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image: Kissing Parrots © Louloudeathglow | Dreamstime Stock Photos
image: Kissing Parrots © Louloudeathglow | Dreamstime Stock Photos

“OK people, settle down!”

The room grew quiet as the detectives focused on the Chief Inspector.

“You are all here for one reason and one reason only, to capture the killers known as the ‘Love Birds’. You have all been picked in no small part due to your individual successes in other investigations, but this will be the most challenging any of you have seen.”

Chief Inspector Reilly paused and took a sip a water.

“The ‘Love Birds’ are believed to be a husband and wife team of assassins. Their victims have all been witnesses in high profile organized crime cases and their work has cost us at least three convictions so far. They seem to favor a slow but brutal death for their victims, most likely at the request of whoever has been hiring them; each of their eighteen victims so far has been killed by hundreds of small lacerations and disfigurement.”

CI Reilly turned on the projector and the image of the latest victim appeared on the screen behind him.

“As you can see from the latest victim, one Mr. Hoskins who was expected to testify at the Gimbiolli trial in two weeks time, the disfigurement appears to be inflicted by means of what forensics has determined to be a three hooked device of some sort. Additionally, the eyes of each victim appear to have been pierced by what forensics describes as ‘a pointed clamp or similar device’. At his time, however, they cannot get any more specific than that.”

CI Reilly clicked the button and the next slide appeared behind him.

“Here we have the calling card of the ‘Love Birds’. A single, white feather. Forensics has confirmed the red discoloration on the feathers is neither blood, nor any type of dye they are familiar with. They have determined the feather to be of the Psittaciformes order and …”

“You mean a parrot feather, sir?”, asked Detective Simmons.

“What? Well, possibly. It could be a parrot, or a cockatoo, they are not yet certain which. As I was saying these feathers are still being identified, but it is clear these killers have one sick streak in them and are far above your typical killer in intellect. They have, after all, managed to breach security of eighteen different protected witnesses, get in close enough to kill their victims face to face in a less than quick manner, and escape unseen. That’s not to say we will not catch them. We recently caught a break thanks to a recorded conversation between one of the Gimbiolli lieutenants and who we believe to be one of the ‘Love Birds’ themselves. Jeffers, play that recording if you would.”

“So you’re clear on what we need done?”

“Shut up bird, shut up.”

“That’s right. Gotta keep that bird from singing, or it’ll keep us all awake at night. Your usual fee?”

“Cracker, cracker, cracker, cracker.”

“Yeah, OK, a bit steeper than last time, but we can cover it. We’ll get you half of them saltines in advance and the rest once you’re done. Give my best to your wife.”

“Polly is a sweet bird. Rawk!”

“Yeah, I’m sure she is. You two take care and we’ll be in contact once it’s done.”

CI Reilly shook his head.

“Devious, cold-hearted bastards. Their code speak is still being worked on by cryptography, but I’m sure we’ll break it soon enough.”

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