What You Believe

I got home and quickly set up my laptop on the breakfast bar loading up my emails as I filled the coffee pot up. It was going to be a long night if I was going to go into that office tomorrow with some form of evidence that this killer was serial. I sent the files that the detective had sent me to print and went to collect them, my glass board and my markers from my room. As film like as it may seem it actually does help me to create a murder board; there’s just something about seeing a connection that makes it all fit into place. I scanned through the files quickly noticing that all the victims had one thing in common, bite marks – some on their wrists, some on their legs, even some on their feet but not one had them on their neck – except now. I researched the press releases about the incidents to find that no explanation for the bite marks had been made, just information included. I sat and pondered for a moment before scribbling my idea down quickly on the blank piece of paper at the side of me.
“Hey what you working on? Oh shit is that guy bled out?” Belle’s voice came from the side of me as she turned to look away quickly.
“Yeah.” I laughed as she poured us both a mug of coffee. “Hey let me ask you something weird. If you was to kill people, young carefree punks, would you do it near where you lived?” I noticed her think about her answer whilst she poured the coffee.
“I suppose so I mean I could get home quicker, less chance of cctv’s catching me.” She commented as I frowned at the files. “Was that the wrong answer?” She pushed the steaming mug my way as I shook my head.
“See I’d have said the same, the direction for this to go means at least one tube ride which means cctv and odd behaviour, but, they are all in a similar area. The same building is central to them all.” I explained as I walked over to the glass board and stuck the files on in each corner and my map in the centre.
“I don’t get it. What building?” Belle asked as she sat in my vacated chair as I added the string all pointing to that one building. “Is that…?” She looked over at me quickly, eyes wide as I nodded. “Fuck.” She mumbled before looking round subconsciously.

I arrived in the detective’s office before he did the next morning. Shortly after I discovered the building I called it a night pretty sure I had most of what I needed covered, now I had to figure out what to tell the press. Whether police liked it or not the press played a vital part in the capturing of a suspect. If they work with you they are a useful tool to dramatize the seriousness of the situation meaning that the public respond positively in the respect that they are more likely to contact with information. However, if the press work against you then they can make almost any case fail. You see they have the ability to stir up emotions in people that no amount of crying from victims’ families, or, warnings followed by gruesome photographs can; and, it’s emotions that make people act. We needed to find the balance to gain the presses cooperation but not to promote copycat like killings.
“Ahh Lydia I didn’t think you would be in so soon.” Thomas Geoffrey spoke as he walked in briefcase in hand.
“I always start early when I’m on a case sir.” I smiled, sitting down when he motioned me too. “Besides I took the liberty of setting up my evidence so you wouldn’t have to wait any longer than necessary. He smiled looking impressed before sitting down and spinning in the direction of the murder board I had replicated of my own from home. “There is certainly other killings that go along with this one just slight changes in attack pattern.” I looked at him as I pointed to the first victim “Casey Long, 17 and described as a misfit was found when he was believed to be walking home from the shop after buying cigarettes. One cigarette missing from a fresh pack, no evidence he had smoked up until 3 hours before his death.” I carried on to the next one as Geoffrey turned his pack page over. “Ryder Marr, 18 also described as a misfit was found with fake ID buying a 6 pack of beer. One bottle missing. No alcohol in his system.” I bit my lip as he started to pick up on my drift. “Finally, Billy Moore, 19 once again a misfit found with pills on him, one missing, and none in his system.” I stopped walking over to the desk sitting in the spare chair. “All of the victims have something on them deemed unhealthy, all involved in illegally buying these things and all ascending in age and that’s not a coincidence. There’s nothing to suggest that they knew the killer I mean sure Casey and Ryder could have handed the killer one of the cigarettes or beers but Billy’s pills were in his inside pocket, something that couldn’t have been seen from simply walking past. There’s no attacks on the shops that sold them these stuff meaning it’s not a vigilante style killing. If I didn’t know better I’d guess this is someone who has lost somebody before 21 who never got to do those things and they think others shouldn’t be able too.” I bit my lip as he nodded. “All the puncture holes are in places that can bleed easily, but, not easily seen. If it is as I suspect and a vampire fanatic I think they have got bored with the connection not being made, or reported, and have gone for the most stereotypical place to inflict the wound.”
“When you think vampire you automatically think neck.” The detective sighed, “Anything else I should consider?” Geoffrey asked, who up until now had only been humming his understanding.
“Well actually, yes. In profiling we have a thing known as a Marauder murderer and a Commuter. There are certain behaviour traits that help us to assess which one our killer is. They usually leave clues without knowing they are doing so. The evidence suggests that our killer is a Marauder killer, meaning they kill in the area they know. Most likely where they live, they have a central base-like location which I think I have managed to find.” I told him, taking a deep breath as I bit my lip. “The central location is my apartment block.” I looked up at him as a wave of confusion covered his sharp features.

Notes