Killer Graves

Chapter 4

The rain is just getting worse with time. I might not be able to go check out the crime scenes. I turned to lie on my couch when the next thing you hear is a loud banging noise coming from the upstairs apartment. Looks like my landlord brother is awake and is trying to move around. I grabbed the TV remote off of the coffee table to turn on the TV. While the TV was coming to life, I started to grab my laptop from the charger next to the couch to start doing some research and reading about these cases. The TV is on the news. It looks like the rain is not going to let up for the next two days. This could give me time tomorrow to go back to the embalming room to see if the killer left anything behind.

The screen changes from the weather to the main anchor talking about Kayla's death today with our high school graduation photos on the screen as they talk about what she left behind and the new rules that are in effect with the killer still being on the loose. The news shows that the mayor has decided to choose to do a direct cremation, so no one has to see a closed casket. There will be a memorial service for her tomorrow. I don't think the town will like me there.

I can just see the mayor using this as a political campaign to possibly become the next governor. I glanced at my phone and I realized that it was almost after midnight and I must have been so dazed from the whole day that the time just flew by. After setting everything back where it was and rushing to figure out what I was going to make quickly for dinner. I quickly made a bowl of ceral and tried to eat it, but after two bites I couldn't eat it anymore. I put all my dishes away and started to head to the bedroom to get in my pajamas and to fall asleep.

It's the next morning. I woke up to my alarm playing one of my favorite band's songs. I stretched to turn off my alarm. It is a godly sin to be up at three am to get to work. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have to be at work by 5am to help prep the parlor room for potential wakes as well as handle the mound of paperwork that is on my desk in the corner of Michael's office. It normally is plot purchases and updating the death certificate archives. It seems so strange having to walk the graveyard every morning to verify the plots correctly.

I started to get ready for the day by gathering all my stuff to get in a shower. I also grabbed my black pants and long sleeved purple shirt. After about thirty minutes in the shower and getting dressed, I headed to the living room to get my car keys and bag to head out to the funeral home. Once, in my little bug, I started to drive over to work.

Just a few minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot to the left of the funeral home. What a surprise to see Michael awake at four in the morning standing outside with that creepy smile of his.

"Good morning Reyna, I figured that we could walk the grounds together so you could teach me the history of our forever residents."

I hadn't gotten the chance to even put one foot outside the door before getting greeted by Michael. "Of course we can, but first I need coffee, and we have to get all the plots that have been purchased recently before we walk the grounds."

I started to walk up to the house with my belongings as Michael started to follow me through the parlor and was helping me get everything together. He started to walk to the downstairs kitchen to start the keruig to make me an iced mocha coffee. I know everyone thinks it is weird that I will only drink iced coffee. I refused to try it hot. I always loved the cold. It suits me more than you know.

"Okay Michael, here is what we do. When you are working with plot paperwork you need to look at the average age of the grave."

"So, this is how you find the plot that needs a new resident to bring out the old history." "The newest plot was Mr. Lester on the east lawn in the eighth section, the newest section. Now we are looking for the next section, which is the oldest section."

I had to stop for five minutes and take a new look at the map. No, this can't be. I am seeing things. "It's the crime scene section."

Michael looked shocked as well. We both quickly started running to the section to double-check the paper work. Once outside, we started to walk through the mausoleum in the center of the cemetery, and we stumbled upon the most horrific scene ever.

The floors are painted in red paint with a weird looking symbol. Ashes are everywhere in a circle with a melted candle in each. In the middle is a woman with her arms scarred with cuts and bruises, and she is missing her head and fingers on each hand. I had stopped breathing for five minutes just to process everything. I started to run away. I made it to the funeral home to grab my phone to call 911.

"Hey, it's Reyna. I am at the funeral home. We have another huge problem. Someone is dead in our mausoleum. I believe it is a woman. She is missing her head."

I couldn't stop shaking so badly. This is the worst murder that there has been so far. Michael comes running in like nothing has fazed him. He had no sweat dripping down his body. He is not even shaking with adrenaline or trying to catch his breath. Where I look like I'm going through a withdrawal trying to find my next dose. I just fell to the ground. The police started to show up and started to follow Michael to the mausoleum, while I sat on the floor and started to question why the murderer was using the cemetery as a dumping ground.

Everything was happening so fast. The police started taping everything up again. The media started to swarm the gates. All of the town is standing there with shame on their faces. One of the news reporters started to question the mayor.

"Mayor, do you think that this killer is the same one as the one who sadly took Kayla's life?"

"Why, yes, I do believe so."

Detective Nicole started to walk towards me. "Reyna, I have some questions to ask you. Are you the one that found the body?" I nodded my head. I couldn't talk at all with everything going on. "Reyna, I am going to give you a day to collect yourself, then I will need you to come to the station."