"I had to come in Russ," Wade Atherton said fervently. "Staying home all day feeling miserable wouldn't have done me any good. It won't do Sheila any good either." He sat down at his desk. "We need to get this guy Russ."

He sighed and ran a hand down through his short blond hair. "Oh God, I'm going to miss her so much!" he choked. "If only I had paid more attention to her, instead of being fixated on your girlfriend. I kind of had the feeling she liked me, but I just brushed her off. I ignored her!" he rambled.

Russell stood over Wade and grabbed his hands. "Go home and get yourself together. Keith and I can handle things here."

Wade nodded weakly and got out of his chair, shuffling to the door. Russell followed him. "Wade, can you drive yourself home?"

Wade managed to smile. "Don't worry about me. I'll be strong. You just work on catching the nutcase who slaughtered Sheila." Russell pats his shoulder and Wade walks out the door.

The lieutenant turned around and strolled back to his desk. A few moments later, Sargeant Keith Oakley approached him. "I thought you'd like to know I'll be going to The Toy Chest down on Main Street to find out if the Barbie dolls came from there."

"I'd like to come with you Keith," Russell replied. "This has to give us a clue to our psychopath."

All of a sudden, Brody Pearce bursts into the station. He rushes over to Russell and Keith, visibly shaken, startling the two cops.

"My father is here in jail. Victor Pearce," he blurted out loudly. "He probably told you I'm the Night Prowler." Brody stops to catch his breath. "Well, it's true. And I'm ready to face my punishment."

Part 3