Max and Alan spent the bulk of the day at a crime scene in a park not far from a local school. A male in his twenties was found propped up against a tree by a team of council workers who were there to mow the grass. After giving statements they left with their equipment so a team of police could comb the area. The young man hadn’t been dead long but they couldn’t say when he had been dumped under the tree since his body was angled in just the right way to obscure a view of him from the most popular areas of the park, letting him go unnoticed.
It was here that Max was struck with the realisation that none of the victims had fight wounds. He pointed out to Alan that a twenty-something male the size of the one they were standing over should have put up a good fight and had some wounds to show for it. He would have been hard to overpower. Burnt hands, burnt mouth, no hint of a fight.
Four hours into examining that crime scene, they received a call about another body and had to beat the media there as reporters were already on the way. Despite the standard burnt hands and poisoning this second body was unusual since it was a four hour drive from the areas where the other bodies were found. Standing over the second body Alan can immediately tell this one is a copycat killing so he pushes it off to someone else. A moment of realisation hits Alan as his relief at being able to get rid of a murder victim from his to-do list is somewhat disturbing when he ponders the fact that this crime is no less horrifying than the others and the victim is as worthy of respect, especially in death. But it does mean less work.
Max returns home only to be greeted by Tahlia watching a news report.
“Community outrage as Police struggle to keep up with the Southside Murderer,” the voice projects from a pretty-faced news reader as she throws to a pre-recorded statement from the Chief Commissioner. “I can assure the Australian public that Victoria’s best detectives are on the case. Everyone needs to be aware that these things don’t wrap up in an hour like on television. We have real police work to do and we’re doing it. Murderers don't always play by well written rules. They don't perform for the story tellers. We have made outstanding progress and it's only a matter of time before the killer is in custody and made to answer for his crimes.”
Tahlia turns to face Max and says, “Do you know about this?”
Max's only acknowledgment of Tahlia’s presence or her question is, “I'll be in the shower.”