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Chapter 14 - the painted corpse

[Scene: Police station in Mexico. James leans against a wall, sipping coffee. A man enters.]

Marco:

"W'sup, my friend?"

James (frowns):

"...Who are you?"

Marco (smirking):

"Name's Marco. I'm in charge here. Figured I'd say hello."

James:

"And you called me friend because...?"

Marco (shrugs):

"For fun, man. Relax. I'm just here to help you out."

James (cold):

"Right. Let's get to the case then. No need for games."

---

[Scene shifts to briefing room. James paces, folder in hand.]

James:

"So here's what we got. Victims found with smiles carved on their faces.

This guy leaves behind some messed-up art—turning them into clowns."

Marco (nods):

"Yeah. Locals started calling him The Joker."

James:

"Tell me—where do I find this Joker?"

Dr. Fredrick (from corner):

"I don't know exactly… but I'll say this:

He's a psychopath.

The kind that doesn't just kill—he plays. And he's dangerous, even for you."

James (stern):

"I saw the last body. Doesn't matter how twisted he is—he bleeds."

---

[Sofia enters, holding a file.]

Sofia:

"James, I ran some facial residue tests.

There's something weird—"

James:

"Go on."

Sofia:

"He used a special cream. It reacts to body heat and eats the skin slowly.

Makes the face look like it's… smiling. Permanent."

James (quietly):

"Sick bastard. He's not killing. He's painting."

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