Chapter 8 Malgog

Just outside of Kansas, three bodies are located on the roadside. No identifications on either of the women, one was stationed a little further from the others. Close to Malgog. A truck driver reported to the police saying he had gone to piss and stretch his legs when he found the two bodies, the third body was merely coincidental.

Dana and the team flooded and locked the area, the man in question, who found the bodies was leaning against his truck. A cigarette between his black lips. He took a whiff of it and started at Dana approaching him. He threw it on the ground and crushed it with his timber boots. He looked skeptical. Dana took a good look at him before she reached where he stood, putting his shaky hand in his pants.

"I'm sorry officer but I ain't got nothing to tell you." The man mumbled before Dana asked him anything.

"What's your name?"

"Richard Jones, look ma'am I'm sorry but I don't want any trouble. I should be driving this load to the border now, or I will get in trouble with my boss." He said, his hands reaching to tie his hair with a band. He rubbed his nose and smacked his mouth.

Dana did not assume he was responsible for the crime, although he fidgeted a lot and rubbed his eyes or nose. It did not rule him out completely.

"Do you want to tell me what happened? What did you say to the officer?"

"I parked on the side of the road, I was going to take a piss, I was also tired from driving. So I was taking a rest and then I saw the two bodies. I did nothing but call the police and here we are now."

"Have you ever seen those girls?"

"No ma'am." He reached for his pockets and whipped up another cigarette, he lit it and took a drag.

"Can I be excused now?" He asked blowing the air out. Dana grimaced and nodded. She knew whoever committed the murder was the same guy she was hunting for. She found the markings on the girls.

What disturbed her greatly was the third body that was discovered a few distances away. Mummified. Completely a horrendous sight. It seemed as though she had been left to die years ago and no one had discovered her. However, on close inspection the positioning of the body was strange. It would have appeared as though she had just been dumped in that location after a while.

The three bodies were taken to the hospital for autopsy. Dana left Richard by his truck and went to where Phillip stood.

"Do you think it's the same guy Dana?" He asked.

Dana glanced at him, her stare painfully showing annoyance. Phillip gulped and nodded to himself.

"Yeah, I thought so too." He mumbled when Dana gave him no answer.

Dana watched the forensic team take pictures and videos of the crime scene, nothing seemed to make sense. The blood of the two victims was still fresh on the ground, no item was left behind. No wallet, no hair clip, no ID. She had nothing. Missing persons report data was increasing each day, death reports were also increasing. She now had more than just three bodies. She was working with a lot and yet had no idea where to begin.

She was still waiting for Rupert to call her, it had been a week and he was yet to give her his stand. Going back to the first cases proved futile, with no results from the tests, no clues about their guy. No truck registered at the DMV. It was as though their guy was watching them fail as he dumped more bodies.

"Dana I think they might take us off this case," Phillip said they were walking towards Dana's car.

"Why?" She asked.

"We're not doing anything about it. I guess they want to bring in the big guns to handle it."

Dana hummed her thoughts far away from what Phillip was saying. If they wanted to bring in another team, she would not be opposed to working with them. Why would they need her off the team, she was only starting. What would they help with? Finding more clues? She doubted it, her team had done everything they could. Still, no one came forward with information about the guy.

Now, three bodies have been found. One mummified to crisp, and the two resembling the two first cases. Maybe if they had the technology to separate the DNA material, then that would be of big help. Otherwise, it would just be a waste of resources.

"Are you even listening to me?" Phillip snapped his fingers in front of her face. She glared at him, he retracted his hand and sighed.

"You can't keep working like this Dana. I know you think you can handle this alone but you need help. Stop pushing me away." Phillip sighed. As long as he had known Dana and worked with her, he knew how much she loved being alone, she would rather work on a case alone than with a team. She wouldn't make it obvious but it was possible to tell when you worked with her. She became, closed-off.

"Phillip just drop it, if they want us off the case fine. We can work on other cases, if it's possible to join the teams so the search is wide then better. Just drop it." She snapped.

Phillip just smiled at her, "Now, that's a good idea, I should tell chief that. It would be better if we had more investigators." Dana sighed.

"Is there a bar around here you can drop me off at? I would like to get a drink. " Dana said.

"Yeah sure," They were entering Tapas. The drive took the whole day, from Tapas to Malgog. Phillip stopped in front of a crooked bar. The door looked like it was stationed there by ten ten-year-olds.

"This old shack?" She asked twisting her face in disgust.

"Trust me, and you wouldn't want anywhere where the media will bombard you with questions I believe."

"Fine, sure. Call me later when you hear anything."

"Sure, you'll find your way home, right? Or should I come to pick you up?"

"I'll be fine," Dana mumbled and walked out of the car and into the bar.