This was a game-changer, May knew, her heart accelerating. It increased the likelihood that it was a crime scene. What would a trail of blood be doing, heading down into the depths of this houseboat? The possibilities chilled her mind.
And now that she had seen something actively suspicious, the blood gave her enough cause to board the boat and investigate.
May grabbed her phone, and took some photos, to confirm that she had obtained enough reason to search the houseboat.
"Sir!" she called at the top of her voice. "Can you hear me? It's Deputy Moore. I've identified what looks like blood on your boat. I am going to step aboard to investigate this. If you are inside, please come out now."
She waited, feeling breathless and scared.
There was no answer from inside.
Gathering all her courage, May grabbed the houseboat's railing. She tethered the speedboat to it.
There was a steel ladder at the side which led up to a small deck, surrounding the boat's house. May climbed onto the ladder, grabbing the slippery rungs tightly as she pulled herself up.
She paused, bracing herself, and then, with a deep breath, she scrambled up the last rung, and onto the deck.
She gave another yell, as she did so.
"Can you hear me? I am coming in. Please come out if you are here."
Looking at that blood more closely, May drew her gun. There was something going on here. Something was not right.
Was the killer keeping his victims hostage down here, in the gently rocking darkness?
She headed to the stairway, called out once more, "Police!", and then descended the stairs, feeling terrified by what might await her there, but determined not to turn back now.