Professor Stone burst into Detective Fraulein's office. Yes, he didn't bother to knock.
"Detective, we need to talk right—"
Only for the door to shove him back out like a pinball machine. He was about to charge back in, even if the other officers were staring in disbelief, until he heard Detective Fraulein's voice through the other door. A conversation with no one, well not physically.
[Yes Chief Commissioner, I understand the gravity of the situation.]
Prof. Stone went 'oooooh', before placing his ear against the door to get a better listen. Guess he wasn't the only one, several of the other officers secretly craned their ears to get a better hearing themselves.
[Yes sir, I am aware this is a straight forward proc--Yes Sir. Our team will push charges and speak with the crown prosecutor, however—Sir. Please understand, we have yet to find the murder weap—Yes sir. Yes Sir....Sir yes sir...Good bye sir.]
The second the one-sided conversation ended, Detective Fraulein unlocked the door and whipped the door open. A phone gripped in the vice of her hand, the screen of a call just ended fading into black.
"..." Was all she said with a tired stare.
Prof. Stone knew actions spoke louder than words, so he hauled himself and the detective into her own office and closed the door behind them.
"Detective. Even you agree, there's something wrong with this case."
"Aaaah. I was afraid you would agree. I hate it when your instincts are right. This means my worst fears are true!"
Detective Fraulein shut all the blinds in her office, to make sure her officers have zero line of sight of herself, before she flopped over onto her office couch with the gusto of a tired college student. She even had one leg over the arm rest, arm dangling off the side, deader than a fresh corpse.
"An arrest.” She muttered, “We finally made an arrest to close this case for good, but I can't understand why I am hesitating before the finish line! All the evidence screams it is Kim, he's the Belt Rapist! It doesn't feel right, but I need to make a decision quick or else the entire city will howl after us! It's just...aaagh!"
"Why don't we break the case down and go over the details, one more time."
"That's just it. The detail! First two victim were found dead with a belt strapped around their necks. Zero D.N.A., zero trace evidence. Not even a loose fiber from a clothing. Now victim number three – evidence everywhere and pointing at the obvious. Serial killers don't just slip up on random! And it doesn’t feel like some elaborate set up!"
Prof. Stone nodded along, following the logic, "Most serial killers who target women often have a subliminal statement. Target prostitutes to 'clean up the streets'; target women with high social status to 'challenge their sense of authority'; or in the Belt Rapist's case – ‘women are too easy to trust a stranger, they deserve to perish’."
"Your point, Stone?"
"The Belt Rapist usually portrays himself as the ideal man: clean, well off, good profession, has a fancy car or two, and usually orchestrates the first encounter like something straight out of a Hallmark romance movie – the victim as the lead actress. Kim on the other hand."
"...Huh?" Detective Fraulein folded up to sit and listen. "What about Kim?"
"Did you read Officer Tanner's report, him questioning Keekee?" Prof. Stone asked, "She mentioned she found him lost in the mountains: dirty, bloodied, and half starved. Does that scream as ideal? Also, their first meeting was in the middle of a filming shoot – the Belt Rapist never shows off in public, he isolates his prey to set the stage.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Prof. Stone rubbed a hand over his chin as he added, “The reason why we’ve been chasing our tails around, is because he always make sure there are zero witnesses prior and during the murder. Even if he dated the victim in public, it is usually in large crowds or places where no one pays attention to others. Kim’s case, he was seen by nearly everyone in the film production. Not to mention, his videos on the internet went viral. Everyone in town has seen him and Keekee."
"That...is a good point. Wait wait wait.” Detective Fraulein’s expression darkened, “How did you know about how Keekee met Kim?......Oh come on Stone, you're not a cop! Stop sneaking into my interviews! I regret giving you too much leeway! You know this case is too important to fool around!"
"That's not the point!" Prof. Stone waved a hand to change the subject, "The Belt Rapist wants these easy going women dead. Yet, Kim tried to save the third victim with acupuncture. He even rescued Keekee before she got molested by mountain robbers. Why go through the trouble of saving them, only to kill them later?"
"...That is one bit that's been bugging me the most actually." Detective Fraulein gnawed on the inside of her cheek. "Now that you mention it, Keekee said she was the one who invited Kim to stay with her. Diaries from the first two victim suggested, the Belt Rapist never goes to their place and would bring them to his apartment – which were rented under a false identification. We guessed it was have more control over what trace D.N.A. he leaves behind, being able to sterilize the rented apartments near immaculate versus cleaning up another person’s house.”
"One important thing I wanted to bring to your attention," Prof. Stone nodded, "Kim mentioned while trying to save the third victim, he carried her down the hill to find the doctor. This proves my initial theory – the trash pit may not be the first scene of the crime. And we have yet to find the murder weapon there. This means: if we can find the real first scene of the crime—"
"We may finally find the murder weapon...Wait? Kim mentioned? He's already in the cells and—STONE! Who is the detective, you or me!? Why didn't you ask for my permission!"
"You were busy!”
“Send a text, duh! Think of a new excuse!”
“Oh relax, detective. It wasn’t like I was trying to break him out. Just gave him a cup of coffee. That’s all.”
“...You did what?”
"Why are you breaking into a sweat? It’s like you saw a ghost or something.”
Detective Fraulein face palmed with a panicked screech, "Y-you weren't there, at the cabin! H-he took out our best guys with just a stick and firewood! Now you ARMED him with HOT coffee! Wh-who knows what type of hellish kung fu he can do with that!"
Prof. Stone rolled his eyes, "I didn't give him nunchakus so no need to go raise a red alert...Oh speaking of which, I would like to take the suspect to the crime scene. His insight may give us the breakthrough we need."
“Are you mad, Stone!? What is to stop this guy from killing everyone and making a run for it! I rather go out taking a bullet in the line of duty than scalded to death!”
“About that. I have an idea to put him on an unbreakable leash. I just need your permission with something.”
“...Stone...why does this proposal sound worse than death by hot coffee?”
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