Monster in Disguise

17. Marcello

Marcello

T he afternoon sun casts long shadows across the deserted streets as Vlad and I reach a secure location to discuss the case. He parks his car with a screech, and as we get out, he tosses a file my way.

"What's this?" I question, catching it before it can touch the ground.

"Forensic report for our lovely nun," Vlad smirks.

I open the file and scan its contents swiftly. There isn't much to work with. The cause of death is blood loss, but the coroner has noted some lacerations on the left ventricle of the heart. It appears that the nun might have been stabbed through her heart, leading to her bleeding out.

"I don't see why this is important." I hand back the file to Vlad.

"The coroner's remarks are quite intriguing though, aren't they? To stab someone through the heart takes precision and skill. Our copycat must be familiar with anatomy."

I raise an eyebrow at Vlad's observation. He's right; stabbing someone through the heart is not an easy task. It requires not only a sharp blade but also a perfect angle and just enough force to penetrate layers of fat and muscle.

"So our killer is not only intelligent but physically strong as well," I muse, already strategizing our next move in this perverse game of cat and mouse.

"I've been running some scenarios in my head," Vlad starts pacing in front of me.

"Do tell."

"The coroner only mentioned lacerations, not holes or anything that might singularly identify it as a stabbing event. That means the wound wasn't too big to begin with."

"Or she didn't get stabbed through the heart," I point out the obvious.

"But if she was ," Vlad continues, "then our copycat purposefully used a narrow blade to perforate the heart, but ultimately delay death."

"What are you trying to get at?"

"So she bled out. But she did not bleed out immediately. It takes time. You and I both know that."

"And?"

"Look again at the report. There's a list of all her injuries. But you know what there's not?"

I wait, knowing he will enlighten me.

"Defense wounds. None. The toxicology report came back clean too, so she wasn't drugged. If the wound was shallow, she would have had enough time to fight."

"So there wasn't a struggle." I frown, processing the information. "That would mean..."

"The perpetrator was someone she knew."

"You're reaching," I say. There could be a million other reasons she didn't fight him, right?

"Am I? I spent the entire night running through all the possible scenarios. It's all right here," he points at the file, "no defensive wounds and no restrictive wounds either. So her hands were free, yet she did not so much as scratch her killer. Her fingernails were clean. And I don't mean clean as in someone cleaned them on purpose. There was simply no foreign tissue underneath."

I can see that Vlad is getting excited, so I just wait for him to continue.

"There are two likely outcomes. One, she was too shocked to react. Possible, but not entirely probable. It's reflexive to react, especially in self-defense. Two..." He pauses and turns to me. "She was a willing participant." His face is serious as he says this, and I can't help but burst into laughter.

"So she wanted it. Do you hear how absurd that is? Who would willingly agree to be chopped up and displayed on an altar?"

"Someone brainwashed. Someone who believes there's a higher purpose to their death?" Vlad shrugs. "Humans have given their lives for less," he says in a bored tone.

"You say humans as if you're not one," I retort drily.

"I might as well not be." He smirks and then walks to the back of his car and opens up the trunk, revealing a sleeping man.

"What is this?" I groan, knowing exactly what Vlad has in mind. So this is why he wanted to meet here. I shake my head.

"As I said, so far it's only a theory, but I'd like to put it to the test."

"Couldn't you do this by yourself?"

"You know I can't. I need someone to keep me in check."

Vlad then tells me that the man in question is a rat and he would have received a similar punishment anyway.

I reluctantly agree, and we set up all the variables for Vlad's experiment. He sure thought of everything.

When the man is awake, Vlad proceeds to stab him with a long, narrow knife. The man struggles in Vlad's hold, his hands flailing about, trying to latch onto Vlad.

I'm on the sidelines, observing.

After Vlad removes the knife, a trail of blood starts falling slowly. He takes a few steps back and assesses the situation.

Sure enough, the man is in shock, and he stumbles a little, clutching at his wound. But he doesn't go down. He charges at Vlad, trying to get the knife away from him.

"You've proven your point. End it," I yell at Vlad, already seeing signs that he's struggling with his control.

I think my warning came one second too late because Vlad has the man on his back, his knife slashing and slashing.

I sigh, the scene in front of me too familiar. I get into my car and close my eyes for a moment. It will be a while before his rage has run its course.

Moments later, a knock on the window startles me awake, and I turn to see Vlad covered entirely in blood. I roll down the window and hand him some napkins. He wipes the blood off his face. His suit is dripping, and I can only imagine the state of the body if Vlad looks like this.

"Thanks."

I get out of the car and survey his handiwork. The man is completely butchered, his body a mass of mangled flesh and bone.

"So, did that prove your hypothesis?" I ask ironically, and Vlad chuckles.

He crouches down and takes the man's hand – or what's left of it.

"I'd say I proved my point. If you want to believe it, it's up to you." He shrugs, showing me the residue under the man's fingertips and some scratches on his own skin.

I help him dump the body in the trunk of his car, and then he's on his way.

Vlad's theory sounds crazy. Hell, it is crazy. Why would anyone willingly let themselves be murdered by a serial killer? But if there's any chance that he may be right... Then the nun knew the copycat. It's a starting point. And I can't afford to leave any leaf unturned. Not when I have someone to protect.

I get back in my car and drive home, noting how late it has gotten. It must be a little after midnight when I get back to the house. My first thought is to go get cleaned up since I must be a bloody mess too.

"Marcello?" I hear Catalina's voice.

"Lina? What are you doing up at this hour?" She comes towards me and gasps when she sees the state I'm in.

"Are you hurt? God, what happened?" She frowns as she takes me in, her face full of worry.

"Not my blood," I say, and I attempt what I think is a smile. "I need to wash this off." I go towards my room and Lina follows behind me.

"Did you..." she starts, and her lower lip trembles.

"Did I kill someone? No. Did I help get rid of a body? Yes." I give her the short version of the story and unbutton my dress shirt. The blood has seeped through the material and is now staining my skin, the stickiness making me feel uncomfortable.

"Do you need any help?" Lina asks, shocking me. I look at my bare torso, and then back at her, lifting my eyebrows in question.

"If you want help, that is," she quickly rephrases and lowers her gaze, clearly embarrassed.

"And if I did..." I take two steps until I'm in front of her. "How would you help me?" I tip her chin up ever so slightly, reveling in the simple touch. Catalina may be the only woman in this world I can touch without a problem... and I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse.

"I can help wipe your chest." Her eyes are looking anywhere but at me.

"Really?" I drawl, enjoying seeing her like this. She just nods.

"Follow me." I show her to the bathroom and hand her a towel. Then I take off my pants, stripping down to my boxer briefs.

Catalina immediately averts her face.

"Is that necessary?" she asks in a small voice, her hand lightly covering her eyes.

"I wouldn't want to wet my pants now, would I?" I challenge.

"True." She accepts my explanation. "What about the shirt then? Shouldn't you take it off too?" Her question is innocent enough, but I'm not ready for her to see my back yet. Not soon.

"I can do it myself if..." I change the subject, but she cuts me off.

"I'll do it."

She takes the towel and dampens it before coming in front of me.

"Can I?" She seeks my approval before touching me, and my heart threatens to burst in my chest.

"Please," I guide her hand until it's resting over my ribcage. She dabs at the blood, her movements soft and tender.

"Thank you," I say. I could have easily just showered, but having her do this? It's like a dream come true.

She's so focused on her task, she doesn't realize she's going increasingly and dangerously lower. When she's past my belly button, I have to stifle a groan. Does she even know what she's doing to me? Just a little lower and she'd see just how much she affects me.

But I don't want to scare her. Not yet.

I grab her hand and bring it over to my mouth for a soft kiss. She must have noticed all right... judging by the pink stain on her cheeks.

"I can't help it, you know. Not when I have a beautiful woman touching me." I lean forward to whisper in her hair. She giggles slightly, and the sound is pure music to my ears.

"I... Thank you," she replies, the red spreading to the roots of her hair.

After the blood is off my body, I try to get her to go to her room and get some sleep.

"Can I stay with you?" Lina asks, and I wish I could say yes but...

"Not now, Lina. You saw how I can get during the night. What if I hurt you?" I shake my head, knowing full well how bad my night terrors can get.

"You won't!" she immediately says. "You didn't last time."

"I don't trust myself. Maybe in the future. But now? I won't take any risks." I move closer to her, intent on showing her this isn't me rejecting her. It's me protecting her. Even if it's from myself. I caress her cheek with the back of my hand before leaning over and brushing my lips over hers.

"Go," I whisper.

She looks at me for a moment, her eyes full of yearning, but she does as she's told.

Damn it!

I need to get a hold of myself. Even if that means therapy again. I need to do this for Lina.

Everything I ever wanted is within my grasp. I just need to be brave enough to take it.