she reverted back to her usual pleasant expression. “No. I guess it doesn’t.”
Changing the subject, I voiced my thoughts on the case. “The most recent kills are concerning me. Normally, CK goes through a cooling down period between kills. At least spacing them out a week apart from one another. From what we can tell by the state of decomp of his most recent victims’ bodies, he waited a day or two at most between the first and second.” Sitting back against the cheap pleather booth seat, I caught Emily’s eyes. “Why would he escalate?”
Immediately back to business as usual, she suggested, “Perhaps there’s been a trigger. Something that’s happened to him to push him into a manic state. You know how it is with these types, outside influences can lead them into making mistakes or breaking their pattern.”
Considering her words, I finally shook my head in disagreement. “No. He hasn’t wavered from his normal habits. The right nipple of both victims had been removed, one with teeth and the other with a blade. Both were positioned as if sleeping. Their hair was brushed and nothing appeared out of the ordinary. As usual, he was methodical in these kills. Nothing, and I mean, NOTHING, was left behind. Those are not the signs of a manic state.”
Tossing the photographs on the table, I didn’t care that some poor soul might walk by and see them. The horror would only serve to teach that person to mind his or her own business.
“Prostitutes. Both were prostitutes and wouldn’t have been missed. We lucked out that a hiker found them as quickly as he did.”
Glancing at the crime scene maps I did finally recognize one other break in CK’s pattern.
Tossing the map to Agent Chase, I wanted to find out if she saw it as well. “Notice anything unusual?”
Her brows tilted down as she examined it. Turning the paper sideways and then upside down, she righted it before looking up. “I’m not familiar with the area. It’s a new dump sight. What am I looking for?”
“You’re looking for a break in pattern.”
Her eyes reviewed the map again. I could see the idea hitting her expression at the exact moment she figured it out.
“He dumped them close to each other and close to a trail. It’s as if he wanted them found quickly. Considering the care he gives them following their death, do you think that he wants them to be found sooner rather than later?”
I didn’t know the answer to her question and it bothered me. “Are you suggesting that he no longer wants them to decompose?”
She nodded. I disagreed immediately.
“No. He’s been too careful up to this point. Killers either keep their victims to themselves or they display them in such a way that it sends a message or reveals some personal trauma in their life. It’s one way or the other, never both. For years, CK has been attempting to keep the bodies to himself. It’s only been by chance that they were located. There’s no reason that he would suddenly switch.”
“Unless he doesn’t need to keep them anymore.”
Her expression was smug when I looked up. Giving me the sweet smile that always foreshadows some bit of brilliance on her part, she theorized, “Think about it, Donovan. He’s escalating, which leads us to believe that some trigger has occurred in his life. Not only has he had a heightened need for release, but he’s broken his pattern in such a way that if he’s the type to revisit bodies or wishes to possess these women, he’s not given time to do so.”
Nodding, I surmised, “We should visit the neighborhood where the victims were known to work. Maybe somebody saw something. A car color or brand. Anything that could give us more information about him other than what’s been done to his victims.”
“I agree.” Realizing that we still hadn’t received our order, Emily raised her hand up in the air to signal our waitress. The short, stocky woman ran up with wiry hair flying in all directions around her head.
Changing the subject, I voiced my thoughts on the case. “The most recent kills are concerning me. Normally, CK goes through a cooling down period between kills. At least spacing them out a week apart from one another. From what we can tell by the state of decomp of his most recent victims’ bodies, he waited a day or two at most between the first and second.” Sitting back against the cheap pleather booth seat, I caught Emily’s eyes. “Why would he escalate?”
Immediately back to business as usual, she suggested, “Perhaps there’s been a trigger. Something that’s happened to him to push him into a manic state. You know how it is with these types, outside influences can lead them into making mistakes or breaking their pattern.”
Considering her words, I finally shook my head in disagreement. “No. He hasn’t wavered from his normal habits. The right nipple of both victims had been removed, one with teeth and the other with a blade. Both were positioned as if sleeping. Their hair was brushed and nothing appeared out of the ordinary. As usual, he was methodical in these kills. Nothing, and I mean, NOTHING, was left behind. Those are not the signs of a manic state.”
Tossing the photographs on the table, I didn’t care that some poor soul might walk by and see them. The horror would only serve to teach that person to mind his or her own business.
“Prostitutes. Both were prostitutes and wouldn’t have been missed. We lucked out that a hiker found them as quickly as he did.”
Glancing at the crime scene maps I did finally recognize one other break in CK’s pattern.
Tossing the map to Agent Chase, I wanted to find out if she saw it as well. “Notice anything unusual?”
Her brows tilted down as she examined it. Turning the paper sideways and then upside down, she righted it before looking up. “I’m not familiar with the area. It’s a new dump sight. What am I looking for?”
“You’re looking for a break in pattern.”
Her eyes reviewed the map again. I could see the idea hitting her expression at the exact moment she figured it out.
“He dumped them close to each other and close to a trail. It’s as if he wanted them found quickly. Considering the care he gives them following their death, do you think that he wants them to be found sooner rather than later?”
I didn’t know the answer to her question and it bothered me. “Are you suggesting that he no longer wants them to decompose?”
She nodded. I disagreed immediately.
“No. He’s been too careful up to this point. Killers either keep their victims to themselves or they display them in such a way that it sends a message or reveals some personal trauma in their life. It’s one way or the other, never both. For years, CK has been attempting to keep the bodies to himself. It’s only been by chance that they were located. There’s no reason that he would suddenly switch.”
“Unless he doesn’t need to keep them anymore.”
Her expression was smug when I looked up. Giving me the sweet smile that always foreshadows some bit of brilliance on her part, she theorized, “Think about it, Donovan. He’s escalating, which leads us to believe that some trigger has occurred in his life. Not only has he had a heightened need for release, but he’s broken his pattern in such a way that if he’s the type to revisit bodies or wishes to possess these women, he’s not given time to do so.”
Nodding, I surmised, “We should visit the neighborhood where the victims were known to work. Maybe somebody saw something. A car color or brand. Anything that could give us more information about him other than what’s been done to his victims.”
“I agree.” Realizing that we still hadn’t received our order, Emily raised her hand up in the air to signal our waitress. The short, stocky woman ran up with wiry hair flying in all directions around her head.
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