POV: Lucas "Lancas" Lacey
Ring Ring
Lacey answered it while remaining in his seat, lazily stretching one arm toward the table while his other stayed wrapped around the wine glass.
[Lacey Whosky voice]
"This is Lancas Lacey speaking..."
[Martine rushed words mixed with fear]
"Lacey, man... It's me, Martine! Listen... He's back... He is back, Lucas."
[Lacey firm voice]
"That psycho Tavish Freaking Todd is back?
How do you know... Martine?"
[Martine answering with slowed, breathy words]
"A new murder. Fitting in his profile. The victim was a supposed or alleged classmate years ago..."
Martine's voice suddenly rises, swelling with a shot of adrenaline and confidence.
"THIS IS YOUR CHANCE, LACEY!"
[Lacey with growing determination]
"I'm on my way, Martine.
Let's get this bastard to justice."
He stood from the couch with a tired grunt, flicking the TV off using the remote on the cushion behind him. The screen blinked into silence. Lacey set down the glass and grabbed his coat.
<30 Minutes Later>
Lacey walked straight to the taped-off investigation zone. Two cops stood outside, one on the left nonchalantly biting into a bright pink donut, the other holding a slightly crumpled notepad.
[Martine energetic voice as Lacey approached]
"Morning, Lacey! Good to see ya back in investigation.
You think it's him again? Is he back?"
[Lacey casual voice with a mix of curiosity]
"I don't know, Martine.
Why now?
Why wait for all these years to pass... for him?"
He brushed past the two officers and made his way toward the old front door, the wood swollen slightly from years of humidity. The tape fluttered lightly in the breeze.
Lacey stepped into the elevator, the flickering light above him humming like a dying wasp.
The door opened, and he turned left, eyes scanning the hallway.
Lacey nodded but said nothing as he ducked under the tape and stepped inside the room.
Lacey stepped in closer, his shoes sticking slightly to the drying blood.
[Lacey — staring with a firm, hoarse voice]
"What an absolute mess... Looks like there was a struggle.
The victim fought back.
But Tavish Todd...
He'd never let that happen.
This is amateur work..."
He squatted down, eyes scanning the arms, neck, shoulders, and face of the victim.
"Eleven stab wounds... and a knife to the head.
It's almost a recreation of the first scene years ago...
Is this shit a freaking copycat wannabe?"
He stood and turned right into the small kitchen. The counter was a disaster utensils scattered, one knife conspicuously missing from its block. A red trail stained the sink's edge.
Lacey leaned in, analyzing it with a squint.
[Lacey standing and observing]
"There's a missing knife...
And a lot of blood on the utensils.
This might've been the first weapon.
This is starting to look familiar...
Did they do the exact same thing before?"
He slowly wiped a greasy layer of dust from the nearest wall with his hand. The smudged grime gave way to something darker.
[Lacey speaking evenly]
"A bloody trail of handprints.
What a sloppy way to clean the scene...
Seems like he got himself hurt, too."
He paused, staring longer, then stood tall and exhaled through his nose.
"This is not him, is it...?
Like I said this is some amateur wannabe.
I've seen enough."
Lacey exited the apartment with slow, purposeful steps, pushing past the yellow tape. He took the elevator back down and walked outside.
[Jay Bakee approaching with excited energy, mic in hand]
"I'm Jay Bakee, live for Channel 10 News!
Detective Lancas Lacey
Is the Masked Devil actually back?!
Will he kill again and again after all these years?!"
[Lacey half annoyed, brushing past]
"You hyenas are fast...
No. Tavish Todd ain't back.
There's no reason to be panicking.
Now get lost, would ya?"
He stepped around the camera guy, ignored a second question yelled after him, and made his way to his brown car. The engine coughed to life, and he pulled away from the scene, disappearing down the street.