Love Lost and Found

Chapter 27/?

Goodie sighed again and stared at the photos he had spread on top of the ones and documents that had already lain on his desk. They were disgusting. Absolutely and utterly revolting. And MacLachlan had still not arrived. //Where the fuck is he?// The envelope in which the photos had arrived had been found on the doorstep of the police station almost an hour ago. It had been addressed to him and Kyle and the whole content had been one sheet of paper and the accursed photos he was still staring at.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose, as he always did when he was nervous or agitated, and stared at the Beaucarnea on the window sill, desperately trying to find a way to deal with the gruesome things the photos depicted.
All of tem showed the same person: Bret McKenzie, the actor who portrayed Melpomaen and had been abducted instead of Orlando Bloom. He was lying on the floor of a dimly lit cellar, naked and chained to the wall by chains on his wrists and ankles. The chains and the irritated red patches where they rubbed against the skin had been photographed in great detail. //He must have tried to free himself…// As had Bret’s backside. The sensitive skin around his anus was torn and covered with dry blood that stared darkly at him from the cruel photos. He grimaced and shuddered as his gaze travelled to a photo of Bret’s face as he was being fisted. It seemed impossible but he almost believed to find some trace of a pleased expression on the actor’s face.
//Perhaps the guy used some sort of drug on him… Belladonna could have that effect… and Belladonna was used in the other murders four years ago… perhaps it really is the same one…// he thought bitterly. //How can anyone do that to another human being?// The cruelty of the deed was what shocked him most. It was totally beyond his understanding. Reluctantly he picked up the letter that had come with the photos and read it once again.
~
Dear Officer MacLachlan and Sergeant Goodie,
(Oh yes, I know who you are, even better than you would ever dare to suspect…)
As you can see Mr McKenzie has had the pleasure of enjoying my hospitality so far, for let me assure you that I have been very moderate in my treatment of him so far. Trust me that this will not remain so unless Orlando Bloom is handed over to me within the next three days. Do you really want MR McKenzie to die on account of your investigations? Or rather the lack of it. I think not. Even if Orlando Bloom is handed over to me on the third day, I will continue to pay further attention to Mr McKenzie’s needs. Even though he might not even be aware of them now.
Please understand that this is only for your own well-being and safety. Orlando Bloom is a threat to all humankind and must be eliminated as soon as possible. It is a great source of pride for me that have been chosen. I am sure that you will see this yourself and accede to my point if you take a closer look on the effect Orlando Bloom as on other people.
Looking forward to co-operating with you soon,
Yours sincerely
The Absolver
~
A shudder ran down his spine as he put the letter away again. He had already showed it to Dr Coyle, who was also of the opinion that the one who had sent the letter had to be an emotionally very unbalanced person. //Mentally unbalanced…// he thought again //why didn’t she just say stark, raving mad? That would have been more to the point!//
“Finally!” Goodie sighed relieved as MacLachlan appeared at long last. “You are way too late!” “I know, I know,” MacLachlan held up his hands in a defensive gesture. “I’m sorry, Daniel, but I really couldn’t come any earlier.”
“Whatever.” Goodie waved dismissively. “Have a look at this.” Kyle MacLachlan’s face gradually darkened as he read the letter and looked at the pictures. His eyes dulled with anger and his lips thinned to a hard-pressed line. Goodie swallowed nervously. His colleague looked like someone he would definitely not want to meet in a deserted alley after nightfall.
“So…” MacLachlan said slowly, his green eyes narrowed on thought. “Who, except for Mr Bloom, Mr Mortensen and their two bodyguards knows that we are assigned to this case?”
“No one, but…” “Exactly!” MacLachlan triumphed “So, it is sure that Mr Bloom could not possibly have raped and almost killed himself. He’s definitely innocent. The two bodyguards weren’t involved in the beginning. So that leaves: Mr Mortensen! I told you he was in this!”
“Kyle…” Goodie sighed, “Mr Mortensen was almost comatose when the attempt to abduct Mr Bloom from the hospital was made. He cannot be the one who wants to kill him.”
“Daniel,” MacLachlan sighed exasperatedly as if speaking to an insolent child. “I already asked you once: What f there are two of them?” “Kyle…” “Mortensen could be working with one of the bodyguards…” “Kyle…” “maybe even both of them. We’d never suspect….” “Kyle!”
Goodie almost yelled, his eyes ablaze with fury. “We both saw that the one who tried to abduct Mr Bloom from the hospital had green eyes. Both bodyguards are brown-eyed, Kyle. Even if Mortensen were behind this – and I do not say that he is – neither bodyguard could be his accomplice.”
“What about coloured contact-lenses?” “Kyle!” “Okay, I understand!” MacLachlan yelled. “You don’t want to see my point of view! You don’t even try to understand it! Why are you so damn convinced that Mortensen is innocent?” he paced angrily through the small room, his hands flying wildly about as he gestured excitedly.
“Because,” Goodie sighed, “it is quite obvious that Mr Mortensen loves Mr Bloom more than anything else in the world.” “So what? Love and jealousy as the two main reasons for murder!”
“And McKenzie?” Goodie insisted “What about him? Mortensen wouldn’t need him, he could just take Mr Bloom and be done with it.” “He’s just a pawn.” MacLachlan insisted “He’s only meant to distract us from the fact that Mortensen is the one.”
“And why would Mortensen want to kill Mr Bloom?” “I already told you. Jealousy.”
“Kyle…” another sigh echoed through the room, accompanied by a shake of the head.
“I will prove it to you!” MacLachlan insisted. “I will! I will make you see that Mortensen is the one responsible for all this! You’ll see!” angrily MacLachlan turned on his heels and stormed outside, still seething with anger leaving Goodie alone and desperate.
“What am I to do with you, Kyle?” Goodie whispered to the now-empty room.
“And just how am I supposed to find McKenzie on my own?”

Tbc…

Please review!