It was a breezy and sunny California morning with clear blue skies and perfect summer weather. Detective Bradley Mitchell arrived at the crime scene with several police cars and yellow tape blocking off the area. Deputy Lara Yates was waiting for him outside the yellow police tape, her arms crossed over her chest. He parked his Suburban behind one of the police cars, got out of the car and walked up to her.

"Detective Mitchell."

"What have we got here deputy?" he asked as he walked up to her.

"Teenager... Assault victim. A man walking his dogs came upon her this morning and alerted the police. It's not pretty," she warned him. Bradley him and noticed the man in his forties with his two Alsatians on their leashes, talking to another police officer who was busy taking down the details of his testimony. He climbed through the police line and looked at the lifeless girl lying on the ground. He knelt down beside her and looked around for every bit of detail he could find. The first thing he noticed was the bruises and cuts all over her arms as well as the deep cut on the left side of her waist, just below her ribcage.

"She put up a struggle and it looked like she was cut with something like a knife....or..." He stood up and looked around the area and noticed the dragging footprints in the dirt leading to he lifeless body. "She was still alive when she got here. Whoever tried to kill her must be living nearby."

"You're sure about that?"

"I don't know..."

"Does that look like it was done with an ordinary blade to you?"

Bradley squinted as he looked at the cuts. "We'll let Edward figure it out. He's the expert in this."

Later...

Bradley just arrived back from the coroner's office when Lara Yates called him into her office. "We have another victim."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"I'm not. She's in my office."

"She's here?" Bradley stepped into Lara's office to find a terrified girl sitting by the desk. "Hi, I'm Bradley, and you are?"

"Jenna."

Bradley sat down on the other side of the desk and took out his note book. "Is this the same person who killed Claire who did this to you?"

"I guess so."

"Do you know where he lives?"

"No. He kept me at a warehouse." She started sobbing.

"Can you at least describe what he looks like?"

"His old. I guess in his fifties. I'm not sure if he is white or Latino."

"What color hair does he have?"

"I don't know. He's completely bald and quite tall."

Bradley started drawing up a sketch. "Bald...Beard or no beard?"

"He had slight stubble, but his face was clear. And he has bushy eyebrows."

"Do you remember the color of his eyes?"

"He had brown eyes, a broad nose...Full lips."

Bradley completed the sketch and gave it to the girl to look at. "Is this what he looks like?"

"Yes, that's him."

"Anything else distinguishable?"

"He smelled like cigarette smoke and alcohol."

"So he's a smoker and a drinker."

"I guess so."

Afternoon...

Bradley had he dead girl's mother called in to come in and identify her body. She looked at her daughter and sobbed. "That's her yes." She burst out in tears and turned around.

"Ma'am I am sorry about your loss. Deputy Yates would like to ask you some questions if that's okay with you."

"Okay."

Lauralee stepped into Lara's office and sat down. "Mrs. Houston you reported your daughter missing two weeks ago. Where was the last time you saw her?"

"I dropped her off at a friend's house in Pasadena. Claire called me and told me she was taking a ride with a friend to go look after a house in Glen Oaks and that she was taking a cab from there.

"Do you know who this friend is?"

"Jolene Rodriguez. My late husband used to know her father quite well."

Lara took out the sketch of the man who attacked Jenna. "Do you maybe recognize this man?" She put it on the table or Lauralee to look at.

"That's him."

"Who?"

"That's Dr. Julian Rodriguez. Jolene's father."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positively sure."

"Do you know where he works? Where he lives?"

"No. All I know is that he's a trauma surgeon."

As soon as Lauralee left, Lara got up and stepped into Bradley's office. "So now we find out there is a chain smoking, alcoholic and psycho trauma surgeon on the lose."

A Day Later...

Jolene was seated next to Priscilla in the South Pasadena High School hall. All the students were gathered together. Priscilla looked at Jolene worried. "I haven't seen Josh around for a while."

"Maybe he's home sick or something."

"Maybe. I wonder what it is the principal wants to address so urgently."

"I have no idea." Jolene toyed with a string of her hair.

The principal walked into the stage and took his place behind the microphone. He tapped on the microphone and cleared his throat to get the attention of the students. "Good morning students. It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that one of our students was found dead in Pasadena yesterday morning."

Jolene frowned and looked at Priscilla alarmed. "Oh hell no... Don't tell me it's Josh." Just then he seated himself next to Jolene and gave her a fright. "Josh. Where have you been? We thought you were dead."

Josh shook his head. "It's a long story."

The principal paused briefly and continued. "They have found Miss Houston close to Foothill freeway. The police did not go into detail, but it is believed someone attempted to cut her up alive. I urge all of you to be on the lookout for any suspicious looking persons in the Pasadena area. Do not strike up conversations with strangers and do not under any circumstances get into cars with strangers. If you do come across any suspicious looking persons, please report them at the nearest police station or any other authorities."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

*****

Jolene met Josh in the library after school and put her books down on the table before she pulled out a chair and sat down across from him. "Hey..."

Josh pretended to be busy reading something from the book in front of him and didn't look up at her. "Hey."

"I'm sorry about your girlfriend," she hesitantly replied. "I still can't believe what happened to her."

"Yeah, me too," he answered back presumptuously. He seemed indifferent yet somewhat nervous.

Jolene frowned and ogled Josh, sensing that something bothered him. "Okay, what's with the attitude?"



"She's dead, who cares?" Josh callously remarked.

His heartless reply shocked Jolene. "I care Josh. She was my friend too. Have a heart. She loved you Josh McLaren. Did you ever love her? Did you?" Josh kept his nose buried in the book in front of him. "Look at me when I'm talking to you." He still continued ignoring her. "Look at me Josh!"

"I'm going. This conversation is over." He stood up and left the library. Jolene followed on his heels, running after him.

"No it's not."

Josh threw his backpack over his shoulder and turned around to look at her. "Jolene, please just leave me alone."

*****



Jolene walked up to Sonya who stood on the sidewalk and watched as their father's car pulled up to the pavement. It came to a complete stop and she opened the door and got in. "Hi dad."

Sonya opened the rear door and got in too. "Hello daddy."

"How was school?" Julian started the car and drove off.

"Okay I guess," Jolene replied in a slightly disappointed tone.

Julian frowned and looked at his daughter concerned. "Just okay?"

"One of the girls in my class disappeared. They found her dead yesterday, full of cuts and bruises. Apparently someone tried to cut her up alive."



Julian shook his head and looked at Jolene shocked. "What? Alive? Just like the Pasadena ripper case many years back. I hope that psycho is not on the lose again."

******

Later in the afternoon Jolene walked up to her father who was sitting in the family family room by the kitchen reading his afternoon newspaper while her mother was busy making dinner. "Daddy..." She sat down on the sofa opposite of him and he took of his glasses to look at her.

"Yes honey?"

"Daddy is it okay if Priscilla and I go out tonight? We'll be at Eric's house playing board games. She asked really nicely."

Julian scrutinized her for a few moments. "With the girl in your school that was found dead? I don't think so."

"Really dad?"

"Will Eric's parents be there?"

"Yes. His mom baked some cup cakes for us to have."

Julian sighed and looked at Lorena who paid attention to him. "Honey, it's okay, you can give her some slack. It's weekend after all."

"Okay, but I don't want you kids going to places that's off limits again."

"We won't. Promise."

"Should I drop you off?"

"Eric will pick me up."

The door bell rang and Jolene turned to look down the hallway. "Speaking of which, that must be him."

"At least I get to meet the boy."

Jolene got up and rushed up to the front door to find Eric standing outside. "Hi, you're early."

"I know. I figured I'll drop by now since I was in the hood."

"Come on inside."

Eric followed Jolene to the living room and walked up to the couch. "Dr. Rodriguez, pleased to meet you."

Julian stood up and walked over to the boy who held out his hand to greet him. "You're welcome Eric. I think I've met you before, haven't I?"

Eric pondered for a while. "Maybe?"

"What does your father do for a living?"

"He's a plastic surgeon. Dr. Gregory Slater. I think you've heard of him."

"Oh yes, I know your father. We were colleagues at Huntington Memorial. Didn't he recently move over to a hospital in Hollywood Hills?"

"Yes, he did."

"Well, at least I know Jolene will be in good hands tonight."

"Always Dr. Rodriguez." Eric looked at Jolene and smiled. "Do you wanna go now or do you still want to hang over here for a while?"

"I guess we can go now and get some extra snacks on the way to your place."

"Sure."

Julian accompanied Jolene and Eric outside to a flashy little Volkswagen Eos convertible that stood in the driveway. "I see you're a Volkswagen fan too. Nice little car."

"I think that's all I'll drive until the day I die. I'll have Jolene back by ten if that's okay with you Dr. Rodriguez."

"I'm good. Send my regards to your parents."

"I will."

Julian watched as Eric drove off and went back into the house.

******

Back at Eric's house Priscilla and Jolene sat in his room together with his sister Amber talking about ghost stories and how their home was haunted. Priscilla listened tentatively. "I don't really believe in ghosts."

"You Jolene?"

"I don't know. Our previous home had some weird things going on and it freaked my mom out a few times, but I haven't seen a ghost yet."

"They say the old meat packing plant is haunted. Have you guys ever been there?" Eric asked.

Both Priscilla and Jolene shook their heads. "No."

"We can go there tonight if you want. Apparently it's haunted by the ghost of a creepy old butcher with a bald head wearing a white apron."

Priscilla chuckled. "Sounds like Jolene's dad."

"Shut up," Jolene snapped at Priscilla. "What do you find so creepy about my dad anyway?"

"I don't know. The bald head I think. And those eyebrows."

Eric continued. "It is said that he owned the plant and got angry and killed all his workers and then killed himself with one of the band-saws and if you walk past it, it turns on by itself."

"Yeah right..." Jolene replied somewhat skeptical.

"It's true." Eric grinned. "You guys wanna go and check it out?"

"I don't know..." Jolene replied not wanting to do anything that could get her into trouble.

"I say let's do it," Priscilla replied and Amber gave an agreeing nod.

"Let's do it."

******

Eric parked his car in front of the building and and looked up at it. "This is it guys. Let's go exploring."

They all got out of the car and entered the building. A sickening smell overwhelmed them but they headed further into the building regardless. "Smells like something died in here," Jolene replied.

"Boy am I glad this is not an abandoned hospital with the ghost of a creepy old doctor hiding somewhere in a dark corner," Priscilla teased working on Jolene's nerves.

"News flash, my dad is a doctor," Jolene replied.

"So is mine," Eric said chuckling. "I guess we now know who doesn't like doctors."

"It's not that I like them, I just don't trust them."

"I think the medical profession is one of the most trustworthy ones there is," Jolene replied on Priscilla's remark.

They entered a room full of band-saws and stood staring at it for a while. "No way," Priscilla gasped. "For real?"

"Yup, who wants to go in first?" Eric asked with a snicker.

"You go in first." Priscilla gave him a nudge from behind. "Guys, I don't normally get creeped out that easily, but this looks scary."

"I told you."

Just at that moment Jolene's phone rang and startled her. "Shit, it's my dad!" She answered the call, but her cell phone kept breaking up.

******

Julian frowned when Jolene called him just before Eric was supposed to bring her back home in a panicky voice. "Jolene...honey..." She kept breaking up, but all that he could make out was her saying that they were having car problems and that they were stuck at the meat packing plant. "You have to come and help us daddy."

"What are you kids doing at the meat packing plant? Does Eric's parents know where you are?"

His cell phone cut out suddenly and he got up and went upstairs to Lorena who was in the nursery hushing Luke to sleep. "I'm going to get Jolene and the kids. They're having car problems and they're stuck at the meat packing plant."

Lorena frowned. "What are they doing at the meat packing plant?"

"I don't know, but she's grounded, that's for sure."

******

"That's just weird, my dad called me and then my phone cut off," Jolene said somewhat terrified.

"Hush..." Eric held his finger to his lips. "Did you guys hear that?"

"Yeah, I heard that," Priscilla replied nervously.

Just as suddenly the band-saw left of Jolene turned on by itself and off again just as suddenly. "That didn't just happen."

Eric looked at the three girls startled. "So it's true."

"Yeah, and what are you gonna do if we really do run into that butcher?" Priscilla asked with a trembling voice.

"I don't know about you guys, but maybe we should head back to my car."

"Maybe that's a good idea," the three girls replied simultaneously.

They all ran outside as quick as they could and got into Eric's Volkswagen. Eric turned the key in the ignition only for the car to be as dead as the butcher who's ghost was said to haunt the meat packing plant. "You've got to be kidding me."

"What the hell?" Amber replied worried.

"My car's battery is dead. Seriously? Guess Mr. Creepy butcher doesn't want us to leave."

"What now?"

Eric looked at his sister alarmed. "You know dad's gonna flip if he knows we are here."

"Well so is mine," Jolene replied.

"And my folks are out of town for the weekend," Priscilla replied.

"I guess I don't have a choice. I'll have to call dad to come and jump start us." Eric took his phone from his pocket and sighed. "Just when you think it cannot get worse. I don't have signal. Any of you?"

Jolene, Priscilla and Amber both looked on their phones and shook their heads. "This is weird, my dad called me when we were in the area with all the band-saws and then my phone just cut off."

They all sat there for a while trying to think of a plan to get out of there when Eric noticed headlights in the distance. "Oh no. I hope it's not the police."

"At least it's help Eric," his sister replied.

"Yes, and we'll get busted for trespassing."

"How do they know we were in there."

"I don't know."

Jolene turned her head to look and then turned as pale as a ghost. "It's not the police, it's my dad."

"Did you tell him we were here?"

"No..."

Julian parked the Touareg next to Eric's Eos, got out of the car and walked up to them. "What are you kids doing out here? Jolene called me and told me you had car problems."

"I didn't call you."

"Well, I didn't call you either Jolene."

She frowned and turned even paler than before. "You didn't call me? How?"

"If only you kids know the stories about this place, you won't even seat foot on these premises. What's wrong with your car Eric?"

"I think the battery died."

"Pop the hood."

Eric did as Jolene's dad said and he proceeded to examine the battery connections.