He nods before pointing to another photo. “Check the other crime scene out that they sent over. No wonder they call this asshole Cook.”
Hammer pushes a picture over to my side of the table, and after getting a good look at it, all I want to do is push it away.
All it takes is that quick glimpse to know what happened. Some poor soul had been pushed into a regular kitchen oven and cooked. The body was practically curled in a fetal position, with its head almost touching the top of the oven. What is even more disturbing is the fact that there is a chain and padlock hanging off the oven door’s bar. It’s cut now, but the significance of seeing it isn’t lost on me. For fuck’s sake, the body is so deteriorated that you can’t even tell if it was male or female from the picture.
Sick doesn’t even begin to cover what these photos make me feel.
I once thought my soul was as black as they came. This motherfucker just might give me a run for my money.
I turn my attention back to Ice. “What next? Because the sooner we take this asshole down, the better I’ll feel.”
Prez leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “There has to be a link between the victims. Rarely does a serial killer pick his victims randomly. Even a hired hitman will have some pattern alongside his signature. There’s always some reason in their head why the person is the perfect victim. David Berkowitz killed because he was obeying the orders of a demon through his neighbor, Sam’s, dog. We need to figure out this nutcase’s reason. Maybe if we can figure out what his trigger is, then we can figure out who he is and where to find him.”
“How are we going about that?” Hammer asks, closing the file in front of him, apparently not wanting to see anymore, either.
Ice leans back in his chair with a determined look on his face. “I’ve got Screech combing through every record he can get his hands on when it comes to these murders and the victims. Until he can give us something to go on, we’re on hold. That being said, be ready to hit the ground running, boys. I want this Cook caught so we can put him on the fucking chopping block.”
While Screech does his work to get us a lead or two to follow on Cook, Hammer, Big Jim, and I head to the club.
Walking into the club’s main room, we head to the bar and order beers.
Hammer and I look over at Big Jim just in time to see his ol’ lady Lisa walking up to give him a kiss. One simple kiss turns into a make-out session until Hammer laughingly tells them, “Take that show on the road and go find a damn room, you two. You’re making everybody horny, and some of us don’t have women here to get us off.”
Lisa laughs at Hammer and says, “So call your woman. I bet she would come down here and take care of you.”
I point toward the back rooms and nod my head for them to go. “I might like fuckin’, but that doesn’t mean I want to watch a live show.”
Lisa playfully pouts until Big Jim picks her up and throws her over his shoulder. Giving her a slap on the ass, he orders, “Stop givin’ my brothers a hard time, woman.”
He walks off back toward the hallway where the private rooms are located as Lisa looks up from her upside-down position and gives us a huge smile and a finger wave.
It’s then I hear Hammer say, “He’s a lucky bastard. I bet she can suck the chrome off a hubcap with that mouth of hers.”
Looking back over at Hammer, I cock an eyebrow at him. “And you’re not a lucky bastard? What’s wrong? Is Des not giving you any head lately?”
My brother smiles so big I can see all his teeth. “Yeah, I’m a lucky bastard, too. Which reminds me; I’ve been thinking about something.”
Taking a sip of my beer, I then ask, “Thinkin’ about what?”
Hammer shrugs as he leans back against the bar. “I’m thinkin’ about askin’ Des to marry me.”
“It not enough that she’s your ol’ lady?”
He shakes his head. “Fuck no. You don’t understand, man. I want to own every part of her, including her last name. Part of me wants the whole fuckin’ world to know she’s mine.”
Tapping my beer against his in a casual salute, I tell him, “You two have had a nice, long ride together. You want to ball and chain your shit to her, I wish you the best, man. I’m sure the two of you will have one hell of a life ahead of you.”
Hammer cocks his head to the side and gives me a considering look. “You ever think about gettin’ married one day, Coal?”