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They were called into the “Tooth Fairy” case halfway in. Serial killers are usually on CID’s plate, not for uniforms like them. As for this one, Basira had to give it to the killer that they had done a neat job. 

The general rule is that no body then no case. What they found it was a bag. A medium sized glass paper gift bag tied with Christmas theme ribbon was left in a local park bench, as if it was simply forgotten by the Santa. The cleaner might as well think so, but he immediately changed his mind when he saw what was inside.

Hundreds of human teeth. Came in all sizes and conditions. 

The forensic reports in Basira’s hand stated that these teeth came from at least seventeen individuals in different age and sex groups. Ten of them had reported missing. Three of them had even well passed “deadline”. No one had ever seen the rest of them for a while. Also at least five sets of teeth were not shown in any dental records. All identified owners came from different jobs, had varied appearances and no obvious connection to each other.

“Sounds strange, yes. But still within your realm of kinky killers.” Daisy broke the silence, looking at their superior. “Is it really weird enough to kick others out and to bring us in?”

“I haven’t finished yet.” The inspector gave Daisy a stern stare. Yan Haan, the only member from the original investigation team, before the whole case were made sectioned-only. Basira suspected some of the members had not withdrawn willingly, as it was common in the police force: hounds did not give up their chase to others. Therefore, she deduced, either there were some more horrendous “details” they hadn’t learned yet, or DI Haan was much more influential than anyone had expected.

As for the later, just like Daisy there were some dark rumors about Haan’s Section 31 as well, about a butcher shop maybe. Or a takeaway restaurant. Something to do with meat anyway. But she decided not to follow that train of thought for now, after all, everyone had their secrets. 

“The investigation part was at its final stage.”Haan said to both of them. Her gaze carried some kind of contemplation, as if she was weighing them against something. “We have found our suspect already.” She passed another report to Basira. 

She said we. Basira thought. Yet now she is the only one who is standing here.

Haan continued to explained that one general practitioner Louis Voisin came into the view after thousands hours spent on combing through all possible victims’ connections and countless asking arounds. Basira went through these quickly. 

Doctor Louis Voisin. Male. Thirty-five. Graduated from St. Mary’s. Currently hold his own clinic in south London. Single. No potential partner. Nearly two thirds of the missing people had his appointments or lived nearby his neighborhood. Well. Some hard work they had put in, but all these are merely circumstance evidence at best. After all, these can be said to a lot of people. London is a huge city, if one look hard enough, one will find some connections eventually.

“Like a fat spider sitting at the center of the web.” Daisy shrugged, “You can spare the details for the prosecutors. What do you need us for?” 

“The bait.” Haan said without a blink. “You should know what you are hunting for.”

“I thought you said he didn’t have much preference on his target. ”Basira frown. “How do you know it will work?” It was not unheard of, yet she doubted that it could bear any fruits. What if they were wasting time on the wrong person?

“It will.” Haan did not look at Basira, her black eyes were fixing on Daisy. The sergeant held her gaze for a moment.  

“So. You think he is another one then.” Daisy jumped out of the desk she early sit on. 

“Looks like it.” Haan nodded. Without further explanation.

“Sorry if I don’t get it … “Basira interrupted. The whole thing did not make sense at all. She knew sometimes a bait was needed, but setting a trap with what they currently had? It felt like a practical joke to waste taxpayers’ money.

“You can trust her. She was sectioned as well, remember?” Daisy held up a hand to Haan. 

Haan weighed Basira with her black eyes for another moment, and she produced a sealed evidence bag from her desk. It hit on the desktop, something shuffled like there were little pebbles inside. Basira recognized that bag immediately. Those teeth they found.

“Those victims.” Haan said with so much finality. “Fall in to different age, sex, or pretty much any categories you can think of, but they did have one thing in common.” She unzipped the bag and dropped it unceremoniously in front of Basira. “This.”

Had it not Basira been already seated, she would be knocked down on the floor. That powerful aroma still lingered around Daisy was horrifying and intoxicating enough, but she managed to get used to it recently. Desire did strange things to people, but Basira had principles. However, inside that bag, those teeth carried a whole array of aromas, which were much more weak individually compared with Daisy’s, yet came in numbers. Combined, they were like a huge punch to her nose. Smells bleed in all colors. She willed herself not to show it.

“Don’t be so dramatic. Yan. You know I can’t smell these damn things out. I don’t think Basira will do either.” Daisy rolled her eyes, “Only your fork informant can do that. Explain it in plain English to my partner, please.” 

Haan stared at Basira, as if she wanted to found some cracks on Basira’s facade. Then, she shrugged. “The teeth are the hardest parts of human body. It’s almost impossible to digest them.” 

“Wait, so beside murder, you are implying possible cannibalism involved?” Basira could felt that burning in her stomach again. She had always felt it when Daisy was around, this time it was even worse. 

“Not ‘possible’. I am saying that, feeding was the true motivation. Animal like. Hunger driven.” Haan zipped the bag back but her eyes were still fixed on Basira. “As your sectioned fellow, my share of paranormal trivia is that, for certain individuals, the human population are divided into three categories. First, normal people who cannot be eaten or just taste really bad, so basically just background noise or ‘plates’. They simply used to present the edible ‘cake’ for the cannibal ‘forks’ people. Normie plate like me, would think meat is meat, and cannot tell the differences between ‘plates’ and ‘cake’.”

“But your ‘fork’ informant can do.”

“Exactly. They can smelled a cake out from hundreds meters away. You may wonder that there are still some food existing other than your fellow human beings.” Yan sneered, “Unfortunately, it’s not because they have sharper senses like dogs, for they just can’t …”

They could not taste or smell a bloody thing except for the cakes. Basira thought. So that did explained a lot. She felt like she was treading around an edge. One step wrong, then all would shatter. 

“And you said you want a bait, so Daisy and me… ?”

“Yes. While I am not sure about you, Sergeant Tonner is one of the delicious cake people.” Yan said a teasing tone. “And she has been proven quite useful in these situations, if our suspect is really what we think he is.”

“You are making me quite self-conscious, Yan.” Daisy replied smoothly yet humorlessly, and she turned to Basira. “It did not always work out like that. And just like it may nor may not be your cup of tea, forks predators obviously had their picks on cakes as well. Some found me unsuitable for their targets.” 

“I would like a whole stacks of flavors to choose from as well.” Detective Inspector Haan shrugged, “but for now you will do. Please go over all the materials. Let me know if you two have further questions. Daisy, you are expected to take the spot tomorrow. Preferably as a patient, but take your pick and notify me ahead. Basira, for now you need to back up for Daisy. We are extremely understaffed due to the nature of this case. There will be a few more sectioned uniforms coming this afternoon, but they were mostly meant for the doctor. I’m afraid you all will have to overwork a bit to cover the surveillance cycle. “

With the newly-arrived sectioned uniforms, they finally worked out a schedule. Daisy moved into one of the safe houses Met owned in a nearby area. Her strictly necessary belongings, along with surveillance equipment came in late that evening. While the technicians were busy checking and testing, Basira found Daisy were unpacking her luggage in the bedroom.

Daisy was dumping all her clothes on the bed. Basira noticed these clothes were slightly different from what Daisy would wear in a normal day. Well, their line of work did not offered much freedom in this aspect, even with plainclothes detectives, they were still expected to show up in courtrooms regularly. Also, Daisy seldom wore skirts, even they had been more common in “professional attire”. She always preferred ones that easy for her to move around in. All in all, a new sight for her. 

“I didn’t know you had wore these type of clothes.”

“What?” Daisy glanced over her, and then her eyes narrowed,”Basira, these just normal -“

Basira suddenly realized how it sounded. Actually there was nothing explicit or outrageous on Daisy’s operational wardrobe. (She would not mind if there was, either.)

“No, no. I didn’t mean it like that, they kind of look like … gift wrappings. “Like gift boxes with colorful ribbons. They did not give away what was inside. They simply invited.

Daisy looked amused, and she nodded approvingly. “That’s precisely what I want. To spread the scent.” She did not offer further explanation. 

Basira slightly tensed inside, but she could not afford to let her secret out, so she just shrugged. “If you say so.” 

 

TBC

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