CHAPTER 4

Tessa looked devastated Dani was utterly confused.

' How did this happen? Who did this? Probably Fred. But why? Annie didn't do anything wrong and she wasn't a threat to him so what reason did he have to kill her. Or had he come to take advantage of her and she probably fought back? That seemed unlikely– if that had happened, they would've heard screams... ', these were the thoughts that played in Dani's head.

" Any idea how this happened?" Dani asked.

Mannie was all over the the cadaver already, assessing it but trying his best not to touch it.

" Nope, none." He replied.

Dani joined him at the corpse and checked between her thighs for scars or something of that sort showing reluctance but found none.

"Mannie, call the ambulance and Detective Miller"

"Got that" he replied.

Just then, Tessa ran out of the kitchen.

" Shit" Dani cursed.

" Go on with the call, I'll go after her" she told Mannie as she went after Tessa.

Dani looked around frantically as soon as she got out of the kitchen but couldn't find her.

She searched around to at least know which way she took.

Her only hope was the door, leading outside, that was wide open. She dashed out and immediately sighted Tessa right across the street.

She was perched on the curb, her face between her knees.

Dani sighed. She was happy that she hadn't gone far. She walked across the street and sat quietly beside her.

" Hey" she said.

"Go away Detective Roe" Tessa said.

"You can just call me Danielle"

" Great. Leave me, Danielle" she said, not lifting her her head up. Dani took a deep breath.

" Hey, what did I do? You shouldn't be pissed at me. If anything, you should be mad at the killer. I did nothing wrong"

" And I never said you. I just wanna be alone, alright? "

" Okay but I still need to be sure that you won't go missing. I already have my hands full, you running away wouldn't be the best thing"

" I won't run of–" she as cut off by Mannie running towards them and yelling Dani's name.

Tessa looked up.

"Yo, Dani. I found some interesting things" he said, as he got closer.

" What's that?"

" Well, for starters, I figured out how the killer got in. Through the French door in the kitchen leading to the yard. That was probably why we didn't hear any sound or noise and, yeah, I wanted to ask you, Tessa, do you remember your mum having a tattoo?"

Dani snapped her head up and became alarmed.

'Oh no '  she thought.

"Tattoo? I don't–" she was cut short by Mannie.

"Yeah. A permanent tattoo or a temporary one"

" No. Never. None. My mum totally hates tattoos. Why?"

" Cause I just found one behind her ear which I didn't notice before. It looks temporary, though. "

' Shit. Shit. Shit! Fred just had to be stupid" Dani thought.

She tried her best to mask her nervousness. Just then, the ambulance drove into the Johnson's driveway.

"They're here. Let's move, Dani." Mannie said, already walking away.

" Wait!" Tessa started, getting up and dusting her jeans.

"I want to see the tattoo" she continued, looking determined. Mannie froze.

" Are you really sure you wanna see your mum's body one more time?" Asked Dani.

She was unbothered about Fred right now and felt really sad for this girl who, within minutes, had become an orphan. She adored Tessa's stoicism.

"Just take me to her, please. You really don't have to remind me that she's dead. What's done's done, right?" She replied, already walking ahead of them.

Dani stared at her, then at Mannie, who just shrugged and ran after Tessa, trying to catch up with her.

Tessa immediately checked for the newly found tattoo behind her dead mum's ear as soon as they got into the kitchen.

Dani was right behind her but Mannie was all over the French door, trying to get prints and clues.

"That sonofabitch. Hey Mannie, Dani, I know this tattoo."

Mannie came right over.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yeah. I've seen it somewhere. The rapist had this exact same tattoo on a part of his body. I think it was behind his neck"

' This girl was damn too smart. Fred asked for it and now, he's getting it.' Dani thought, though she was trying her very best not to help Fred.

"Are you extremely sure about this?" Mannie asked.

" One hundred percent"

" I don't get it. This is like the fullest thin a serial killer's ever done." Mannie said, mostly to himself.

Then, the paramedics came and took Annie's corpse.

Tessa walked behind them and stared at the ambulance till it was out of sight, then, she went back in.

" I'll put a call through to Miller tonight concerning her sisters and you take her to your place, right?" Mannie was saying to Dani.

They hadn't noticed Tessa's presence yet.

Dani nodded in reply.

" I just can't believe all these happened while we were in the house, though. I really feel bad for her, you know. I can't imagine the pains she's feeling. She's going through a lot right now–" Dani was interrupted.

" Which is why you two have got to find this bastard no matter what. Even I won't relent till he's put behind bars. He just messed with the wrong girl." Said Tessa, as she moved closer to them.

" There's only so much you can do, Tess. Besides, you still have to go to college" Dani said.

" Yeah, I do it that isn't until next month and I'm sure as hell that I'll get that asshole before the end of this month. With or without you guys' help."

" That's up to you, young lady but  don't just get into any trouble. You're gonna be staying at Dani's."

" And why can't I just stay here? I'm not a child. I can take care of myself."

" We know that but you won't be able to take care of yourself if this guy comes for a visit. No matter what." Mannie said.