It was still raining as he made his way around the house to the car of the boyfriend, he could see that the door had been broken in and climbing into the still running but empty sedan, he drove off silently and un-noticed towards the city.
It had been a good day overall he thought to himself. He had made a new friend, got out of the city for the day and acquired a very nice car. As he drove down the rainy streets he made sure that he did not move too swiftly, emergency responders were screaming by at a high rate of speed.
He enjoyed the drive back to the city and turned on the radio as he rustled through the glove compartment. Finding a small Walkman like radio he noticed that it had the face and colors of an American flag, which amused him, so he stuffed it into his pocket. He had no intention of keeping it but it would just give him peace tonight. It would help by drowning out the pain until the rains came again.
Back in the city he disposed of the car in the river and walked slowly back to the nest across town, to the place he called his home.
Passing store windows he could see the fuss being made of his latest exploits and from television to television he strode by watching the image of the house he had left earlier. A mans face was talking to the cameras and he paused for a moment, his interest peaked. The caption read David Scott - Chief Investigator "Rainy Day Killings".
He laughed a bit and thought, "That will have to change".
The next day in the city was clear and the people were all about going their separate bustling ways but all tongues were abuzz with yesterday's news in Wine Hurst. The "Rain Man" as the citizens had now labeled him, had struck again. This time outside the city, now even the suburbs were not safe.
Scene: a meeting of the Rainy Day Killer task force, with the press invited.
David Scott addresses reporters; "The toll of dead and missing is now at seven men and women and we are no closer to catching him than we were the first day. A special task force has been put together weeks ago but by now everyone from psychics, to amateur criminologists have offered their help in stopping this mad man but still nothing." "This latest crime provided clues but not many" " We knew or felt strongly that the killer was a man, until now we were only guessing but the description of the suspect's voice and strength leads us to believe that not only he is a man but indeed a very strong one. The victim survived but did not actually see her attacker. She suffered only a small cut to the back of the neck but she is OK and talking". " Citizens are advised to be diligent and to walk in pairs. Stay away from areas where you are not familiar with and away from people you do not totally trust." " Any and all tips should be directed to our hot line and they will be processed most vigorously". " We will schedule other briefings when the need arises to let you know more". With that, the interview was ended, the reporters led out and the doors closed.
While not too far away, outside a family restaurant, a man opens the door and strolls inside. He waves at the management and acknowledges the cook as he walks past the ordering window and to his usual table by the window. He takes a menu and asks for two eggs scrambled 'light' with dry toast and coffee.
Finishing a fine breakfast once again, he felt renewed and the start of the drizzle outside only served to heighten his feelings of impending mental satisfaction, for it was only with the rains that the 'gleaming' could be truly seen on his blade and only with the glittering water could he find temporary peace. The rains enclosed him and shouted down the thoughts that blasted through his head; they soothed him like a primordial bath of all-consuming sensations.
Some things about himself he knew well and others were still a mystery. He knew why he loved the glitter of the rain and the 'gleaming' of all things shiny but he had little clue about why he felt the need to kill and to see his victims' eyes while the blade struck home.
The last few days had been difficult, not because of the task force or the alerted citizenry but it had not rained one drop and that had troubled him deeply.
But now he could hear the familiar rumbling of thunder, as the clouds prepared to deliver the glistening that would bring the great rapture. He waited for these long dry days and soon he would see and show the "gleaming once more".
He had gotten to the diner late and finished his meal in a hurry but still he was behind in his schedule. Usually he went to the various places in the city where he could find new targets but today he planned to sit by the water and enjoy the rain first.
As he was leaving, he noticed that the cook had a radio like the one he had taken from the car a few days ago. Since he had already purchased another and the one the cook had seemed in bad shape, he pulled the striped red white and blue radio from his pocket and offered it to his culinary hero. He loved his eggs cooked just right and the man was the best in town. The cook gladly accepted the gift and watched him with confusion as he walked out into the downpour.
The catch: When he reached the park he was truly in ecstasy, he walked to the waters edge and slumped to the ground and fell to his back with joy. He let the rain cover him with its glittering justice and reason, this was the reward, and this was his reason to be.
After a moment he sat up and spotted a fisherman at the end of the walk near the railing and rose to his feet. He watched the man fixing his pole in the steady drenching downpour and the man smiled as he approached. "You love the rain too" the man shouted speaking above the roar of thunder and the pounding rains. " Some people tell me Joe you gotta be missing your head to go out in this to fish. You know, you really have to have a heart for fishing to come out into this. I guess I really got a heart for it" he again shouted.
In a guttural bellow of a voice he answered back to the fisherman " Do you really, lets take a look".
The next morning, the newspapers told of a weekday fisherman found floating in the river, his head removed and chest split open. Missing was his heart, which would be found a few days later dangling from a hook on a fishing pole in a water side park.
In a restaurant nearby the next day, its usual morning occupant chooses the usual table and a familiar order is taken, two eggs scrambled 'light' with dry toast and coffee.
The Gleaming
A Chance Meeting
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