Calling Card: 'A-Z' Serial Killer

Chapter 6: Apartment Death

When I gave my report to Detective Isaiah Ferguson, my superior. He was utterly disappointed. He's difficult to please, and it appeared that I was about to lose my job.

He told me to look around the apartment of the "prime suspect" while he looked over the forensics and my report. My life's a mess, God.

I returned to Dr. Trafelski's apartment. I might find clues that will help me solve this case and avoid being laid off.

A firefighter stopped me from entering but as I showed my badge, he let me through. I inspected her apartment.

Her apartment had looked damage, her once neat sofa was ripped, and part of the walls were yellow. It really got messed up.

"Please be cautious as it hasn't been cleared up yet, detective," the firefighter added as I entered her rooms."

When I entered her bedroom, the windows were not shattered, and there were no signs of a break-in. The front door knob, on the other hand, was scratched, as if she was rushing out of the apartment. This was indeed a murder and not a suicide.

However, how would I explain it to my superiors? I had no proof that this was a murder, I reasoned. If I showed the scratches, I wouldn't know whether they were recent or if they had been there for a long time.

I attempted to examine more of the interior, looking for evidence that could point to this being a murder. My last unchecked location was the kitchen.

I hoped for evidence to help me get through this, and eventually...I discovered a gas leak at the bottom of her stoves. That was all the proof I needed.

I wore my gloves and picked up a card that was lying on the gasoline soaked floor. It said, "You called the detective, now death called for you -'A-Z'." I knew it, She saw something important.

If only I had arrived a few more minutes, We could have avoided this. Now, this killings will continue again...

After snapping a photo of the state of the kitchen, I hurried over to the police station.

...

My second night at work had already come. Detective Ferguson had chosen to postpone my conviction because the board thought my theory had validity. However, if I don't produce results, I will undoubtedly be dismissed.

...

A few hours ago...

I made an effort to convince them that Edna Trafelski was a victim of that serial killer, but they insisted that I provide sufficient proof.

I showed them the calling card and the photos I had taken. I also tried to describe the murder's specifics which I will add to my next report.

...

I received the autopsy report as I requested, Harper handed it to me by my the front door.

I was exhausted when I went to lay on my bed and decided not to take my nightly shower. Now that I think about it, her name actually began with an "E." which was the next letter in the serial killer's list.

Knowing that I wouldn't be able to fall asleep anytime soon, I leapt back up from the bed and immediately made another report.

...

Los Angeles Police Department

POLICE REPORT

Case No: 22-1-00044

Date: 10 July

Detective In Charge: Vivian Claymore

Victim: Edna Trafelski

Witness: None

Time of Death: 11:06 AM

Prime Suspect: A-Z(Unknown)

Details of the Incident:

At the specified time and date, Edna Trafelski, a scientist at Salazar Research Laboratory, was discovered dead in her apartment. Firefighters didn't show up until 11:10 AM.

She had numerous burn scars all over her body, and there were multiple signs of gas leaks in her apartment. So burning is what ultimately killed her. Sadly, there were no witnesses present when the murder took place. Surveillance cameras were tilted, so no camera footage was discovered.

Conclusion:

The proof was adequate. Our serial killer, however, has no known identity because they had been carrying out flawless killings.

Edna Trafelski was a prime suspect in a recent homicide of her colleague Diego Martinez. But the leading detective refuted it and got a full acquittal. It is to be believed that her recent death was meant to keep her from speaking. Coincidentally, her name happened to start with an 'E'.