were hung up, tapping on the photo of Margo Whiting—“is different, the brand they all share links them to the same killer. And we are dealing with someone who is experiencing abnormal psychological gratification through his murders.” He looked around. “For now, internally, we’re going to operate under the assumption that the killer is one person, and that he is in fact progressing in his crimes. We are going to assume he will strike again.”
There was a small murmuring in the room. Detective Jennifer Pagett raised her hand and the sergeant nodded in her direction. “Sir, is there any indication the three victims are connected in some way?”
The sergeant looked over at Reed, gesturing that he should join him, and Reed stood, answering Detective Pagett’s question. “As of now, we don’t have any fact-based evidence to support a definitive connection. However, what we do know is that Mr. Sadowski worked in the mental health field, Toby Resnick somehow obtained medications generally prescribed to those with mental health conditions, and Margo Whiting had a prescription for an anti-depressant present in her apartment. There’s a link to the mental health field there, though it’s nothing direct.
“Any other questions about what we have so far?” Reed asked.
“Why the different methods of killing?”
“We don’t know. We’re assuming there’s something different about Margo Whiting, than there is with the other two victims killed by strangulation. But we can’t rule out the possibility that Ms. Whiting jumped to her death as she attempted to escape the suspect, or that he accidentally pushed her.”
“Same assumption—that something makes her different—regarding her eyes still being in her head?” Detective Olsen asked.
There was a murmur of laughter that dissipated quickly. “Yes. Same assumption. Although again, that could be circumstantial or accidental. If her death did not occur in the way the killer intended, it’s possible he wasn’t able to carry out the enucleation.”
The door opened and everyone in the room turned toward Zach Copeland. Reed smiled at him and waved him forward. “I’m sure you all know Lieutenant Copeland. I’ve asked him to come here today to talk about the profile of the person we’re looking for.”
Sergeant Valenti shook Zach’s hand quickly as he passed him, Sergeant Valenti leaving the room. Zach met Reed at the front and turned toward the other detectives, greeting them. He leaned back against the desk at the front and crossed his arms as Reed continued. “Lieutenant Copeland has a master’s in forensic science, and he was the lead detective on more than a hundred and fifty cases during his career, several of which dealt with serial killings.” Reed didn’t flinch as he said the words, though internally, his heart sped up. Everyone in the room was very aware of Zach and Reed’s connection, and he was sure they were all thinking about the fact that one of those serial killers was Reed’s birth father. “I think he’ll be able to help us understand who we’re looking for.”
“Thanks, Detective Davies,” Zach said, turning back to the other detectives. “I’ll get right to it. We’re working with a highly organized suspect. The fact that he’s been able to avoid leaving DNA, and evade cameras, even while placing his victims in specific locations, indicates his crimes are carefully planned and strategically mapped out. He’s likely been working on this for months. He is of above average intelligence, employed, perhaps even in a technical field, well-educated, and very controlled.” He paused, glancing around. “These criminals are usually friendly, even charming, and are in possession of social graces.”
“Sounds like my entire list of Facebook friends,” Detective Olson said.
Zach chuckled. “Yes, with the exception being that this particular person kills people and removes their eyes. But you make a good point, and that’s why these suspects can be so difficult to find. They blend in. They’re very careful about blending in, cunning even.”
“That’s the scary part,” Detective Pagett said, shaking her head and making her braids dance, the beads on the ends clinking together.
Reed didn’t disagree. His own birth mother had trusted his birth father before he’d abducted, raped, and tortured her. He’d been her friend.
“Now as far as the crimes themselves, from what we know now, the killer’s MO may be different. However, in the two cases where he strangled the victims and removed their eyes, it would be necessary for him to have a private location in which to carry out this mutilation. If he’s married or cohabitates with someone, this could be somewhere on his property only