Chapter 4

Alex was on his way home when he noticed something following him. He tried to miss it. IT being the most horrible and strange thing he's even seen. Had the setting sun still been a little bright, he surely would miss it but of course, the sun would play on him, encouraging him to bring the thing that was following him. He decided to ignore it. Maybe it would just stop there where it would sooner than later find its owner's house. But when Alex looked again to his rearview mirror, he was surprised that it is still following him.

As if there's nothing he must do other than carrying what he assumed as a canine, Alex stopped the engine and went to get the dog. When he tried to touch it, thankful that it won't bite him, he felt a warm asphalt on his fingers. The dog looked to him in gratefulness that he has saved its life.

Alex carried the canine to his car and placed a rag in the chair before positioning the dog above it. He hopes it would not freak inside the car and he pulled himself to the driver's area.

Upon reaching his apartment, he directly put the dog in the living room but as what he did in the car, Alex used a rag to cover the floor. He called his veterinarian friend and ask him to pick up the canine. For the time being, he did all his best to remove the asphalt from its paws. *That must have hurt*Alex thought. Minutes later, the veterinarian picked up the dog.

Alex was left, thinking of the changes in Paradiso City. For the last days, it was bombed with crime of Jennifer. After the first investigation with the decease, Alex was then interviewed by Paradiso City's news publication. Although reluctant at first, he agreed to share some information to the writer which happens to also be the publisher. As someone would see, Paradiso City is a small town which means that the staffs under the field of journalist are few. There were only five of them, in this case only one staff remained because either the rest resigned or where out of town for vacation.

*Lynard Scott appeared just after Catharine decided to go home, his face lackadaisical. He adjusted the rim of his glasses and went to where Alex is standing. After asking permission from Alex, Lynard looked to what pieces of information he can get from the crime scene. Thankfully to his content, the body was not yet removed not until twenty minutes later. Lynard took photos from every angle. He could see that blood were even in leaves and garbage, leaving the place mysterious.*

*"No shit, the man or people behind the murder is lunatic." Lynard Scott announced later after taking a look at the corpse. He also asked for additional information from Alex to which the latter agreed after seconds of reluctance. Finally deciding it would be better to share information that would be shared to public, Alex cooperated.*

*"Believe so too. It was impossible to get witnesses, well aside from the one person which we think has mental problem. Aside from that, no witness can be found."*

*"Woman?" Lynard asked.*

*"Yes, it was a woman. Catharine tried to talk her out. She gave us clues anyway. As what I've remembered; blue eyes, man, black, Eency Weency song. I remembered Catharine being shaken momentarily because she heard that Eency Weency song and right after, the only witness was nowhere to be found." Alex tried to explain what he remembered. They tried to look for the only witness to bring her to custody but in the end, they didn't find her.*

*"What other material did you found from the victim?"*

*"We found the victim's phone but it did not contain any text messages or any information that could link the victim to its perpetrator. We decided to relinquish it to the laboratory for fingerprint examination."*

*"That nursery rhyme plays a role in the crime but I don't think it would be put to the newspaper, don't you think?" Lynard asked. Alex turn his head indicating no. For some reason he held back the nursery rhyme part. "I assume the result would be given tomorrow, yes? With that fingerprint I mean."*

*"We think so. For the mean time, I'll try to get background information of the victim and see if we could interview its parents."* *Was the last thing Alex said before he helped in keeping the victim's body to the morgue. There were cake of dried blood from where Jennifer lays.*

Turning his laptop on, Alex decided to document the happenings in Paradiso City. From the time they found the body of Jennifer to the missing sister of Catharine. He thinks of the broken future of the victim, how hard it must be for her mother to live alone with the thought of her daughter's murder. That must be so hard specially for a parent. He knew how hard it would be to lose loved one. He's been there. Years ago, he had lost his father and since then he was in charge of taking care of the rest family members.

Now, Catharine's sister disappeared and God knows it must be hard knowing that anytime now, the culprit was wandering in the town, taking what it has to take from anyone who is hindering their way of killing people. Alex knew that the disappearance of women is connected to the death of Jennifer. He's certain for it. What he hopes is that Carmela would somehow manage to put herself away from the grip of the lunatic. *Let's just hope that's not the case.* Alex thinks before drifting to a lonely sleep.

_________

Paradiso City's publication sat between the PCPD and Vehicle shop. Catharine went to inquire inside. She wasn't going to published works. She came to read documents for the past two years or so. She needed much information than what she already had.

Mr. Lynard Scott, a bespectacled old man sat on the desk. He is reading a newspaper with headline: A 21-year-old woman brutally murdered. The case of Jennifer is taking the whole town into curiosity and fear.

Scott is a man in his sixties, with evident wrinkles in his forehead. As what Catharine found out, Scott spent his 35 years reviewing works and publishing newspapers.

Catharine went to greet him. "Hi, Mr. Scott. I want to review the documents for the past two years or so. I might figure out the connection between Jennifer's death and other missing women." Catharine explained.

The latter nodded in agreement and led Catharine to a room. It contains piles of past and recent publication of Paradiso City. Scott pointed to the left side where words are written in bold; Past publication. Scott said he would go outside of the room to see if anyone's coming. Catharine was relieved because she needs time to focus on reading. Not that Scott would disturb her anyways. It's just easier for her to read without glances of other people.

She snatch the newspaper at the topmost part. Skimming through the pages, Catharine looked for familiar words that might help. It was a year ago; June 18,2018. *An 18-year-old girl was reported to be missing by a teacher, the article reads. **She was last seen loitering outside the cafeteria of the school. The teacher, Ms. Lila Mendez, was hysterical that a girl was missing.*

This is odd, Catharine thought, Ms. Lila Mendez was also the first person who found out that Mina, the first victim who disappeared, was missing. She went on to review other news. This is the second missing person; Akira Bernades. Its roommate, Kesya Travis found the victim and reported it.

Catharine put to her jacket the notes she had taken from the news. Hopefully she can go interview the people. Confident that she did not let a single information slipped through her sight, Catharine leave the room. Outside, Lynard Scott was fidgeting his phone.

"I saw the headlines. I take it you interviewed Alex?" She asked. Lynard looked to her through his lenses.

"Yes, I did. Also, he told me that you brought the victim's phone to the laboratory? And did you get the result yet?" He asked her after he kept his phone in his pocket.

"Yes, Deputy Maxwell received the information and lets me read the content. THERE was an additional fingerprint on it, as what I assumed, and it possibly came from the killer. That's what we have now." Catharine explained, emphasizing the word, 'there'.

"Did you get what you have to?"

"Yeah, thank you. I am hoping to interview these persons by tomorrow. You see, I was busy today knowing my sister disappeared." She manage to speak through almost teary eyes. She held back her tears. This isn't the perfect time to let her emotions get the better of her. What Carmela needs now is a valiant family, ready to look for her no matter the circumstances.

"Your sister disappeared? Out of all people?" Lynard thought of saying the attacker must be trying to hurt Catharine by taking important persons but he held the thoughts back. For all he knew, Catharine was perturbed by the town's problem and her sister than anyone could have imagined. Must be tough for her.

"I am hoping to find her immediately." It was the least Catharine could speak before driving her way to the house. She needs shower and good sleep.

First thing she did when she returned home was strip all her clothes and absorb all her thoughts to the tub. Closing her eyes, she exhaled all the happenings in Paradiso. She felt the need to take a hot shower to release her trains of thoughts. Deputy Maxwell had told her to take a quick break from what was happening so she would not have to stress herself out but she just have a feeling she doesn't need break. Her sister could be anywhere unsafe. That thought alone make her heart sunk.

Deciding she's already okay with the shower, she slipped though her robe and sat at the living room to sip coffee. From this view, she could see the calm of the ocean. She needed that escape to cool her mind. Picking up the magazine, she read some contents of it that could somehow drift her attention but all it had was possible interior design for the house. It piqued her interest at first but soon she found herself bored.

She went to her room to get dress. Slipping on the sweater Carmela gave her last October, she decided to sit for a moment in the bed and absentmindedly get the book she was reading but when she tried to travel her hands on the table, she felt something warm. Thinking she spilt her coffee she forgot she brought, Catharine averted her gaze to the table. Fright engulfed her whole system. She even tried to blink her eyes to assure herself this is not her mind trying to play tricks on her but when she tried to look again it was still there. She did not know how it had happen but she is looking to eyeballs of human. It has little drips of blood around it. Beside it was a note saying, "I told you. Get lost. Now your sister volunteered to be the next victim."

Catharine found her own body stiffened. It's there, the eyes are there. The culprit managed to put it there, that's for sure. And if ever it is observing her, it would prove to itself that Catharine was afraid. But she just can't let that happen, can she? With heart in her throat, she dialed a number that she believes could help her at the moment. She doesn't want to be here right now, let alone sleep in this place knowing the killer could see her asleep. She knew she should be brave but this made her sunk in fear.

"Hello?" The other person answered after three rings Catharine somehow manage to count. She thought she lost her mind.