A Bloody Red Trail

It was late, close to dusk. The street lamps prevented the entire town to be dragged in that pitch black the night carries with her. But I could see very well, better than an average pony. My slitted eyes absorbed what little light there was around me. Illuminating the houses and stores around, some already closed.

It wasn’t hard to see a lone pony in the darkness. The glow from a pipe, or perhaps a cigarette lit their nose and cheeks softly. I sniffed the air, drawing closer, I found her. The perfect specimen for this night.

Fur as white as pearl, a beautiful long and bright orange mane complemented by a ribbon. She was middle-aged. Probably married, and with children. Such a waste of a life.

I begin to approach to her carefully, even if the dim lights on the street are on my side. One wrong move is unthinkable.

She’s not aware of me yet. I take a couple more steps… Then I put my hoof on her muzzle as the metallic blade I prepared for her penetrates her heart. I shush at her ears and kiss her cheek. Her robust body slowly went down, lifeless. I drag her to an alley nearby so that I can begin to work.

She looks so majestic. I use my horn to get the incision ready, this time, I want something different… I run my hoof on that soft fur, slowly I turn her around, with her womanhood spread out before me. My eyes cannot help but stare at it.

I didn’t like this idea, but. I knew the investigators would be on my trail soon, they knew my killings. If I didn’t do something to derail them. I might make a slip up... Leading to my discovery. Curling my lip. I defiled her corpse.

When the whole process was done, I collapsed into my bed, feeling dirty and vile. But it had to be done, I knew they were closing in, they would have suspects soon. I had to make it look like it was another killer. Not me, I had left her intact... I hadn’t wanted too. Her fur, was so lovely, so soft.

I shuddered.

“Posy! Draw my bath!” I bellowed. I had to clean myself, from the vile filth. I had a wife, had being the operative word, but my vows were something I held dear. My killing I held dearer however. I hear one of my maids hooves trot down the hall to the bathroom.

“I want it hot!” I called out. I hated it when she didn’t heated my baths enough. Lukewarm wasn’t the most pleasant sensation. Especially now with my repulsion of what I had done.
After a few moments, I took my cloak off, and went down the hall.

I often walked through my home without clothes on, much to the mares of the household’s dismay. I was however, quite a fetching stallion. Handsome, well built, classy. It was my home, and they were my workers. My home, my rules.

I opened the door to see the bathwater steaming. This was good, better than last time.

“Posy, I’ll take my bath now.” I said. She was bent over the tub, adding oils, perfumes. She jumped at my voice, turning and blushed. A sly grin creased my lips.

“Alone.” I added, in a softer tone.

The water was perfect. The vapor rising from it and how it cleansed my body from what I’ve done. Those idiots would undoubtedly will think this is just a cheap distraction… One of them at least.

I took the sponge and began to wash my back hooves with it. Maybe it’s about time for me to get back at that sorry excuse of a detective. So long have I contemplated his face on the newspapers. That stupid smile of his. I want to erase it, to see him broken and utterly humiliated. I closed my eyes at that idea and a smile drew on my face as I kept enjoying the bath.

After this, some nice dinner would suit me well. Something from my private collection.

“Posy!” I exclaimed still in the bathtub. “Please prepare everything. I think I’ll have something from the dried variety once I’m done here.”

I finished drying myself and put on my bathtub. Descended the stairs down to the kitchen of my lovely residence.

After getting inside the dining hall, my sight immediately focused on the banquet.

It was just a silver tray on the table awaiting for my arrival. Posy opened it revealing one of my personal favorites.

Cured ham. I know it might seem something odd. But having the fortune of tasting something like this is not for everyone.

The subtlety of the cuts, the salty flavour, that reddish color that decorated the center and edges of the meat. They were all greeting my arrival, expecting for me to devour and savour it all.

I worked so hard to get the perfect cuts and cure them. So many days invested, studying the right specimens. And yes, they were ponies. My prize kills, the most lovely and exotic of all the mares I’ve slaughtered. The more foreign, the more I wanted to taste. For example. As I approached one of the hams, the delicate frosty fur greeted my hungry eyes. It was one of my earlier kills of the year, a fair beauty to be sure. She didn’t sound like she was from England, an American pony. Delicately spoken, attractive lips. No, I was not attracted to her to mate, far from it. She was the creme de la creme. Even now I remembered how much I longed to have her on my plate.

Now she was perfectly cured, the spicy scent brought saliva to my mouth. Lifting the small, but very sharp knife, I started to make the first cut, removing the top layer, and getting deep into it.

Taking a cracker, I folded the first edible slice, of thinly trimmed meat from the ham. Bringing it to my mouth.

“Posy! Where is my caviar!?” I cried, this wasn’t complete without the caviar.... Specially prepared. Posy was useless... If it weren’t for her family having worked for my father, I’d have gotten rid of her long ago…

She was however well meaning, if not all there. She was like a kitten, not really dangerous, but playful.

I rolled my eyes when she brought me my caviar.

When I say special, I mean quite special. I had a taste, for pony, which is quite plain. But, this. Was no fish caviar. But the paste, from the ovaries of a mare.
It was fresh, sweet, not at all salty.

I dapped a small spoonful onto my cracker. Perfect.

Popping it into my mouth, I chewed slowly. Savoring the delightful flavors play across my tongue.

Made me forget all the days activities. I sighed as I seated myself in a chair, and began piling the plate with my food. Today wasn’t such a bad day after all.

Yawning I kissed my wife’s forehead. Not that she could really tell, or respond. She’d been a mute and catatonic for over four years now. I still took care of her, and loved her. It was sad to see what’s become of her though, her once beautiful eyes, were now clouded over. her lovely midnight blue fur had taken on a gray tinge to it. My Rose Thorn was as beautiful as the day I met her, but she looked older, more worn.

I moved her out of the bed, and into her rocking chair gently. Covering her with a blanket.
“I have to go to work love, I’ll have the staff look after you.” I gave her another kiss, and got dressed, in a sharp half suit. I gave my wife a last look, I’d see her tonight, but. I never knew. I hadn’t even had a spoken conversation, that wasn’t one sided in years. I missed her, and as much as I would like nothing more than to care for her all day. I had to bring in the bread somehow.

Grabbing my bag. I called for the butler.

“Ivory! I’m leaving now. Take care of Rose!” I called, a cough replied. Ivory was an old stallion, had worked for the family since I was young. Both my parents were well thought of ponies, rich, well educated, sophisticated ponies. I had inherited the large, spacious luxurious home.

I was lucky, I had been born in this home, grew up, and had planned to have my own children grow up here.

But after my Rose had become catatonic, foals seemed out of the question.

I took the walk to my work, as I always did, as a time to meditate. Before the chaos at work consumed me.

It was a stressful job, but I did enjoy it. Many ponies questioned how I could enjoy work, that at any time a murder file could wind up on my desk.

However, for me, while stress was an obvious part, I didn’t let it get me down. The work paid well, it was mentally stimulating.

Over all, the best job I could have hoped for.

I entered The Station a little half past nine in the morning. A clamor made me stop, before taking the stairs to my office.
Mares were huddled, talking in hushed whispers.

“I heard it was different, she wasn’t torn to bits...” one said, obviously the gossipy workhorse.

“Could that mean it was another killer?” Another one asked.

“Another! We can barely catch one! Now we have two?” was another’s horrified reaction. I approached.

“No need to worry my dears. If I have anything to say about it, he or they will be caught. Just, don’t wander out at night, until we do.” I smiled, trying to use my charm to enforce the subtle curfew.

“Oh, good morning Mr. Pace. How’s the misses?” A young mare, Sun Showers. I think her name was asked.

I nodded.

“The usual, but she looked a little better today, thank you.”

It wasn’t widely known what happened to my wife, what I had tried to portray was she was ill at home, and bedridden. Unable to be visited, nor accompany me to night parties.

It was easier if they didn’t know.

“So, what has you mares getting your nerves up?” I asked, leaning on a desk, seemingly interested.
“Anything new?”

“Oh, you haven’t heard. You need to read the paper before leaving to work, Mr. Pace..” A dark brown mare said, with a giggle.

“Then what would I be? I’m a detective, I like to find things out, not be told them.” I smile back.

The mares went into a fit of laughter. I was quite the charmer when I wanted to be. Also setting these mares at ease would be a good idea, depending on what they told me nex.

“Well, what we found out this morning, another mare was killed, but... It wasn’t like the others.” Sun Showers said in a hushed voice.

“She hadn’t been chopped up. Instead...” A deep blush crossed her cheeks.

“She had been violated... It wasn’t what the murderer had been doing before, could that mean somepony else is doing it too?”

“Anything is possible. Don’t worry dears, I’ll catch him.” A cough from behind me made me start.

When I realized the sound, I grimaced. The mares I had been talking to quickly busied themselves with their work. Appearing to have done nothing wrong. Acting as if nothing was amiss.
However, I felt the rage start to boil.

“Ah! Chief! So good of you to greet me this morning! I heard a new body was found.” I was still leaning against the desk, now looking impish.

“So you heard. Good, now, I don’t want you getting any funny ideas. This is still Feather’s case. So, let’s make that clear. Now. if you were to somehow. Take the case from him, by persuasion. I’d have you rung up by your hooves and displayed from the flag post!” His smoke was filling my nostrils. His breath unclean, rotting vegetable matter.

“....Yes. Sir... You’ve made that quite clear.” I replied waving the smoke from me. It was vile.

“Good, now listen here. I’m being a kind old stallion, letting you even be on this case, but.” He held his hoof to my nose.

“If I catch a whiff, of anything suspicious. You’ll be fired before you can say ‘Peach pie’! Do you hear me?”

He began pacing near me.

“You’re smart, Pace. A little too smart, I know, I can see it. You want this case, but.” He gave me a smile, that could only be described as malicious. He enjoyed this! He really did.
I clenched my jaw, to keep from speaking and getting myself fired right on the spot.

“Good, at least you still know how to shut your mouth... You may be the best in the business, but right now. I don’t need the best. I need this case solved! Before more mares are killed!”

Spittle hit my face. The urge to wipe it away was overpowering... But I kept still.

“But sir... If you let me. I can solve it!”

“No buts, ifs OR ands! If you don’t like my decision, you can just mop the floors after hours for all I care!”

He turned and stomped away.

Slowly the mares returned, one thankfully with a handkerchief...

“What’s got the old stud in a mood today?” I asked, after my face was clear of spit.

“Oh, the mare that was killed. It was his granddaughter...” Was a hushed whisper.

This hit me in a way most murders hadn’t. Some sick pleasure was taken the old kook had gotten a few kicks.
But it was his granddaughter after all. So, my heart. Rather half of it, went out to him.

“I see...” I commented. After a little idle chat, I left the mares to go to my office.
There was a file, with photographs. The most recent crime scene. This was less than a week after the last killing.
I flicked through them.

She had had her heart cut. sexually assaulted post mortem. Quite unusual. Sexual assault was not common for ponies... So this took my interest immediately.

“Could it be, a different killer?”

From the looks of things, the method of killing was clearly different, the first, far more brutal than a stab to the heart. This almost seemed gentile...
I lay the photos on my desk, and leaned back, tapping my hooves together, and looking into the distance.
If it was, maybe Feather could be ditched, while I looked for the real suspect.

Or... It could be a diversion. To appear to be different.. Maybe we were getting close to uncovering something about him.
I smiled, no pony could get away from me.

Again, I sat at the typewriter, and began to take notes.
Clearly the villain was clever, he thought ahead of everypone else. But, he wasn’t being consistent, meaning he was worried...
He was a unicorn, the use of magic was the only way to make those kinds of brutal cuts.
In addition he was also desperately trying to cover his tracks. Getting sloppy.