Chapter Text
It was a rather grisly case, not your typical ossified guy messing about, nor a gal who sold herself to the wrong joe. Whatever or whoever this was, was being deliberate. It had started earlier this month, for some reason, it's always the rainy season that brings out the crazies. An ordinary-aged man was found in some back alley- with no clear sign of death, or who done it. The only thing of note was that he had a larger marking on his forehead, it was of a crescent moon, fresh too.
The cops wrote it off as some possible upcoming gang, after Silvermane's death- there had been a rise in them, trying to take over the streets, and the booze market. Yet, it didn't seem likely, they were no whispers in the streets of a moon-themed gang around, and next week, a gal showed up with the same marking. She, to their knowledge, had no connection to the previous man. Though it could be the same killer- it also could be a doppelganger; one strange crime seems to cause more to follow. After all, everyone wants a headlining spot in the Daily Bugle.
Which seemed to be the case- this week, three people showed up this time with those markings. The killer was either getting bolder, or those potential copy-cats were. No one could tell who the now dubbed 'crescent moon killer' was gonna go after next- it just seem like all his victims were just normal joes and janes, who had nothing to hide.
Now, typically, Reilly wasn't gonna take this case- not without a paycheck at least, yet his old friend, a newly appointed editor in chief of his own newspaper, Robbie, kept encouraging him, or well, for 'The Spider' to take that damn case. He wasn't the only one- ever since he returned, albeit for one time! People now expect that black & white freak to be around, great for him. Still, that wasn't enough to push him back into that role, especially with no clues- yet, he's still a private dick, so he couldn't help that the case always sat at the back of his mind.
Meaning, that was gonna eventually push him into the line of fire of sorts.
He had just been enjoying a hot dog as he sat down on some apartment steps when a man came rushing out, speaking to himself in a hushed whisper. Ben may not have heard a word, but 'The Spider' sure did-
"Greenwich? First Harlem... They're-"
At first, he didn't care; it wasn't much anyways and besides- he was more focused on his delectable hotdog than anything, yet the next day, another joe was found, with that same marking in Greenwich Village, and can guess where the first body was found? Now it could be a coincidence, yet when it comes to a detective, coincidences didn’t exist. Even if he wasn't the killer, he had to know something- and that itch, in him, that itch to know- threw out any common sense out the window. He blames 'The Spider', that guy was just looking for something to punch.
The next logical thing to do was get a drink; a little liquor couldn't hurt as he stalked out of the apartment building. After four or so drinks (he’s trying to lean off you know), he headed out, asking the nearby broom seller? If he knew about the man, better than waiting.
'Tall, olive-ish skin, dark curly brown hair?"
The white-haired man just gave him a shrug- that didn't work...
"Talks to himself?”
A glint of recognition appeared in his eyes, "I don't know him, personally. But he leaves this building in a rush, around eight, every day."
"Do you know where he heads?"
He shrugs, quite the conversationalist this man was.
"Well, uh, thanks," Reilly said, before heading back to his office-
"Back so soon," his ex-secretary, now co-investigator, Janet asked
"Yeah, I don't think I'll be able to catch him till tomorrow," Reilly replied, heading to the cabinet to pour himself a drink
Janet quirked her eyebrow, moving over to take the glass from his hand, "Robbie came around again," she said, taking a sip of the liquor, "Said he heard from a few guys, a figure appearing in Greenwich."
"People appear everywhere," he commented, grabbing back the now-empty glass.
She almost rolled her eyes, "Yeah, but this one dresses themselves in bright white, and one keen witness says, on his outfit was the same crescent moon that's been appearing on those victims."
A part of him is annoyed; he has just gotten started in this investigation, and now a very clear suspect shows up, but the other part of him is relieved; it makes things a lot easier. "So he's our guy then?"
She hummed, "Probably, but if a man got that close to seeing him, I'm surprised he lived to tell the tale." She paused, "That is, if only now does the killer want to be known."
"Well, you know those costumed individuals, always have a screw loose- wouldn't be surprised, they'd would randomly show their face now,"
"Don't I know it…" she whispered, "You still want to follow up on that guy?" she added
"It's still a clue, we don't know when this killer may strike next- it's all a waiting game. Can't hurt-"
She nodded, heading back to her desk, as Ben headed into his office- he lit up a cigarette, letting the smoke pour out into the room. A waiting game, that's all this is, all he needs to do is wait…
Although maybe it wouldn't hurt to stalk out the city tonight, after all, he can't let himself get too rusty again.