If there was a skill Jefferson had mastered above everything else it orderliness, Jefferson was organized and efficient in everything he did, and that made him the ideal person to work a case with. Jefferson also had a prodigious memory, which was one of the reasons why he managed to get into medical school and become a forensic, it also helped Jefferson keep paper trail nearly non existent when helping Mortis on a case.
"The oldest killing was registered little over a month ago, a drunk homeless man sleeping behind a pizza joint in the Rolling Acres area, the next few murders related to the case were found closer to the eastern side of Nashville's city centre, then the pattern shifted toward the east, with the latest one being the furthest from the city centre so far. Now, the method of the killings becomes really interesting as the crimes unfold: the first two killings are throat slices, the weapon used appears to be a chipped knife of sort, not every suited for the job, but by the third killing we start seeing stabbings as the main MO, at least four more stabbings until we go back to slashing, and our first multiple killings."
"Multiple killings?" asked Mortis.
John looked down, doing the best he could to keep his emotions out of it:"An old homeless couple, very sad really, they were hiding in an alley when the killer got to them. Evidence suggested he tried to fight, she just hid in fear until it was her turn, to say it was cruel it was the understatement of the year."
"Then you get the first non-homeless victim, the store owner, right?"
"Yeah, we got the store owner, then the two prostitutes, a drunk biker, another homeless, and tonight seven teenagers" explained Jefferson.
"An all drained of blood."
"Barely a drop, usually stains on clothes, but the floor is scrubbed clean" pointed the forensic.
A sound interrupted Mortis before he could ask a question. The Detective pulled from his jacket a vibrating phone, he checked the device, typed something in, and put the phone back into his pocket.
"Emergency call?" asked Jefferson.
"Nothing serious. Now, back to the case. Any clues you can point out to narrow my search?"
Jefferson went through his notes "Well, the current killing are the flashiest yet, I have never seen anything like that. Bisecting a whole human in half, piercing a solid steel engine" Mortis wrote down the information and squinted, in his mind this was not making sense.
"John, remember what I have told you before, any information, no matter how small or strange, could help" explained Mortis.
"Well…" John tapped his fork on the table, ruminating on what he had until a memory illuminated his face: "The first two corpses, there was trace of rust in their wounds."
"Rust?"
"Yes, you know, oxidized iron, there were faint traces on the first and second corpse. It would have been nearly impossible to find if not for the blood drain" elaborated Jefferson.
Mortis wrote that down the rust detail and tried his best to keep his poker face, the fact that there was rust on a corpse was not the clue he was looking for, maybe it was the killer weapon of choice, but since rust is only on the first two victims it did not help to clear things up.
"There is also the sign of torture in one of the latest victims" remembered the forensic.
"Torture?"
"Yes, the killer seemed to have tormented one of the victims, taking its time to let him die, cutting him slowly and painfully. You should have seen the kid's face" Jefferson shaking his head in disapproval.
Mortis chewed on the idea of torture "A slaughter and torture. Now that could lead me somewhere."
Jefferson did his best to dig as deep as he could in his mind, until one more clue yielded fruit: "There is the wound in the arm of the shopkeeper."
"The shopkeeper? The first non homeless victim?" pointed Mortis.
"Yes, that's the guy, he had a strange puncture wound in his right forearm, as if something has gotten into him, a thick stick or something. I remember it now, it was a few days old an with no sign of closing, yet no bleeding either" said Jefferson.
"That is strange" though Mortis, out loud he stated: "What do you think could cause such a wound?"
"Not sure, the analysis was inconclusive, we imagine some stuff from his job" said Jefferson.
"The victim had a hardware store?"
"Antiquary, had a little place near the city centre" replied Jefferson.
Mortis held his smirk, now he may have had a solid clue.
"Besides the names, could you give me the times and places where all the victims where found?" Asked Mortis.
"Will do. If you want to see the victims drop tomorrow night, the Chief is keeping everyone on the streets, so late night should be quiet enough for you to come" said Jefferson. Mortis nodded a thanks, it was good to have someone he could have such good understanding when dealing with this sort of crimes, especially since Mortis was not, officially, charging them a red cent.
Jefferson took a big piece of apple pie and ice-cream and put it in his mouth, he chewed for a moment as he reasoned. "Be careful Mort, after what happened tonight it will put everyone on high alert, and everyone will be shooting first if they see something weird."
"A murder this big would do" it was less of an answer and more of a thought. Much to Jefferson's dismay Mortis did not seem nervous at all.
"This big? Jesus Mort, I know you are hard-boiled but this is just too much! There are seven dead college students! Athletes! They were slaughtered even when they fought back! One of them is split perfectly in half from top to bottom! You need to take it serious or you could be next!"
Mortis could hear the pleading words in the forensic's voice, Jefferson dared to care for him. Mortis could not begin to understand why the forensic would take his time to care for after all that has happened, but he did.
"You know me John, I cannot promise I will be careful, just that I'll be all right" said Mortis as he pocketed his notebook.
John frowned "You better be, I need you to deal with all the crazy stuff that ends at my table so I don't have to see it no more" then cracked a smile.
"You could always quit?"
"Don't you dare Mort!"
"Thanks John, I will keep you posted" Mortis began collecting his things to leave.
"Good to have you back Mort, Let me pay the bill" said the forensic.
"Too late, already paid, next time though" said Mortis.
Jefferson made a mock huff and puff of the situation, "Every time, you make me feel guilty!"
"Good, I like guilty Jefferson."
Jefferson laughed, then his expression changed to inquisitive and made him ask a question: "Two things though: One, why do you think there is a sudden spike in victims? Dou have a idea about that?" asked the forensic.
Mortis stopped what he was doing and chewed the words for a moment, it was a solid question after all. A few moments later he gave the answer "My best guess, is the fox in a hen house syndrome. The whole thing was too abundant and perfect for it to not take all seven. It may even have been a chance to have fun by taunting people".
Jefferson shook his head "Make sense."
"What's the other thing?" asked Mortis.
Jefferson lowered his voice as he whispered as loud as he could. "I think you are being followed."