Daddy Long Legs by Vernon W. Baumann

Author:Vernon W. Baumann [Baumann, Vernon W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: The Paper Corporation
Published: 2013-10-23T23:00:00+00:00

Fourteen

‘And let’s do take number three in ... five ... four ... three ...’

The camera man completed the countdown silently, using his fingers. In front of the camera stood a tall vivacious woman with blond curly hair that fell about her face in unruly splendour. She wore a pink silk blouse that revealed only the most ‘professional’ amount of cleavage. Moments before the countdown ended she dropped her head and turned her face slightly to the right, staring at the camera with lidded, coquettish eyes. This was after all the trademark of Linda Ramos – TV reporter extraordinaire.

‘I’m reporting to you from the Northern Cape, where a spectre from the past has come back to haunt the people of the small Karoo town of Hope.’ She paused dramatically. ‘Behind me ... a town living in fear. Cowering before the horrific onslaught of a serial killer whose reign of terror now spans more than two decades. He has struck again and again ... with impunity. Twenty years ago he took the lives of nine boys. And now, Kobus van Jaarsveld has become his latest victim. Abducted. Tortured. Murdered and unceremoniously dumped. And yet the police appear paralysed, unable to act. Well, maybe no more. Although at times it seems as if Daddy Long Legs is one step ahead, this may be about to change.’ Linda Ramos squinted at the camera. ‘Tonight, in a world exclusive, we can reveal that the killer has been communicating with police via the social media website known as Facebook. The killer apparently hacked into the Facebook account of a local teen. Unfortunately access to the posting has been restricted. But we can tell you this. According to a confidential informant, the computer crimes division of the SAPS is busy tracking down this hot lead as we speak. And it’s only a matter of time before they pinpoint his location. The serial killer known as Daddy Long Legs may be arrogant and narcissistic. But now it appears he has finally met his match.’ She paused, allowing practised self-righteousness to wash over her face. ‘This is Linda Ramos in Hope, Northern Cape.’

Later that day, as Linda Ramos was busy doing a final edit on the piece, she noticed the strange immobile shadow of a man in the background, staring at her from within the dappled shade of a nearby tree. Although she couldn’t put her finger on it, there was something about the shadow that troubled her deeply. After staring at the eerie outline for some time she finally pushed it from her mind. It was, after all, just a shadow. And there was a deadline.

She quickly finished the edit, not realising her cameraman had captured the dark silhouette of Daddy Long Legs.

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