A knock on my cruiser’s window pulls me from my light nap.

  Outside stands my partner and girlfriend, Lee Harper. She gives me a tired smile as I step out to greet her.

  “Miss Harper, what a pleasant surprise.”

  “Indeed it is, Mr. Philips. Shall we stop dilly-dallying and begin looking at the crime scene?”

  “That’s probably a good idea, Miss Harper.” I smile.

  I doubt the fun banter will last long, but it’s an okay way to kill some time.

  As we approach the Millers’ house, the intoxicating smell of iron returns. Judging by Lee’s expression, she smells it too. Or maybe it’s the babies that make her gag?

  Before I can decide whether to comfort her, a voice booms through the silence.

  “How many goddamn cases does this make?!” the chief yells, stepping out of his cruiser.

  “With or without the babies?” I joke.

  I feel Lee’s glare burn into the side of my face. I ignore it.

  The chief doesn’t respond to my witty remark. Maybe he didn’t hear me? Whatever.

  “Fucking babies? This bastard killed babies?”

  I thought that was obvious.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “Oh, Jesus fuck…” It seems Lee has found the body.

  “H-How could a human do this?”

  The chief approaches and reacts just as Lee did—only with more profanity.

  “He put them both into their mother? Sick fuck.”

  Actually, he only put one in. I placed the second one. Which, I might add, was trickier than anticipated.

  She seemed lonely.

  The two of them go back and forth while I begin to grow bored.

  I contemplate sneaking away for a smoke when a third car approaches.

  It’s nice. Expensive. A fresh paint job—blood red.

  Flashy bastard.

  Out steps a well-dressed man in his early thirties. The first thing I notice is his lack of a uniform.

  As I stare into his black eyes, I feel my soul evict my body.

  Two black holes suck me in, and all I can do is hopelessly stare back.

  This is no man.

  This is something extraterrestrial.

  An anomaly not meant to be seen, never meant to be encountered.

  He moves past me as if gliding on ice, his movements precise and controlled. He pays me no mind, stepping toward the mosaic.

  A notebook and pen in his hand. Writing with unbelievable quickness. His almond-black eyes never blink as he scans the Millers’ lifeless bodies.

  “Will? What’s going on?”

  Lee’s hand on my shoulder abruptly kicks me out of my trance and drops me back into reality.

  “Who is that?” I ask, to no one in particular.

  “That’s James Clark,” the chief scoffs. “He’s a famous crime writer. Apparently, he’s helped with profiling in the past. I don’t know why the fuck he’s allowed to waltz around my crime scene, but that’s not up to me.”

  Apparently, this creature’s beauty doesn’t reach the Chief. Or Lee, for that matter—her scowl is unmistakable.

  Without warning, the anomaly opens its mouth to speak.

  “Now, now, Chief Marks. I’m not here to step on anyone’s toes. I am simply here to do my job.”

  He turns to me.

  “Mr. Philips, I was told you were the one who found the crime scene?”

  “That’s right.”

  “And you can confirm that both infants were found inside the woman?”

  I hesitate.

  “Yes.”

  The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

  He knows.

  “Thank you, Mr. Philips. That will be all.”

  He turns and leaves.

  Without thinking, I get in my car and follow.

  I don’t even hear my chiefs screaming my name as I start the engine.