Detective Joseph Allen had an idea of the scene he was about to walk into. It was five in the morning, the older man had barely any time to wake up to be at the crime scene. His light brown hair was unbrushed and stuck up in random places. His clothes were slightly wrinkled, and he had an obvious stain on his white collared shirt, right on the breast pocket. He rubbed the sleep from his brown colored eyes.
The Smile Killer had struck again. This was the fourth "victim". If he could actually consider them all victims. The first two were convicted rapists with a long rap sheet. He assumed this one was the same. The Smile Killer was still a murderer, though. It was going to be a long day.
"Detective Allen!" A young deputy waved the detective over near the entrance to an alleyway. Allen didn't recognize this one. "Please follow me."
Allen started walking towards the alley. "What's the scene look like?" Allen asked, completely walking past the deputy into the alley.
The deputy stumbled, turning around after Allen, but caught himself and followed. "It's a bloody mess, sir. Whoever did this, really had it out for him."
Allen scoffed. "He didn't have it out for him. He's just a psychopath with a thirst for blood."
He approached a shaky woman. She looked as if she had finished crying not too long before he had arrived, as her eyes were still puffy and red. Allen examined the woman's matted blonde hair and the obvious track marks on her arms. The lady was most likely homeless and a druggie. She must've come across the body while dumpster diving. She hadn't noticed him walk up.
"Hello miss?." She jumped in surprise. " I'm detective Allen. I work with the Mocksville Police. I have a few questions to ask you."
She looked around nervous as if she thought he was going to arrest her if she said something wrong. "He-hey." Allen could tell that she didn't really want to talk. She started to fidget with her hair. Twirling it between her fingers. "Wh-what do ya wanna know?" She looked him up and down.
With one eyebrow raised, he began to ask his questions. "What's your name?"
"Candy." The name didn't surprise him.
"Can you tell me how you came across the body? Isn't it a bit early to be in an alleyway?" He motioned around him as he spoke.
" I wake up early." she said with a snarky attitude. He could tell now that she didn't really care for law enforcement. She looked side to side then answered his question. " I was cutting through the alley to go to my friend's house. She lives on the next road over." She pointed down the alley in the direction of the body. Her finger was barely able to stay pointing in one direction.
"Did you see anyone in the area? Or leaving the alley by chance?"
"Don't you think I would've told the last pig-" she paused, "I mean cop if I had? Of course I didn't see anyone."
"Alright I think that's all I need to ask. Why don't you hang out here real quick. I want to get your contact information before you go. Just in case I need to ask you something else."
She rolled her dull blue eyes in annoyance. "Fine, I'll wait here."
Allen turned, "Deputy, please get this lady's information."
"Yes sir!" The all too eager man almost skipped up to her.
Newbies these days. Allen thought, as he walked to the crime scene.
There were forensic experts documenting the scene with cameras. It was an absolute blood bath. The man on the ground was unrecognizable with his face slashed from ear to ear. In a way, Allen almost felt sorry for him. It must've been agonizing to go through all this torture.
He walked around the perimeter of the scene trying to look from different angles. His eye caught something. On the side of the dumpster there was a strange blood smudge. He had to get closer.
Allen quickly slipped on a pair of blue latex gloves. He couldn't contaminate the scene. He carefully walked closer to the dumpster, avoiding the pools of blood all over. He stared at the blood smudge. He made a mistake, Allen cheerfully thought. It was a partial fingerprint. This was the best evidence they had found yet. Maybe now they could make a partial match to someone in the database.
"Hey!" Allen motioned a forensic examiner over, "get this print off of here." He paused, " And don't mess the print up!"
"Yes sir!" the expert did as he was told.
Allen quickly stood and retraced his steps out of the scene. This was a big find, and he couldn't wait to check the partial in the system. Things might be turning around from here.
"Deputy." He shouted to the entrance of the alley. "I have to stop at a few places. Make sure all the evidence files are on my desk when I get to the station."
"Yes sir! How long will you be sir?"
"It might be a few hours. Just have it all there." Without a response, Allen walked out of the alley to his car. He couldn't believe the luck he had. He couldn't wait to tell her about it. Today was going to be a better day than he thought.