TeBeautySlayer-1

 Eventually,hegotusedtoit.

    Noattatsmeanthewasalwaysfree.Noparents,ives,nopressuretocarryonthefamilyline.hometoworryabout,sohecouldthrowhimselfintoeverycasewithouthesitation.

    Luhadclimbedtheranksquicklyinhisearlyyears,butaftermakingcaptain,hiscareerftlined.Everyoneknewwhy:noes,nobag.Thiswasasfarashewouldevergo.

    Beingahomicidedetectivewasdangerous,exhaustingwork.Butsomeoodoit.Hisoldcolleagueshadwives,kids,reasonstostayalive.Luonlyhadthecase.

    Heoftengrumbledthathewasborntosuffer.Yetnomatterhowmuchhepined,hewasalwaysthefirsttein.

    Apartfromtheendlesssuspedcorpses,theonlythingtyinghimdownwasthestralegirthome.

    Reya—hisoruesurprise.

    ***

    FourteenYearsAgo

    LufirstmetReyawhileiigatingaserialmurdercaseoskirtsofthecity.

    Backthen,hewasjustarookiecop,freshoutoftheacademy,burstingwithnaiveidealism,er,alwaysthefirsttovolunteerfrisliesttasks.

    Thevictimale,nakedwomanwithaslender,elegantfigure.Heralmond-shapedeyeswerewideopen,staringbnklyatthesky.

    Notornclothing.Nosighiswasn''''''''ttheprimarycrimese.

    Lu''''''''sfirstthoughtuponseeingher?

    Ifshewerealive,I''''''''daskherout.

    Fivearookie''''''''sinappropriatethought,butshehadbeeiful.