39 A Plan

The detective sat back down in her chair, a stunned look of shock on her face. "So, tell me what does a god care about this case?" She asked.

"Let's just say it is a personal matter." Zell replied. "Do not concern yourself about it further."

"This is just like those shows!" She said, snapping out of her shock. "You know the show where the detective gets help from something supernatural and they use their unique abilities to help crack the case."

"I'm afraid I am not up to date on the television shows." Zell said in reply. "Let's not waste any more time. Tell me what you know of the case."

"Yes sir!" The detective said quickly, almost sitting at attention. "There have been five mass casualty events over the past month. All happen during broad daylight and there is never a sign of forced entry. The killer's rate of attack has been steadily increasing over the past month which implies they are losing control over their urges and are bound to make a mistake soon."

"Or they are becoming better and more confident." Zell replied. "So, the attacks all happened in the daytime? How are there no witnesses? No evidence?"

"Every witness has been one of the victims." The detective said. "The killer always strikes during a family celebration of some sort. The last set of victims had a retirement party. That poor old man had a heart attack when he saw the carnage, no one should have to go through that. Especially on a day that should have been joyful."

"I agree." Zell said. "How often does the killer strike?"

"The first attack was on the third." She explained. "The second took place ten days later, the next two five days. Then the last was a mere two days."

"So, the killer will strike again either today or tomorrow?" Zell said, leaning back in his chair thinking about what to do next. "Have you thought about setting a trap for them?"

"A trap?" The detective asked. "You mean make a fake celebration and hope they attack? I actually suggested that to the chief, but he told me it was a bad idea and a waste of manpower."

"You have no leads, no suspects, no evidence." Zell explained. "Setting a trap may be the only way to stop them."

"I completely agree but unfortunately it is out of my hands." She sighed.

"Do we at least know how the killer is finding their targets?" Zell asked.

"I believe it is the newspaper." She replied. "Every event had an article about it in the paper, well at least the first four did. I have not confirmed if the fifth did."

"Do you have today's paper?" Zell asked.

"We might, in the lobby." She said. "Would it be alright if I went to go check, Mr. god sir?"

"Permission granted." Zell laughed.

[You may have set in motion a terrible set of events.] Anna said. [Humans on Earth are not supposed to have proof of the divine, at least not since the mythological era. Mother got so upset we had so many humans as our slaves and servants. She forbade us from doing it again.]

[I didn't get that warning.] Zell joked. [We have only told one person, if we act like it will cause harm to the universe or destroy the world if she tells anyone I am sure it will be fine.]

[Careful you don't start a new religion.] Anna warned. [Humans are quick to follow the divine, it is in their nature. Even if the divine is just remnants and not an actual god.]

[I am telling you it will be okay.] Zell said. [This is the best way to find the killer. It made her work with us quickly, didn't it?]

[I am just warning you.] Anna said. [There is no telling what mother may do if she discovers a god revealed themselves on Earth.]

[Isn't she all seeing and all knowing?] Zell asked.

[No, she just says that.] Anna explained. [None of us are. She does have the ability to watch multiple targets at once, but that is not unlimited. I believe it caps out at around two billion. She can also only watch one universe at a time, and she has made countless universes. So, the odds are low she finds out, but if she does…]

[It will be okay!] Zell replied. [have some faith.]

[Says the mortal playing god.] Anna said.

The door to the interrogation room opened once more and the detective walked back carrying the paper. She sat back down and started going through it.

Thumbing through the announcement section she found what she was looking for. "It looks like there are two events coming up tomorrow." She explained. "One is for a family reunion and the other is a birthday party for a forty-eight-year-old man."

"So, one of those will likely end in tragedy?" Zell said.

"Judging by current events, I would say it is a good possibility." She said. "I asked if we could cancel all family gatherings until we caught the killer, but the chief said we could not take away the civil liberties of anyone, even if it saved their life. We don't have the manpower to cover both events, nor do I think the chief would go for it."

"Why don't we split up then?" Zell asked. "I will take one and you and the other officers take the other?"

"I suppose being a god and all you can handle yourself." She said.

"Oh, about that." Zell said. "You must not reveal my identity to anyone. Doing so could lead to dire consequences."

"What kind of dire consequences?" She asked nervously.

"Dire ones." Zell replied. "You have not told anyone have you?"

She violently shook her head no. "I have not told a soul!"

"Good see that you don't." Zell said. "Because remember if you do there will be dire consequences."

"I understand sir." She replied.

"So, what is the address of the birthday party?" Zell asked.

"7786 Fifth Street." She replied.

"Thank you." Zell said. He then used his powers of space to teleport to that location leaving the detective alone in the room.

She quickly pulled out her cell phone and pulled up a text conversation. Her text read: 'I met a god today sis! Can you believe it gods are real! I doubted it at first but then he did all sorts of weird stuff and even made it storm! Yeah, that sudden storm out of nowhere earlier, that was him! This is going to be the most exciting case of my life.'

She looked at it and sighed. She quickly sent another text: 'Please disregard everything I just said. It was all a dream I shouldn't drink so much coffee. Love sis.'

"I hope she buys that." She said to herself as she put away her phone and exited the room.