The Forum by Marie Reyes (short books for teens .txt) 📕

obvious. He didn't want to pick someone who might stumble upon it and realize he had appropriated their photograph. In the end, he settled for a woman he found on Instagram. He chose someone similar to Bryony Finch. Same build and hair color. Not too similar, because he felt that it would arouse suspicion somehow.

This really was a long shot. It's not as if the killer was stalking women. His first victim was a man. Still, it couldn't hurt. No one had to know. No one but him. He stared at the blinking cursor, trying to think of a bio. What traits would appeal to a person that liked to tie people to chairs and cut them up?

Shortstacks: Hey guys. Anyone about?

Quicky_Mart: What's up?

Shortstacks: I found Bryony Finch on a dating site. You don't suppose that's where he found her? I have a gut feeling that the killer didn't really know his victims, or, I mean, they didn't recognize their killer. The way they looked. Their eyes. There was no recognition there. So, if that's the case, where did he find them?

Quicky_Mart: Was the first victim on the site?

Shortstacks: No. But he may have found him from somewhere else?

Quicky_Mart: Not online though. He really didn't have much of an internet presence.

Pipes1983: So, you're trawling dating sites to find a killer? That's... interesting.

Shortstacks: I know, stupid idea. Already had two dick pics. LMOA.

Pipes1983: Whose picture did you use?

Shortstacks: I used some rando's picture. Want to tweak the bio though. Could use some help.

Pipes1983: You just used some stranger's picture? Didn't fancy your chances huh?... jokes.

Shortstacks: I'm sure I'd make a very hot woman, but I prefer to stay as I am. I'm a bit of a babe magnet, actually. Woman flock from miles around to get a piece of this action.

Pipes1983: I'm sure. LOL. Maybe it doesn't have to be a woman. Hello, the first victim was a man.

Shortstacks: Not catfishing this psycho with my own picture.

Pipes1983: But you're happy to use some poor girl's photo. Imagine if they did use the dating site to find victims, and you just guided them to some random, innocent woman. Or, what if the police find your profile and think you're the killer? You were the one that lead them to the body. Did the cops ever contact you about that?

Shortstacks: Nope. Heard nothing. It's strange. Anyway, I don't live in America. I have a watertight alibi.

Pipes1983: Okay. Well, it's your funeral. Just write anything for the bio. They all sound the same anyway. Say that you love extreme sports and you're an international swimsuit model by day and a heart surgeon by night. Might as well have some fun with it.

Shortstacks: I don't want it to look fake. Mundane is the way to go.

Pipes1983: Well, I can definitely help with that. My life is as mundane as it gets. Say you're on welfare, two kids, and a failed art career.

Quicky_Mart: You have kids?

Pipes1983: Yeah. Probably shouldn't have mentioned that. You can never trust strangers online.

Chapter Eleven

CHICAGO

Kristen sat in front of the computer. She had work to do. This client's website was due to go live in a week, and she'd barely even started. Despite working from home and her short commute to the living room each day, she was exhausted.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw him. Propped up in the chair in the middle of the room, blood everywhere. His face crushed beyond recognition, and the unnatural pallor of his skin. He wasn't her dad anymore. She wiped a tear away from her cheek and loaded up the forum. They had to have come up with something, and she needed to fight through the feelings of helplessness that left her crying herself to sleep most nights.

 

Shortstacks: I've already had three dick pics. I can't believe what you woman have to put up with. They present it to you like you should be grateful. Like it's an amazing gift.

Pickletubs118: Haha. Just think. One of those penises might be the killers. Hang on, is it penises, or penis's.

Shortstacks: Peni? Like cacti?

Pickletubs118: Wouldn't it be funny if a dick pic was this guy's undoing?

K-Meister: This isn't a joke you know.

Shortstacks: Sorry. Didn't mean to be insensitive.

K-Meister: It's fine, I suppose. I see they found the second victim.

Shortstacks: Yes. I assume you still don't know who the second victim is?

K-Meister: No idea. Never met them. Police are checking for any links. Nothing in my father's phone records or internet history to suggest they knew each other. So, looking at the forum posts, you don't have any real leads.

Shortstacks: Not yet. I don't suppose you know if your dad did any online dating at all?

K-Meister: Not that he mentioned. It doesn't really seem like his style. He wasn't exactly tech savvy. Besides, he was quite an old-fashioned, traditional kind of guy.

Shortstacks: In that case, I'm at a complete loss as to how the killer knew them. Still, it's not a long drive between the two. Maybe they met on a commute or something?

K-Meister: I feel like we're just clutching at straws.

Pickletubs118: What we need is another video, another body. More to work with.

K-Meister: Are you for real? That's a horrible thing to say. I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

Shortstacks: Read the room mate.

 

 

 

Chapter Twelve

LILY LAKE - ILLINOIS

From her position in the corner of the cabin, Piper watched her kids playing with their father. They decorated the small artificial tree that had been shoved in the trunk of the car last minute. The cabin, booked on Christmas eve after another family had to cancel last minute, was now their Switzerland. Neutral ground; neither of them at home. The children seemed to like it though. The