Of Playthings and Puppets

Well, hello again. How’s it going? Beautiful day, huh? Bit windy though around here. Think a tree fell down somewhere over here, too. I know my fiance’s house was riddled with falling limbs and nuts during lunch… yet somehow, the dog managed to escape completely unscathed as things fells all around him.

Anyway, where was I? Oh, right. Another excerpt. You’ll notice the first one, here, was completely different than what’s to come now… but it’s a good thing, believe me. Lots and lots of weird tricks up and down this book. Of course, this chapter and many subsequent chapters are also a bit more frustrating… you’ll see what I mean.

So, please to enjoy, Sanity’s Flaw, Chapter Two (part one): 11:18 A.M.

“So, Charlie… ever seen anything like this?”

“Nope, not in my time. Too much for you, Jim?”

“No. No, it’s not that. It’s just… I was just thinking it reminded me of that movie. That one with the guy that ate people and the other guy that dressed up in women’s skin? Anthony Hopkins.”

“Silence of the Lambs.”

“Yeah, that one. It reminds me of that. But damn, it’s a rough thing.”

“Yeah it is.”

“What was her name?”

“Apartment’s out to Anne-Marie Barrios; it looks like her.”

“How can you even tell, Charlie?”

“Point taken.”

“Any kids? Husband? Roommate?”

“No kids. Neighbor said she was a pretty quiet girl but emphasized that she brought guys by sometimes, probably for a good lay. Could be she brought one home, had some of those drinks, got in that little nightie to show him a good time and he went off and attacked her. You got a theory, Jim?”

“Maybe. But there’s still no weapon.”

“Nope, still no weapon. And the captain says this one’s going to Procyk and Torrington, so we got what we got until they get here.”

“They on their way?”

“I guess.”

“Great. Faster I can get out of this place, the better. So how was the weekend?”

“Eh, it was alright. Sat around, watched some tube, had some dinner. You know, the usual. How about you?”

“Went bowling.”

“Bowling, huh? How’d you do?”

“Shitty. Barely broke a hundred. Whatever, it was with my kids so I can say I let them win.”

“Bumpers?”

“I wish.”

“How’re the kids doing anyway?”

“They’re good. It’s almost little Jimmy’s birthday, and Dan’s actually started doing his homework on time, so, you know, they’re good.”

“Good, good. Jim, let me ask you something.”

“Shoot.”

“They ever ask about what you do? Or, I mean, do you tell them some of the shit that goes down in this place? Like, just looking at this woman here, when they ask you how your day was, how could you possibly just say ‘good’ like that?”

“Good question.”

“Yeah.”

“I guess I just shrug and say something like ‘I’m a cop, and I make sure the city is clean for you guys.’ Something like that. Hell, if I ever told them half the shit I’ve seen, they’d have nightmares for the rest of their lives.”

“Got that right.”

“Hey guys, what’s the scoop?”

“Oh, hey Procyk.”

“Charlie, Jim.”

“Torrington come with you, too?”

“Yeah, he’s right behind me, Jim. Who’s first officer? You, Charlie?”

“Yup. Woman’s name was Anne-Marie Barrios, twenty-four, single, lives in the apartment. The neighbor, a nice old woman named Maria Alexandros, found her at nine forty two when she came out of her place and noticed the door open. She was just like this she said. Her neck’s cut, and, as you can see, the… attacker, he carved her face off.”

“What about time of death?”

“Some time this morning, not too long ago. Judging by the rigor and the fact that she’s still a bit warm, the med said only about three or four hours ago, so around eight or a bit earlier.”

“Okay.”

“And over here’re two glasses but we haven’t checked for prints yet. Could be something. They’re screwdrivers, nothing special. We’ve got a bottle of vodka over here, but we can’t know if it’s doped yet. Oh, and we don’t have a weapon. All the steak knives are on the counter in the kitchen and none of the drawers look like they were opened at all. So that’s a dead end.”

“The neighbor didn’t see the perp, Charlie? Didn’t hear anything?”

“Nope.”

“Alright, tell me more about Anne-Marie.”

“Neighbor said she was quiet but liked to bring guys home every now and again. Typical woman, nothing too outstanding.”

“She likes to paint.”

“Oh, yeah. Just a hobby. We found a couple brushes, some prints, nothing too spectacular.”

“Not a day job, then. Where’d she work?”

“Oh, hey Torrington—the neighbor said she worked at a day care. We haven’t checked on it yet.”

“Alright, you mind giving them a call? What was its name?”

“You’ll never believe it, Procyk—Baby Watch.”

“Baby Watch? You’re serious?”

“I know, I almost chuckled when I heard it too.”

“Alright, Baby Watch it is. Give them a call, Charlie, see what you can find out about her. Who’s shooting this one? He here yet?”

“That’d be Joey, and no, not yet.”

“Good, guess it’ll be up to me. Watch out, Jim.”

“By all means, Procyk, go ahead.”

“You know, I’ve asked you guys a dozen times to call me Tony.”

“Yeah, sorry about that, just habit.”

“No problem, Jim. Jesus. How’s it look, Pete?”

“Looks like he fucking carved her up like a Christmas turkey, Tony. How’d the neighbors not hear any screaming? She had to have been screaming or doing something… damn. Jim, you know if there’s any family in the area?”

“Still looking into it.”

“Hurry it up.”

“You got it, Tony.”

“Alright, Pete, other than that beautiful reference that’s sure as shit gonna make us lose our dinners, what do you think?”

“Well, she’s got that pretty little thing on, there’s a bottle of vodka open on the kitchen table, a couple glasses. Figure she brings the guy back, they fool around, have some drinks, maybe she says something to him he doesn’t like or something, he slits her throat, cuts her up like that, cleans up the place, and leaves.”

“That’s pretty much what we were just saying, too.”

“Could be, Pete, yeah. We’re gonna have to scour this place for prints, see if we can get a match on anyone. Make sure to check the fridge, too. We’ve still got to wait on Joey, though. Where the Hell is he anyway? He should be here by now.”

“Who knows? The kid’s probably stuck in traffic somewhere. Or, you know, maybe he’s taking a picture of some chick he’s trying to impress.”

“That kid sure is a trip.”

“Jim, enough with the chatter, you’ve got a job to do. And listen, Tony, why don’t you go ask the neighbor what happened and I’ll handle Joey and the prints and searching. You can start up on the canvas too when you’re done.”

“That works. You sure, Pete?”

“Yeah, I’ve got this.”

“Alright, but be sure to keep these guys in check—”

“Bite me, Procyk.”

“—I’ll be back in a bit. Oh, hey Joey, we were just talking about you. Where’ve you been?”

“Traffic. What’s the… holy crap.”

“What? Oh, yeah. It’s pretty bad.”

“Holy shit. Wow. Fuck. Torrington? You in the lead?”

“Yeah, me and Tony.”

“Joey, you treat my partner right. Make sure you come see me if you leave soon so I can get your impression and notes. Alright?”

“Okay, Tony. So, alright, Torrington, point me the way, man.”

“Sure—what do you got, Joey? Some kinda girl on the side or something….”

(Please come back later this week for the rest of Chapter Two!)