... she felt something pull tight across her neck. Behind her the Strangler increased the tension on the rope he had slipped across Pat's neck. Looking carefully both ways down the street to assure there were no witnesses, the Strangler dragged Pat back behind the bushes, kicking and fighting.
But it was no use. Pat began to feel lightheaded, her struggles getting weaker by the second. The world around her began to blur, then fade to black as she lost consciousness. The Strangler continued to choke her, squeezing tightly, until he was sure that Pat was dead.
The Strangler stood up and admired his work. Pat's eyes were closed. Her thick, dry tongue hung out of her mouth. A bright red line lay across her neck, the markings of the rope burned into her skin. The Strangler desperately wanted to take a picture of this masterpiece. But he knew it was foolish to keep trophies. He retrieved his rope, slipped it into his pocket, then continued his morning walk, blending in with the other happy-go-lucky inhabitants of Sunnyville. He waved to his neighbors as he passed by them, smiling widely. No one suspected a thing and at least for now his urges were satisfied.
The body was discovered a few days later by Deputy Knot. A large number of cats had been attracted by the smell of rotting flesh, feasting on it to their delight. Deputy Knot shook his head sadly as he looked over Pat's body. She seemed like such a nice girl and the community was excited by her arrival. Such a shame she never got to meet anyone. Well, anyone but the Strangler.
Deputy Knot waited for Sheriff Griff to arrive. They would take notes, collect clues, and add her case to the pile of other victims. If they didn't catch the Strangler soon, they would need to call in the FBI. But the Mayor wanted to avoid that at all costs. They needed new blood in the town and the bad publicity might scare away any new potential residents.
Why just today a new person was due to arrive in town. It was....