Author’s POV:

A new day dawned on Clown City, yet it wasn’t bereft of its regularly increasing crime rates. The law enforcement officers were early risers who hardly get any sleep because of their busy schedules.

Many superlative divisions were active participants in mitigating criminal activities in their designator sector. Yet despite all this manpower, Clown City still retained its title year after year for being central for unlawful operations.

Aside from the strict enforcers who tried their best to maintain balance, the various media outlets were profiting greatly from the mass spread of crime. They were never short of negative news to feed the public.

These busybody reporters were currently present at an active crime scene early in the morning at a public park nearby Plug Lane. A civilian had come across the corpse of a man and an unconscious boy during his routine jog. He immediately reported his findings to the local authorities who arrived not so long after.

“Clear the way people. Please stay behind the line.” The authorities already cordoned off the crime scene with yellow tapes. The officers who manned that post were making sure to keep the reporters and bystanders from disrupting police business.

A reporter noticed a renowned officer crossing the yellow tape and blocked his path with her microphone. “Inspector Forbes, in your words, can you please tell us what happened here?” She wanted the latest scoop on the situation.

Inspector Forbes calmly told her, “We don’t have any information to disclose at the moment. As soon as we know what’s going on, the public will receive a proper report.” He went on his way, leaving the reporter mildly disappointed.

Arriving at the crux of the crime scene, Inspector Forbes beseeched information from one of the investigators. “Detective Raymond, what do we got?”

Detective Raymond turned to his superior. He looked slightly surprised to see him. “Inspector, I didn’t know you were coming down here.”

“I heard a little boy was involved. Where is he?”

Detective Raymond pointed in the direction of an ambulance that was parked close by and said, “He’s been taken care of by the paramedic. He has no visible injuries, however, he is traumatised by something. According to what we’ve uncovered so far, this deceased man’s identity is 37-year-old, Masan Butler. He is a full-time driver for the kid. He was employed by a couple name, David Bohim and Anna Bohim. Their son's name is Peter Bohim.”

“Where are the parents?” Asked Inspector Forbes.

“We’ve contacted them already. They are on their way I believe.” He wanted to ask something else but delayed. “Ahm… don’t you think we should question the kid before his parents get here? He might be able to shed some light on how this man died. There’s a visible hole in his chest and he’s missing a vital organ. This was clearly not the work of a sane person.”

With everything he had been told, Inspector Forbes processed the information and remembered something vital. “There was a similar case a couple of days ago where the victims had their chest torn through.”

“Are you referring to those brutal homicides, Inspector?”

“I am. Special investigator, Denise Morgan Sleuth is in charge of that case. We should get in touch with her to see if there might be a connection. In the meantime, I’m going to see what information I can get out of that boy.” Inspector Forbes gave his attention to the ambulance. “He must have seen the culprit.”

“I’m coming with you, Inspector.” Detective Raymond followed closely behind Inspector Forbes. They kindly introduced themselves to the little boy before they started asking him questions about what happened last night.

“Do you remember anything about the person who did this heinous act to your driver? Do you know what he looks like? Anything you can remember will be of great use to us in putting this psycho behind bars.”

Inspector Forbes and Detective Raymond waited for Peter to answer their inquiry. He looked very shaken up and hesitant to speak.

Detective Raymond became impatient and pleaded with him. “Please kid. Tell us anything you remember about the killer. Anything at all.”

“He is… he is…” Peter started to speak but his voice was cracking apart and stuttering. With a terrified look in his eyes, he remembered Smoke Pac’s appearance and blurted out! “He is a demon! A demon who emerged from the smoke of our car to eat me. I am his goldfish; his goldfish. He’s not sorry for knocking away my ice cream. He did it on purpose because he is evil! He is a demon! A demon! Demon! Demon!”

Peter began banging his hands against his head while behaving insanely. The paramedics had to use force to get him to stop. “I think he has had enough of your interrogation. Please leave him alone.”

“Ok, we’re going.” Inspector Forbes didn’t want to agitate Peter any longer, so he walked away with Detective Raymond by his side. “What do you think he meant when he said the killer was a demon?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he said the killer has horns and a tail. He is obviously traumatised. His parents are of a religious background so maybe it has something to do with his hysteria. But I’ve learnt something about the killer.”

“What have you learned, Raymond?”

“The killer’s true aim was the little boy. Maybe the driver got in his way and he killed him.”

Inspector Forbes was confused. “How did you come by that assumption? If the killer was after the boy then why did he leave him?”

“That I’m not sure but think back to what the kid said.” Detective Raymond reiterated what was spoken, “He is a demon who emerged from the smoke of our car to eat me. I am his goldfish. He’s not sorry for knocking away my ice cream. Don’t you see the connection, Inspector? The killer was following the kid. If we backtracked to their previous location we might be able to discover the killer's identity.”

Inspector Forbes was curious about his intentions. “How do you propose to do that?”

“We found a tracker in the bushes that the killer took out of the Bohim’s car before he stole it. If we review the data and compare the CCTV footage of the last known locations, maybe we might find our killer or at least an indication of him.”

Inspector Forbes patted the detective on the back and told him, “That’s a brilliant idea, Raymond. Get to it right away.”

“Yes, sir.” Detective Raymond scampered off to tend to his investigative duties.

With their new lead on the case, compiled with the series of similar unsolved killings that were piling up, Clown City’s investigation unit was getting closer to uncovering Smoke Pac’s identity. His arrogance was causing him to become very sloppy. If he continued down this hellish path of vengeance and bloodshed, very soon he would have to deal with the brunt consequences of his actions. No one was untouchable by the hands of karma.

Currently, Smoke Pac was having a nice shower in one of the lavish bathrooms present in the mansion. He was cleaning the accumulated mess from his body while Razi was digging a hole in the yard to bury her deceased henchmen or what was left of them.

“It’s a good thing I held on to this costume.” Razi was wearing a white hazmat suit covered in dirt, blood and entrails. She wore this mainly to protect herself from any unscrupulous micro-organisms she might come across during her dig.

“I can’t believe that shitty asshole is forcing me to dig a fucking grave.” She touched her bosom and continued, “If it’s not for this thing he stuffed in my chest I didn’t have to obey him.”

“Stop complaining and dig the hole deeper. It’s too shallow.”

“Eeek!” Razi was frightened by this commanding voice that entered her ears abruptly. Looking up at the edge of the hole, she saw Smoke Pac’s bare appearance and became embarrassed.

“How long have you been there watching me and why the hell are you naked? I don’t want to see your dangling sausage. Go cover that shit up!” She hid her face behind the shovel

“Don’t act like you’ve never seen a man’s junk before. Besides, I came outside to dry myself naturally under the blazing heat. I’m naked for the sun, not you bitch.”

“Then can’t you go do that somewhere else? The property is more than big enough. So why are you standing over me completely naked? Just to be clear, I’m not into men. I’m a lesbian.”

“Who gives a shit about your sexual preference? Just so you know, I don’t need your consent for you to spread those legs wide open. I chose not to do it because you don’t entice me. Just being in your presence is making my junk shrink and I’m feeling hot as hell.” Smoke Pac turned around and started walking away. This uncaring action of his made Razi very upset. She crawled out of the hole and chased after him.

“Wait a minute, you bastard! You were joking about what you said back there, right? What do you mean by being in my presence makes your dick shrink? Do you know how embarrassing that is to hear as a young woman?”

Smoke Pac raised a suspicious brow and looked at her, “Why do you care so much? Aren’t you a lesbian?”

“I’m a full 10. You can hardly find a woman as sexy as me in the Valley. Even though I’m not attracted to men, you should be attracted to me.”

“This is what’s itching your panties? You’re bloody ridiculous.” Smoke Pac aimed his index finger at the unfinished grave. “Go crawl back into that hole and finish your duty.”

Razi grabbed onto his arm and begged, “It is too much for me to handle alone. Please help me and I promise to treat you nicer from now on.”

“That is not even a fucking bargain. You are my contracted slave, or have you forgotten? I was going to help you dig that hole, but now I’m pissed off, so do it your damn self.” Smoke Pac escaped using Smoke Dash. He left Razi there to bury the stack pile of dead bodies.