Chapter 40: The Human Skin Case 2

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: The Human Skin Case 2

This time, the situation was even worse. The discovery was made in a small grove of trees by a group of women on their way to catch a cheating spouse.

After some questioning, it turned out someone had used a disposable phone number to send an anonymous text to one of the women, claiming they’d seen her husband ducking into the grove with another woman.

The message even included an address and a blurry photo of the two from behind.

This woman’s husband was a known philanderer, often caught in the act yet utterly incorrigible.

So, when she once again rounded up her friends and stormed toward the grove, their furious procession drew quite a crowd.

Upon learning they were out to catch a cheater, a few bored onlookers decided to tag along.

Then, right in the middle of the grove, they found a large pit. When they peered inside, the onlookers who had followed them were so terrified they scrambled away, practically falling over themselves to get out of the woods.

Inside the pit were several bodies.

The scene was identical to the one in the minivan.

And because so many people had seen it, all sorts of photos and videos were already flying around online before the police even arrived.

The original post that had started all the speculation was once again bumped to the top.

"This was intentional." After hearing the full account, Heath Hale reached this conclusion almost without thinking.

’This is a blatant provocation!’

’It’s the killer declaring war on the police!’

"Everyone, get moving! This has blown up. The provincial department is sending colleagues from the major crimes unit to help with the investigation.

One week! A week at most! We have to catch this killer!" Just then, the chief burst through the door.

The impact of this case was too great. To avoid causing a wider panic, they had to solve it as quickly as possible!

One week was the longest extension they could get.

Just then, Zoe Sawyer’s phone rang.

She picked it up and saw it was the elderly lady from across the hall who had always looked out for her.

Back during the pandemic, the woman had worried that Sawyer wouldn’t be able to carry her supplies by herself and had her son help out.

"Aunt York, what’s wrong?" Watched and prompted by her colleagues, Zoe Sawyer answered the call and put it on speakerphone.

What came through the speaker was Mrs. York’s voice, choked with tears.

"Sawyer, you know some police officers, don’t you? My granddaughter—Joy—she’s missing!" Mrs. York sat in her living room, clutching her chest and sobbing.

Across from Mrs. York sat a middle-aged man, her son who worked on construction sites, with a little girl of a few years old nestled beside him.

The girl’s face was flushed, a fever-reducing patch stuck to her forehead. She looked lethargic.

It was clear she was still sick with a fever.

Zoe Sawyer was startled, then quickly tried to comfort her. "Aunt York, please don’t cry yet. Could it be that Joy was stressed from school and went to a classmate’s house?"

Mrs. York shook her head, crying as she explained in a choked voice, "I wish that were the case. At first, we also thought we were putting too much pressure on her, but she didn’t come home last night.

We only found out after calling all her friends and classmates that she didn’t even go to class yesterday! And Ann said she saw someone cover Joy’s mouth and drag her away!"

’Kidnapped right off the street?!’

Evan Keller rubbed the bridge of his nose. They hadn’t even solved this case, and now a new one had just landed on them.

Before Zoe Sawyer could ask any more questions, she heard Mrs. York continue, "This morning, weren’t there reports about bodies found in the suburbs? One of my old friends saw the photos and said a birthmark on one of the victim’s hands looks just like my Joy’s."

"Sawyer, could you help me? Could you go and see if it’s really my Joy? If it is, I..."

At this, Mrs. York could hold back no longer and broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Almost instantly, everyone who heard her words shot to their feet.

"We’re coming over right now. Aunt York, you stay right there at home. Don’t go anywhere, and don’t open the door for anyone unless it’s me!" Zoe Sawyer gave her urgent instructions and then hung up.

Then, looking at Evan Keller and the others, she said, "I need to go over and check on the situation."

The chief nodded. "You should. If it’s true, then that child, Ann, is our breakthrough!

If necessary, we need to bring them to the station for protection!"

Right now, there were surely many eyes on the police station. Any move they made would be noticed by the killer.

If the child named Ann really saw the killer, she could be targeted next.

Soon, the team to be sent to the Yorks’ residence was confirmed.

Zoe Sawyer, Sean Hughes, and Heath Hale, plus a few others to assist.

Sean Hughes was going because he had seen the second batch of bodies and had photos of their distinguishing features, which would help with the identification.

As for Evan Keller, he would stay at the station to continue reviewing surveillance footage and be ready to provide support at a moment’s notice.

"Should we take a different car?" Zoe Sawyer asked hesitantly, looking at the police car in front of them.

’Won’t we just draw more attention by going like this?’

Heath Hale shook his head. "That’s the point. We want to get their attention. We’re being too passive right now. If we make a big scene, someone impatient is bound to jump the gun."

If they couldn’t resist and made a move, they would leave a trail. Then the police could follow the breadcrumbs and find more evidence.

Since he put it that way, Zoe Sawyer said no more. She got in the car, and they sped toward their destination.

When Zoe Sawyer’s group entered Mrs. York’s home, the commotion attracted the attention of other neighbors.

When they crowded around, trying to see what was happening, they were blocked by two police officers stationed at the door.

"Police business. Please stay back."

While holding out their hands to block the curious crowd, the two officers at the door covertly scanned the onlookers for anyone acting suspicious.

And they did notice someone—a man at the very edge of the crowd, craning his neck to see, a panicked look on his face.

When the two officers’ gazes swept over him, he jerked his eyes away, lowered his head, and turned to go back into his own apartment.

They mentally noted his apartment number, deciding to go question him later.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Zoe Sawyer and the other two officers sat facing Mrs. York’s family of three.

Sean Hughes took the photos of Joy that Mrs. York handed him and carefully compared them with the photos of the victim’s distinguishing features that he had.

Then, with a grave expression, he nodded. "It’s a strong resemblance. Almost certainly a match. But we’ll still need to do a DNA test to confirm if it’s Joy."

The moment Sean Hughes said this, Mrs. York’s eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

She was revived after some quick first aid from the others.

When she came to, Mrs. York beat her chest and cried in anguish, "I never should have let her go to school by herself that day!

It’s all my fault! Why wasn’t it me who died!"