Chapter 2 Kim vs. The hot date

(For those who skipped chapter 1, a woman was raped and murdered by someone she appered to know. Her nipple was removed and she was soaked in bleach)

*Kimberly*

I have just gotten out of the shower when my phone start buzzing. Fumbling to pick it up without dropping the towel, which is actually silly as I am alone I forget to see who it is. "Kimberly Clarke speaking".

"No need to be so formal".the voice on the other end says with a small laugh.

It is my partner from work, Chris. He is an FBI agent and I work as a forensic investigator and victim expert with the bureau. "Morning Chris. What's up ?"

"Morning Kim. Seems we got a murder up in the hills. A young woman, raped and killed. It is a very bad one, but beside for on the bed there is no sign of struggle". He says.

Knowing him, when he says it's bad, it is probably gruesome.

I start packing my stuff in a beat up messenger bag that I really should replace one of these days, holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder. "I am on my way. Text me the address".

"Sure thing Kim. See you in a bit then. I try to keep the locals from messing things up too much". He says, before he ends the call.

I get the rest of my things together, feeling pretty sure that I haven't forgotten anything important and get into my car, which is even older than the bag.

On my way there I stop to get coffee for me and Chris. I grab a chocolate chip cookie too, that has to make up for my missing breakfast.

When I arrive at the address there are a lot of nosy neighbours standing around outside on the street. I get a hold of a couple of the local guys and tell them to start asking around to find out if anyone has seen or heard anything unusual last night or have any information about the victim that could be useful.

"So fill me in, what do we have here". I ask Chris as I hand him his coffee.

I am slowly sipping from my own cup as I take in the scene. The stylish bedroom looks like something out of a glossy magazine or one of those tv series where people in their early twenties live like millionaires. Except from the bed of course, as it has the body of a young woman on it.

She is naked, her hands tied to the headboard above her head and her eyes are staring emptily up into the ceiling.

Chris takes a long sip from his coffee. "Judith Hale, twenty-nine years old. She was an actress, some smaller movies, nothing big. She has been raped quite brutally and strangled. Her left nipple is missing, it seems to have been gnawed off".

I nod, feeling a slight taste of bile in my throat, but I still walk over to look closer and take in the details. "She had a hot date last night. Probably with someone new. I think we should see if we can find out who her date was and get him in for questioning. If nothing else he might have seen or heard something".

"Okay Sherlock, how do you know that ?" Chris looks at me.

I smile knowingly. "Easily. Look at the underwear thrown on the floor. It is brand new and very sexy. And every part of her is waxed and polished. She was expecting or hoping for something, hence the hot date. And I saw a bouquet of fresh flowers in the hallway. The kind of flowers men give on a first date".

"You are right as always. I call it in and get them to check for her date. She is famous enough that it should be easy to find out who". Chris says getting his phone out calling it into the office.

I continue looking through the scene. Keeping my focus on the details while taking pictures and collecting evidence until,I am sure I haven't missed anything that could be of significance to solving this.

When I am done I let the coroner bag her and take her to the morgue for further investigation and tests.

When Chris and I arrive at the office we find director Alyssa Johnson waiting for us. She is a stern middle aged no nonsense kind of woman and I love working for her.

"We got the date waiting in room 4. It turned out to be easy to find him. He is some Well known actor apparently and they went to a very public charity event, so lots of pictures".

"Super ! We'll go have a chat with him then. Who is he ?" I ask, wondering if it is someone I know.

The director leads the way. "Well I don't know him, but I guess that means very little, his name is Noah Davies".

"Say what ?" Chris turns to look at the director, like he is sure she is lying. "Our main suspect is Poseidon ?"

I can't help but giggle at the director's expression as she says. "I have no idea what you are talking about, Agent Hart...isn't Poseidon a Greek God ?I mean he is a good looking man but..".

"In a movie series boss". Chris says. "He played Poseidon, won a lot of Awards... it doesn't matter of course".

The director's expression is no doubt what stopped him.

I know who he is of course and even if I do not know much about him as a person, I have to admit that I have a very hard time i gaining that he is behind this murder. He just doesn't seem the type. But of course you never know. The worst psychos are often the ones you would never suspect. The ones where the neighbours go: 'He was such a nice guy'.

Me and Chris walk into the room. He is sitting at the table, leaned back, long legs stretched out in front of him. He looks like he has been pulled right out of bed. He is wearing jeans and a slightly rumbled short sleeved button up. The poor buttons of his shirt threaten to burst from the pressure of his chest. His hair most definitely hadn't been combed but is a fluff of messy bed head curls.

"Good day Mr. Davies. We are happy you were able to come in and have a talk with us. I am agent Hart and this is our forensic investigator Kimberly Clarke". Chris says, shaking Noah's hand.

I step up to shake his hand too. He has big hands and a very nice smile, I involuntarily notice. "No problem, only happy to help. And please call me Noah. I could understand it has something to do with Judith, is she okay ?"

"Let me just turn on the recorder". Chris says and pushes the button to the recorder. Stating that this is a questioning, the date and the people present.

We have both sat down on the opposite side of the table. "So Mr Davies... Noah, you had a date with Miss Hale last night and you went to a charity event ?"

"Yes, that is right". He answers. He looks very relaxed for someone getting questioned by an FBI agent. I could just be an act though.

Chris continues. "And after the party you went to her house. She wanted to get frisky. It got heated but for some reason she suddenly changed her mind and wanted you to leave. But she had started it and you wanted what she had promised, so you took it anyway and it got a bit out of hand. You probably just wanted her to stop screaming right ? But you choked her".

"Excuse me ? What ?" Noah leans forward in his chair, staring at the agent. "Are you telling me that Judith got raped and killed ? And you think I did it ?"

"Yeah actually I do". Chris says, looking for Noah's reaction. "With experience I have come to find out that the most obvious suspect is usually also the right one".

Noah shakes his head. "Am I under arrest here ? Should I be getting my lawyer ?" He looks from Chris to me. Folding his arms on his chest, making those buttons work extra hard.

"No. You are not under arrest. Agent Hart here is getting a bit ahead of himself. We just want to ask you some questions. Like when you last saw Miss Hale ?" I say, sending Chris a glare telling him to shut up before Noah understandably refuses to talk to us.

Noah breathes out. "I saw her for the last time at the party. She wanted to go home. I wanted to stay. I already knew that there wouldn't be a second date. We just didn't click. As far as I know she went home alone to go to bed".

"And she didn't talk to anyone else ? Or about meeting with anyone ?" I ask him, carefully watching any little movement and expression.

He shakes his head again. "Nope. I got the feeling she was a bit disappointed I wouldn't come with her".

I ask him a lot of questions about the night and he answers them all with alacrity and grace. He is the perfect picture of a charming gentleman the whole time.

There is a knock on the door and the director comes in. She whispers something in Chris's ear and then she leaves again. Chris stands up. "I just received some new info. Mr Davies you are ..".