you to meet Special Agent Jackie Davidson. She’s here at my request. She’s worked up a profile on this guy.”
The front legs of Spence’s chair hit the floor with a bang. “Sorry,” he said when all eyes turned toward him. “I get overexcited about FBI help.”
“Shut up and listen,” Sarge said. “You might learn something.”
Davidson, nonplussed by Spence’s outburst, opened a manila folder and said, “Good morning, gentlemen. I’m sure you know by now that you’re dealing with a serial killer.”
“Ya think?” Spence ducked the glares tossed his way.
“Most serial killers are motivated by a variety of psychological factors,” Davidson said. “Dysfunctional families, abuse in childhood or maybe a humiliation.”
“You’d make a great witness for the defense,” Spence mumbled. “The pervert couldn’t help himself. He killed the women because his mama hit him with a belt or kids in school called him a sissy.”
The sergeant’s eyes bulged. “Spence, can it or you’re outta here.”
Spence glared in the sergeant’s direction but remained silent.
“What can you tell us, Agent Davidson?” Tony asked, trying to get things back on track before Spence and Sarge came to blows.
“I made a careful analysis of all three cases,” Davidson said. “You have a disorganized killer on your hands. Probably in his late thirties, early forties. Socially inadequate. Has few, if any, friends. When you do catch him, you’ll hear acquaintances describe him as a loner, eccentric, possibly creepy.”
Winters muttered under his breath. “Creepy? Spence, where were you the night of April 10th?”
Spence sneered at his partner but remained silent.
“Why disorganized?” Tony asked. “His crime scenes are clean. He hasn’t left any clues.”
“Because the location of the body is not your crime scene. Locate his car or his home and you’ll find enough evidence to lock him up for life.”
“What about the victims? Is this guy just pulling women off the street? No connection between them? No planning for the big event?” Winters asked.
“This is definitely not random. There is a strong connection between these women. The killings are his emotional signature. His choices may not be logical to us, but all these women satisfy the emotional reasons he kills. And it’s possible, even probable, he watches them for days, weeks, maybe even months before he strikes. But the crime itself is opportunistic. He may be watching several women in the same time frame. When the urge to strike becomes more than he can handle, he doesn’t plan it out. He snatches the one most accessible at the time.”
Davidson made eye contact with each man in the room. “Remember, this man is socially inept. These women aren’t cooperating. He’s doing a blitz attack and overpowering them.”
“You don’t happen to have his home address?” Spence asked.
Davidson smiled. “Wish I did, Detective. I understand your frustration. And I know you’re racing the clock. He will kill again, soon.” She poured a glass of water and took a sip before continuing. “This man stalks his victims, watches them, learns their routines, their habits. When he gets the opportunity to strike, he overpowers them, takes them to another location and tortures them for a prolonged period of time. The actual murder scene is a familiar location where he feels safe.” Davidson sipped her water. “Rage is his motivation. He’s punishing them.
“Your killer knows these women or, at least, thinks he does,” Davidson continued. “They’ve angered him. Notice that he doesn’t use a weapon. He uses his fists.”
Tony’d like to get this guy alone in a dark alley and show him what fists feel like. A quick glance around the table showed he wasn’t the only one affected by the agent’s words.
“How is he choosing his victims?” Tony asked.
“Your suspect believes these women have committed unforgivable sins against society. Let’s consider the Green River killer. He killed over ninety women before he was caught, almost all of them prostitutes. It’s the same idea. In his mind, these women need to be punished for something each one of them did, the same crime.”
Winters leaned back in his chair. “These women weren’t prostitutes. Just moms trying to live their lives.”
“Nonetheless, in the killer’s mind there is a strong, logical link between all of them,” Davidson insisted. “Remember, the link you’re seeking isn’t something as obvious as attending the same church or living in the same neighborhood. These women probably never even met. But to him they all committed the same sin. Discover the common sin and you’ll find your killer.”
Sergeant Greene shook hands with Davidson and escorted her to the door. When he returned,