The red and blue lights of the patrol cars illuminated the street as the police sealed off the entire area.
Yellow tape blocked the way for curious onlookers and journalists.
The headless body was still hanging from the streetlight pole.
The scene was grotesque.
Officers tried to keep people away, but reporters kept taking photos.
Cameras.
Microphones.
Lights.
Everyone wanted the same story.
This case would appear in every news outlet.
Local.
State.
Even national.
A reporter spoke in front of the camera.
—We are here in downtown Trenton, where a brutal murder occurred just minutes ago…
—The victim has been identified as Gabriel.
—Witnesses claim that balloons descended from the sky before exploding and releasing confetti.
—Authorities suspect that the person responsible is the same individual known as "The Clown."
Near the crime scene, several police officers were speaking quietly among themselves.
—This is insane —one of them muttered.
—A clown leaving confetti at murder scenes?
—What's next? A circus?
Another officer shook his head.
—Don't laugh.
—That guy has attacked before.
—There are several reports.
—He always appears… and then disappears.
—Like a ghost.
At that moment, a black vehicle stopped near the police perimeter.
The doors opened.
Two people stepped out.
Dark suits.
Federal badges.
FBI.
One of the officers sighed.
—Great…
—Now this is a federal problem.
One of the agents approached the police tape and showed his identification.
—Special Agent Daniel Carter.
—FBI.
Beside him stood a woman with a cold gaze.
—Special Agent Laura Reyes.
The police officer lifted the yellow tape.
—Go ahead, agents.
—The scene is yours.
Carter observed the body hanging from the pole.
Then he looked at the confetti covering the ground.
—This is definitely not normal.
Reyes crouched down and picked up a small piece of confetti.
She examined it carefully.
—This isn't the first time.
Carter looked at her.
—You've seen something like this before?
Reyes nodded slowly.
—Yes.
—About a month ago.
—A similar case in another state.
—Dead criminals.
—Confetti at the scene.
—And witnesses talking about a clown.
Carter frowned.
—Are you saying we have a serial killer?
Reyes looked at the headless body.
—No.
Carter raised an eyebrow.
—Then what?
—A vigilante —she replied.
Carter crossed his arms.
—Seriously, Reyes?
—I think this is stranger than that.
—Besides… why a vigilante?
Reyes answered calmly.
—Reports say he has been eliminating drug traffickers.
—At least for now.
Carter thought for a few seconds.
—Right… for now.
—At the club he used a dog-shaped balloon that exploded and soaked everyone with paint.
—That doesn't sound like something a normal vigilante would do.
Reyes looked at him.
—We also have the case of those three girls.
Carter immediately looked at her.
He knew exactly what she meant.
—The case of Ana.
—The case of Vivian.
—And the last sighting of the clown was with Brittany.
Reyes continued.
—Two of those girls are from Morris County.
—The other one is from Sussex County.
Carter nodded.
—The first murder happened in Morris County.
—A street gang.
—One of the guys from that gang went to the same school as Vivian and Brittany.
—His name was Tairon.
Carter sighed.
—Reyes…
—Do you think this clown might be mentally ill?
—Someone who escaped from a psychiatric hospital?
Reyes thought for a moment.
—I don't know.
—But we need to catch him.
Reyes was a beautiful woman.
Tall.
Blonde hair.
Green eyes.
Athletic figure.
She looked toward two men standing near the police perimeter.
Loren.
And Stiven.
—Do you know who those two are? —Reyes said.
Carter observed them.
—Leaders of a criminal organization.
—The reason they haven't been arrested is simple.
—They're never directly connected to the crimes.
Reyes nodded.
—The only reason we know they're leaders is because of protected witnesses.
—But legally… they're clean.
Reyes walked toward them.
Loren and Stiven were talking to each other.
When they saw Reyes approaching, they fell silent.
—Special Agent Reyes.
—FBI.
—Mr. Loren.
—Mr. Stiven.
—Would you be so kind as to answer a few questions?
Both of them nodded.
---
Hours later.
Inside the interrogation room.
Carter sat across from Loren.
Loren's lawyer sat beside him.
—Mr. Loren…
—Tell me what happened —Carter said.
Loren sighed.
—I received a call from the clown.
—He asked how I was doing.
—When he hung up, he said I would die with a smile on my face.
Loren decided not to mention the five-hundred-thousand-dollar bounty.
—Is this the first time the clown has called you? —Carter asked.
—No.
—He called me before.
—At the club.
—He knocked one of my companions unconscious.
—He also apologized for castrating Gabriel.
Carter raised an eyebrow.
—Apologized?
—Yes.
—He said it was because Gabriel refused to go eat ice cream with him.
Carter looked at him carefully.
He knew from the reports of Brittany's case that the story wasn't exactly like Loren described.
But he said nothing.
He simply listened.
Behind the observation glass, Reyes watched the scene.
She listened to every word.
—I understand, Mr. Loren.
—I'm sorry for your loss.
Loren nodded slowly.
His eyes were red.
—Agent Carter…
—You can catch that clown, right?
Carter held his gaze.
—You can be sure we will catch him, Mr. Loren.
—I guarantee it.
—Thank you, agent —Loren replied.
---
A while later.
Loren left the building.
He got into a black car.
His face was filled with rage.
—Increase the bounty for that damn clown.
—Now.
The man sitting in the passenger seat pulled out his phone.
He dialed a number.
—The boss said to increase the bounty.
At that moment Loren's phone rang.
Loren answered.
—Loren —a voice said.
—I'm Stiven.
—Did you just increase the bounty?
—Yes.
—Good.
—I'll talk to the boss and cover for you.
The call ended.
In the distance, Carter and Reyes watched Loren's car drive away down the street.