Shadow

06

"... this time, 'Shadow', the serial killer who has increasingly gaining credibility among the citizen and seen as a vigilante, now has targeted Loom Ittiporn, a famous stylist known for using fur in his clothes designs.", the reporter standing in front of the building spoke in front of the camera, increasing the detective's chronic headache as he was watching her from a few meters away.

"I already told you not to let the media use that fucking name!", Ohm yelled at his subordinates who resigned themselves to bowing their heads. They had arrived there after the reporters and onlookers this time. To make everything worse, the press had decided to deify the serial killer they were after and that was not a positive thing for any of those involved in the case.

"The more power and fame he gains, the more he will believe he is doing the right thing and will become unstoppable! Do you understand that?", Ohm repeated the question trying to instill some sense into the policemen lined up in front of him. Realizing it wouldn't do much good, he sighed and just waved his hand in their direction. "Disperse, do something useful to preserve the crime scene!", he ordered and the group obeyed without wasting a second. It was necessary to isolate the area before the forensics arrived to try to obtain as much evidence as possible. Not that they didn't know it was useless. The Shadow never left a trail behind. "Damn, I'm also using that shitty name.", Ohm pressed his fingers against his eyeballs, trying to clear his sight and falling at this.

When he reached Loom's penthouse, Ohm couldn't help but sneer. It was true that the man had been brutally murdered, but it was also a fact that he was one of the worst species of human being.

The walls of the apartment were covered with animals' heads that the man haunted himself during his days off, and all the rooms were decorated with carcasses and fur of all kinds. However, none of this prepared Ohm enough for the scene he had encountered in the bedroom.

This time, Shadow had outdone himself. Loom was dressed in a tiger costume, his lips were sewn together and the mark of several shotgun blasts on his belly. Slaughtered like an animal, without any chance to call for help. Even so, the detective was sure that once the forensics did their analysis, they would confirm that the deceased had also had sex with someone that night… He was only getting more and more curious to know who…

"Achoo!", the sneeze was heard at the bedroom door, causing Ohm to turn around to see who had arrived, finding Fluke rubbing his nose which seemed kinda reddish.

"Hi! Hey, Ohm! I came as fast as I could and… and… Achoo!", Fluke sneezed once again, unfortunately contaminating the corpse just like he did the first time they met each other.

"For heaven's sake! Put a mask on before entering the crime scene if you have the flu!", Ohm ran his hands through his hair drowning in frustration.

"Oh, I'm sorry!", Fluke said, cupping his hands over her nose and mouth, as if that would stop the particles from flying loose around the room.

Ohm sighed heavily, feeling defeated by the cuteness of the man before him and changing his tone to a much softer one, he lifted a hand to touch the shorter boy's neck. "At least it looks like you don't have a fever…", Ohm whispered in relief as he checked the other's temperature.

"I think it's my a-a-achoo!", Fluke sneezed again. "Allergy, sorry!" he said, giving the detective a pleading look.

As he watched the big eyes covered in a glossy veil caused by the allergy, Ohm noticed that Fluke had a bandage on one of his fingers. "Did something happen to your hand?", he asked worriedly.

"Oh, that? I hurt myself by cutting an apple to eat before coming to work!", the boy replied, giving one of his bright smiles.

The detective had to restrain himself so as not to melt with the cuteness of the clumsy boy, but he still managed to say in a firm tone: "Just… Put on your mask and come help me, ok?", Ohm said pointing to the door, the place where there were materials such as gloves, mask and boots.