Hamilton Inn and Suites

  Room 102

  The Asbury's temporary home during renovations

  Mr. Asbury paces back and forth in the suite's enormous living room. Mrs. Asbury is seated at the room's ornately decorated table. Detective Mackey's right hand is on the sobbing woman's left shoulder.

  "Carmen did have a guy who was seriously into her once," Mr. Asbury says. "Freakishly into her. An older guy named Max. He met her at a job fair. She said he was always going on and on about them being a match made in heaven because of their mixed heritage. He told her something weird like 'a half and a half equals a whole'. Or some weird damn thing like that. But Carmen hasn't spoken about him in a long time."

  "How long is a long time, Mr. Asbury?" Mackey asks. "From some of what we've been able to piece together...The Aquarius Killer stalks his victims for a long time. He plans his kills perfectly. We need to know what you know about this Max fella."

  "I don't know much," Mr. Asbury replies, whirling in James' direction. "They met at a job fair. They both got the job. He used to hit her up on Skype, sometimes in the middle of the night. Asked her to do things for him. Inappropriate things. She refused. That's all I can tell you, Detective Mackey."

  "We're just trying to get to the bottom of what happened to your daughter," Deputy Newsome says in defense of Detective Mackey.

  "Yes, Henry. Calm down," Ms. Asbury mutters, wiping her nose and eyes with a thin pink handkerchief. "They're only trying to find out who murdered our little baby, my Carmen."

  "Well, they're not going to find out chasing ghosts hundreds of miles away. You gonna chase after this Max character too? Run halfway across the country again?" Mr. Asbury roars through clenched teeth.

  "I know you may not agree with my methods, Mr. Asbury, but I have to go where the leads send me," James says.

  "And where exactly are your leads leading you to, Detective?" Mr. Asbury spits back. "This murdering freak killed three girls...Including my daughter...In two months. Maybe it's time this case had a new detective. One who actually knows what the hell they're doing!"

  "Mr. Asbury," Detective Mackey utters softly.

  "Henry, stop! Just stop it!" Mrs. Asbury sobs at the same time.

  "No, Alison! I won't stop! If memory serves me, Sheriff Northrop and the mayor are both up for reelection soon. I'm sure the handling...Or mishandling of this case will have a major effect on our leadership going forward. I want my daughter's killer found, Detective Mackey! I don't care how it has to happen. If you're not up to the task...I'll bring down pressure on your department...And the sheriff's department to replace you. You'll wish you never crossed me."

  "Henry...Shut up!" Mrs. Asbury screams, jumping out of her seat. "Just shut up! We never would have taken that damn trip if you hadn't insisted. Carmen would be safely in her apartment cramming for exams or watching that dumb mutt of hers...If it wasn't for you! It's your fault my little baby is dead. They're doing the best they can! So just...Shut up!"

  Dave and James exchange uncomfortable glances. Dave motions with his eyes toward the front door of the hotel room. Mackey nods almost imperceptibly.

  "We'll come back at a better time, Mrs. Asbury," Mackey says. "We are doing the best we can."

  Detective Mackey moves past Mrs. Asbury, lightly touching her left shoulder. The grieving mother is now consumed by sobbing. Mr. Asbury goes to her side, but she wriggles free of his grip and walks away. Mrs. Asbury quickly disappears into the large bathroom. Detective Mackey peers back over his right shoulder once before shutting the hotel room door.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

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  Across Town

  Laverne's Seafood, Bar and Grille

  Madison Kelley removes her apron and balls it up, using the strings to keep the apron small and compact. She tosses her hair over one shoulder and grins at a passing customer. The older gentleman nods and then continues on toward his seat at the end of the bar.

  "See ya tomorrow, Jackie. My shift is over. I'm gonna find Nick and clock out. I have to work my other job in two hours," Madison says with a tiny wave at her coworker.

  "Okay. See you later," Jackie replies, typing a customer's order into the register. "Nina's already in the back. So I'm good if there's a sudden rush. Careful getting home, okay?"

  "Yeah, sure," Madison says, hurrying to find the manager and grab her things.

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  Twenty-four minutes later

  Hamilton Inn and Suites

  Room 69

  Madison arrives at her tiny efficiency apartment tired and ready for a few minutes of slumber. She enters the room and locks the door behind her. Shuffling toward the small kitchenette, Madison turns on the stove. The tiny pot on the stove's surface will soon contain her dinner, a couple of boiled eggs.

  Madison groans as she realizes she forgot to buy a loaf of bread before coming home. She wrenches open the mini-fridge and becomes even more depressed. She is out of almost everything. Except ketchup, relish, a couple of slices of cheese, and four hotdogs. Maybe she'll make an omelet instead.

  "I'll never get any sleep if I spend fifteen minutes making damn omelets. Just eggs. Screw everything else," Madison mutters to herself.

  She places two eggs in the pot of water and sets the stove's temperature. Dragging her feet, Madison returns to the other side of the apartment and drops down onto the twin bed. She is asleep within three minutes.

  Madison awakens to subtle motion on the bed. Blinking drowsily, she opens her eyes to find a large figure towering over her. Madison's eyes grow wide and she utters a surprised yelp.

  "Hey! Get the hell off--" Madison begins to say.

  Her words are cut off as the large man presses a gloved hand to her face, pushing her head into the pillows. His other hand grips the front of her blouse, as he straddles her middle. Madison thrashes on the bed, hitting the much larger man with her balled up fists. She screams around his gloved hand, which slips upward as she continues to thrash.

  "Help. Someone help me! Get off! Please. GET OFF OF ME!"

  The large man chuckles and removes his hand from Madison's face. He settles for making every attempt to undress her, since his cover is already blown. Madison bends her right knee and rams it into the large man's back. The hit barely fazes him. He removes one hand from the front of Madison's blouse and slaps her across the face. The shock of the slap is enough to make Madison gasp, but she continues to wriggle madly under the giant man's bulk.

  Reaching into a pocket, the man retrieves a knife. He waves it threateningly before lowering it to the third button on Madison's blouse. A loud knock on the door freezes his hand as he draws the knife upward, displacing the third button. A thickly accented voice wafts through the door.

  "Hello. Is everything okay in there? Miss, are you okay?"

  "Help!" Madison cries out, against her better judgment. After all, the man does have a knife at her chest.

  The large man's face contorts and he places the knife against Madison's throat. For the second time, he covers her mouth.

  "Me and my lady are just having a discussion! Go the hell away!" the man growls through clenched teeth.

  "That doesn't sound like a discussion, Sir! Maybe I should speak to the lady," the voice behind the door says.

  "Go the fug away! Or I'll give you a little of what she's getting, you dumb fug!" the man growls.

  "That's it! I'm calling the police!" the accented voice says.

  Hurried footsteps are heard as the person behind the door retreats. The large man removes the knife from against Madison's throat. He traces it down the side of her face and hovers the knife over her bosom, just under the fourth button of her blouse. A dour expression distorts the attacker's features and anger flashes in his eyes.

  "Good! But in the meantime..."

  Madison shivers violently as the large man lowers his upper body and kisses her. Using his free hand, he grips Madison's chin, his kiss growing more desperate and hungry. Madison remains completely still as the large man slakes his appetite for her lips. Remembering the Aquarius Killer, and the other mutilated young women, she hopes the police will find anyone alive when they come.