delta attacked, right?"

Felton nodded. "We did...How are things?"

"Burnt it right to the ground long before any firemen could arrive," he told them. "We were just lucky that Sergeant Murdock and Officer Maguire happened to catch three of them in the act and managed to arrest them. Caught them with jugs of gasoline, Molotov c.o.c.ktails, and handguns. The city will have to decide on whether rebuilding the gardens is a realistic endeavor, but I'd like to know why they decided to burn down a botanical garden of all things."

The Delta was a gang known for their rather anarchist violence. What separated them from most other gangs in the area was that the Delta didn't vie for territory throughout the city (or throughout the East Coast either). The gang managed to conduct their business, regardless of physical s.p.a.ce, and relied on other means to traffic their illicit items. However, although the Delta remained one of the prominent gangs in Baltimore, their organization was once much stronger and structured. But what the Baltimore Police Department feared most of all was that the Delta seemed to stem from their city, yet the department seemed unable to find any sure leads to combat the threat.

"Either way," Sage pressed on, "Combating the Delta isn't going to happen soon. We need to at the very least open up an investigation for this serial killer."

"And I would agree if we had something to actually work off of," Chief Johnson told him. "Once the next body turns up, I'll let you two have at it, but right now what do you think you could do? Wander throughout Baltimore asking whether each and every person met Brett within the last nine days?" He shook his head, "There's nothing to work off of now, just wait and help us deal with everything else in this city, like the theft problem we've got in the Westport area."

Detective Sage reluctantly agreed, and both he and Detective Felton shuffled out of his office, case in hand. Once they closed the door Felton let out a breath and apologized to his partner. "I've got to agree with him, there isn't anything we can do at this point. Maybe once the ninth victim shows up we'll be able to work at it. But there really isn't anything to go off of now."

Sage nodded and started back toward his office. Felton told him he needed to speak with Sergeant Murdock about the arson case and departed in the opposite direction. Sage held the case file in his right hand while he wore a scowl.

One of the younger officers nearly collided with him as he dashed through the station. "Sorry about that sir, I'm just trying to get my things and get out of here."

Sage forgave him and asked without any real interest in the subject, "Are you going out or something?"

The officer laughed, "No, I've just got to get back to tend to my neighbor's cat."

"Well walk, okay Maguire?"

"Sure! Sure!" the officer said as he sped off to the lockers.

Sage returned to his office and found their newest officer at his desk. He couldn't recall her name immediately, but one glance at her name tag gave him her last name and spared him any embarra.s.sment. "What can I do for you Hendricks?"

She frowned, "I need to know if we have anyone who handles ident.i.ty theft cases here on the force."

He shook his head, "I don't know of anyone off the top of my head..." he looked at her, "What's this about?"

She rubbed her head, "I've recently discovered that someone's been making purchases in my name throughout the nation, though mainly in Washington DC."

"So you think your ident.i.ty's been stolen?"

"I'm not sure. I've talked with my bank, and we're handling the fraudulent charges, but whoever this is, they keep at it." She scowled, "They even bought a pa.s.sport in my name."

He raised his eye brows, "Then it should be easy enough to find whoever it is, since they have to have their photo"

She stopped him, "I've tried that, and all it comes up with are two pa.s.sports in my name with my information and image."

He thought for a moment, and came up with what he thought to be the best solution for her, "Bring it up to the district attorney and see what she says. Other than that I've really got no idea what you should do."

Officer Hendricks frowned, but thanked him, "I'll talk to her as soon as I can and see what can be done about it."

Sage set his folder on his desk, opened it, and skimmed over the pages. He didn't get too far, as Detective Felton stuck his head in the door and told him about a disturbance in Point Breeze they needed to investigate. Sage only took a second to close his file and stick it in his desk drawer before he chased after him and to his job.

Chapter 2.

August 13th, 2029 5:13 PM.

Both.e.l.l, Washington A warm breeze pervaded the park that sat on the edge of a forest. Blythe Park was vast, with a s.p.a.cious green field, a large playground that consisted of multicolored slides, large bridges which led children from play structure to play structure, tunnels of blue and green, and a tall swing set that allowed nearly a dozen people. Blythe Park also bordered a highly trafficked bike trail, a narrow river, and a lush forested area on a hill.

The roar of an engine signaled the entrance of a young man who still hadn't fully mastered the art of riding a motorcycle. Nick parked, shoved the keys in the pocket of his leather jacket, and walked over to a small group of friends who sat underneath a tall and shady tree. Nick finally removed his helmet, face covered in sweat, and muttered openly about how warm it was.

Drake, Ian, Jordan, and a young woman with whom Jordan held hands all met him with their eyes. Jordan smirked and told him it was ninety-three degrees, "What'd you expect in the middle of August, rain?"

"No, b-but that w-would have been nice." Nick glanced at Jordan and asked how he kept so cool while he wore a long sleeved shirt.

Jordan shrugged. "I guess I'm used to it, considering this is basically my work uniform and I have a long drive home to and from my shift every day in a car with busted air conditioning."

"Then you're acclimated?" Drake cut in.

"Maybe I am."

"Just take your coat off and you'll be fine Nick," Ian told him. Nick followed Ian's suggestion and after stripping the coat off he plopped down beside him. "Why did you even bother to bring that jacket?"

Nick shrugged and said, "I-I don't know...It-It rained a f-few days ago s-so I thought"

"Didn't you even look outside?" Jordan mocked him, "The fact that there isn't a cloud in sight should have been enough of a clue not to wear it."

"Leave him alone," Drake interjected. Drake sat with his back against the tree and his eyes on the slits of sunlight above them that managed to pierce the thick canopy. "Let him wear the jacket if he wants to. Besides, he probably gets cold flying around on that thing."

Nick would have thanked Drake, but decided to spare himself the embarra.s.sment. He tried to change the topic and asked Jordan, "Is this Rachel?"

"Naw, this is my other girlfriend."

"Jordan."

"Sorry," he apologized and told him she was Rachel.

Rachel reminded Nick that they'd met before, "A few times actually, mostly at parties though...You do know that Drake's my cousin, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, I-I got that. I-I re-remember."

Jordan rolled his eyes and intervened, "I understand there's going to be another party soon?"

"Yes," Drake said as he lurched forward, at attention, "This one for our dear Ian as he departs for the Queen's Country."

"Drake"

"It's set for the twenty-fifth and I'm still looking into reserving a place, but in the meantime start getting the word out."

"I told you I don't want a party," Ian stopped him. "I just want to get out of here without any fights or any trips to the hospital."

"Okay, that was only one incident"

"I don't care. I just want to make a quiet departure."

"Yeah, okay," Drake said, as he shook his head and mouthed the words 'it's still on.' "Okay, no party, but if there was a party I'd want everyone to start working on gathering attendees."

Ian rubbed his eyed and sighed, "Fine, we'll have a party. But if anything bad happens, I'm not paying for anything. No medical bills, no fines, nothing, got it?"

"Did you think I'd leave you with the bill? It'll be my, or my father's, pleasure to take care of expenses."

He sighed, "Whatever. Just let me know when it is. I'll just show up and pretend like I'm enjoying it."

"That's the spirit." Jordan mocked, "Don't get too excited, Ian."

Nick stretched and fished his worn cell phone from his jeans and read the time. Rachel saw him check and asked, "Are we keeping you from something?"

He hesitated to answer, but said, "I-I've got to get home s-soon and I-I need to get some groceries b-before then. N-Need chicken, t-tuna..."

"Your mom or dad can't get that themselves?"

Nick stared at her for a moment before he let out a breath and said they couldn't. He grabbed his things, walked to his bike, and left without another word.

Rachel saw the expressions on the other three boys' faces and asked what was wrong.

Jordan told her that Nick's mother died in a car accident on the first of July and that he was still coping. "And his stepdad's a drunk who doesn't give a d.a.m.n about any of it. Nick struggles to barely keep them fed, considering how busy his older brother is working." Jordan cursed again and apologized for not warning her.

The four sat silent then. Drake picked up a small stone and tossed it in the air above his head while his eyes remained on the exit Nick had taken; he had hoped he might return. Ian's gaze pa.s.sed by Drake as he watched a small group of children play tag. Rachel gripped Jordan's hand tightly and picked at the gra.s.s in front of her. Jordan just looked away from the group and toward the forest.

Drake finally threw his rock as far as he could and hit a trash can near one of the covered dining areas. He stood up and spoke, "Well I'm getting out of here. My job's done, get the word out and I'll let you know of any changes and updates. Ian did you need a ride back?" Ian told him he wouldn't mind one, and the two left.

Rachel let out a deep sigh, "That did not go well."

"Don't worry, it'll be fine."

"No, I feel bad about it."

"Nick's resilient," Jordan told her, "He'll get over it."

She sighed, shaking, and told him she needed to smoke. "Do you have anything with you right now?"

"I thought you'd never ask. C'mon, let's do this in the woods." She agreed as she rose and walked past the worn Blyth Park entrance sign, and once they had crossed the field they entered the dim forest.

Empty cans, bottles, cigarette b.u.t.ts, torn pizza boxes and occasionally lost, soiled clothing littered the forest. Giant, twisted roots hindered them as they continued through the woods. They came to an opening where a group of lawn chairs stood surrounded by a far larger amount of trash than what they saw on the trail. They took two chairs and Jordan took out a small paper bag. He retrieved two plastic lighters, his was red and the one he tossed her was green. Once Jordan pa.s.sed her a few hand rolled white cylinders, they each lit up and took long draws. Neither of them said a word for quite some time.

8:45 PM.

Baltimore, Maryland Sage sat at his desk, and stared at the newspaper photo of his fellow officer, Brett, as he accepted the first place trophy from the mayor's daughter. There were thirty-seven people in the photo, Sage and Felton had spent a whole day identifying them all, trying to find out anything and everything they could about each one of them. The results proved fruitless. Ryan began to worry about the amount of time he had left to find the next potential victim. He was not having any luck.

He tossed the photo back into the file that lay spread over his desk, rubbed his temples, and tried to figure out what his next move should be. Sirens blared outside, which had become a regular occurrence in the city, police and medical a.s.sistance mainly, due to the continuous violence throughout Baltimore. It wasn't as if there was chaos at all times, the average citizen wasn't involved. It was merely the gangs they had to stop, the theft, and the rivalries.

The case before his wasn't moving, and with the pulsing headache he couldn't shake away, the detective thought it was as good a time as any to grab something to eat. Sage left his office and headed toward the break room where he found a box of doughnuts he guessed had been there since the morning. He selected one he believed to be suitable enough for his taste, refilled his coffee, and headed back toward his office. Sage took one bite and nearly spat it out. The stale doughnut and the sweaty frosting didn't mesh well, and though he thought the coffee to be enough to help wash it down, he believed he might end up tossing the pastry, as no one could stomach it if he couldn't.

The detective had hardly taken his seat when he was met with Chief Johnson who walked over and took a seat at the table as well. Chief Johnson set an evidence bag with a bloodied sheet of paper on the table and told him there was another victim in his case.

"What do you mean?"

"You've got another victim," the Chief told Sage. "Caroline Reynolds, age fourteen. Dead from what looks like a broken neck, although this note was pinned to her skull with a kitchen knife. This is all just a.s.sumption at this point, but we'll know for sure after an autopsy."

Sage asked, "Was anyone else injured or killed?"

"No one else was home when it happened. Apparently her folks were out for the evening and left her home alone."

"So he knew she was alone..." Sage paused for a moment before he asked how the killer entered the house. "Were there any signs of forced entry?"

The Chief shook his head, "Caroline answered the door herself. It's a.s.sumed the man killed her shortly thereafter. No signs of a struggle either."

Detective Sage finally looked down at the piece of evidence and found one word scrawled across the page in blood, Cladis. He studied it and asked the Chief if he happened to notice the mark he'd found on all of the previous victims.

"Yep, burned into her, just like the rest of them." Johnson watched Detective Sage's eyes while he mulled over the doc.u.ment. "Do you know what it means?"

Sage shook his head, "Possibly a name, an alias he wants us to recognize him by...but beyond that no, I have no idea."

"Who found her?"

"Neighbors noticed her front door was open and happened upon it. They called us, I grabbed Murdock, and we rushed out there to see it for ourselves. We called in Brown, Maguire, and a few others to simply keep a line until we could get forensics and the coroner out there to get the body."

"Is there any chance I could get copies of notes and photos from the crime scene?"

"Sure thing." Chief Johnson told Sage a number of pieces of evidence outside of the note he held would be available to him to investigate shortly. "I'd like to ask you to begin a full investigation of this and the previous murders."

"Of course."

"For starters, I need you to head out to her house and talk to her parents. Try to get as much information from them as you can. Tomorrow you and Felton can go around the neighborhood and ask around about any suspicious activity they might have noticed over the last few days...or however long the time period between her murder and Officer Foster's."

"Right. Felton's already gone for the evening, did you want me to call him?"

Johnson shook his head, "Grab Murdock if you think you'll need someone. Just call Detective Felton and inform him of the situation and update him tomorrow when you both tackle this thing head on."

"Got it."

"Good, now," he swore under his breath, "We need to get out to the Tuscany-Canterbury area to talk to her parents about the murder of their daughter, and I need to think up a way to tell Commissioner Schmitt that we have a serial killer in our city."