Challenge #00740 - B009: Fighting Against the Stereotype

http://boundlessinspiration.tumblr.com/post/106944373313/hurryupmerlin-thegirlwithgoldeyes-imagine-a

“Bolin! Hey,” Sasha smiled for her. “It’s so rare to see you off night shift.”

“Yeah. Tell me about it.” Safely indoors and out of direct sunlight, Bolin shed her hood and took off her sunglasses.

Sasha burst out laughing. “What’s with the war paint?”

“Zinc oxide is the only sunblock I can wear. It comes in teeny-tiny pots and a range of colours. None of which match. So… Kabuki dragon.” She gestured at her own face. “I need complete coverage if I’m to get through the day without blisters.”

“Damn,” Sasha shook her head. “I keep forgetting about your sensitivities. I mean, apart from the monthly trip to the ER because of your garlic bread binge.”

“Still. Totally. Worth it,” Bolin laughed. She had a careful smile. Never wide or open. Always guarded. It had to be. Smiling too much might make people realise something. “Now… What’s this about all hands on deck?”

“The Closet Monster Ripper sent in a note saying that the next victim was already staked out.”

“If that’s a real letter. I told the Chief it didn’t smell right.”

“Your nose is never wrong…”

“Correction, my nose is wrong one day in the month, and that day is the day after Garlic Bread Day. Which I have to miss out on thanks to this city search. Let me guess. We have a BOLO out on any parked vans with someone inside, outside of residential areas.”

“Yyyyyup.” Sasha finished her paperwork with a flourish. “We’re out in five. Any of your famous inspirations?”

“The ripper’s too smart to be visible. If I were to guess, I’d say the perp scopes out the houses from more than one invisible sources. We’re not looking for a parked van. We’re looking for suspicious joggers or hidden webcams where nobody would look.” Bolin toured in front of the boards. One was full of kidnapped children. “And the next victim is going to be on the lower East side.”

“What? How can you tell?”

Bolin lined up the children on the timeline. Hispanic, Native American, Black, Asian, White. Hispanic, Black, Asian, white. Black, Black, Black White. “Our perp picks at least three lower-class families before going after a more affluent white family. He’s just hit a gated community last week. If we’re going to find him, we’re going to find him in a low-rent area that the police either avoid, or go in like they’re going to war.”

Sasha boggled at the timeline. “That fucking shit… he’s using our own racism against us…”

The hunt was on. And, if she was really lucky, she could drain this bastard and get away with it. Something about pedo blood made them extra tasty…

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