I Can Hear a Serial Killer's Voice in My Head

The first detail that catches my eye is the mention of leather gloves. The killer used them to enter the house, just like in the first case. This consistency in method speaks to a meticulous, planned approach. I make a note to cross-reference this with the other cases.

As I delve into the sequence of events, a grim picture begins to form. The owner of the house, an elderly man, was the first to be attacked. However, the forensic report indicates he wasn\'t killed immediately. This detail sends a shiver down my spine. The killer deliberately left him alive, perhaps to witness what came next.

My eyes move to the information about the second victim, the old man\'s daughter. She was found dead in the living room. The forensics suggest a harrowing scenario: the killer moved on to her after initially attacking her father, and it was during her murder that the old man succumbed to his injuries.

I pause, trying to process the horror of the situation. The old man, likely unable to help, forced to hear or possibly even watch as his daughter was killed. The cruelty of this act is staggering.

But the killer wasn\'t done. The file details a third victim: the grandson, a young man with a disability affecting his legs due to a car accident. He was found on the second floor, apparently attacked while sleeping. The report suggests he might not have heard the commotion downstairs due to his location and possibly his condition.

I lean back, running a hand through my hair as I try to make sense of it all. The pattern is becoming clearer, yet more disturbing. The victims are predominantly elderly, with the exception of the grandson. But even he fits a pattern of vulnerability due to his disability.

This selectiveness speaks volumes about our killer. They\'re targeting those who might be perceived as weak or defenseless. It\'s a cowardly approach, yet executed with a level of planning that suggests a dangerously intelligent mind.

My eyes catch on a particularly interesting piece of information, and I lean in closer, focusing intently.

The report mentions a safe in the victims\' home. It was found open when the police arrived, its contents clearly rummaged through. This immediately piques my interest - could this have been a robbery gone wrong? But as I read on, that theory quickly dissolves. According to statements from family members, nothing of value was missing from the safe.

I sit back, pondering this new information. The killer took the time to open and search the safe, but didn\'t take anything valuable. This further reinforces the idea that monetary gain isn\'t the motive. But why go through the safe at all? Was the killer looking for something specific, or was this another performative aspect of their crime?

The file goes on to detail the lack of physical evidence at the scene. No DNA was recovered, and there was no CCTV footage capturing the killer\'s entry or exit. This level of caution speaks to a highly organized and meticulous perpetrator.

What\'s more, the report suggests that the killer must have studied the area, the house, and the family for an extended period before the attack. They knew about the safe, the layout of the house, and the presence of the disabled grandson upstairs. This wasn\'t a crime of opportunity - it was carefully planned and executed.

I jot down details as I flip back through the pages, looking for any details I might have missed. The methodical nature of the attacks, the use of specific tools like the leather gloves, the careful selection of victims - it all points to a highly organized killer.

I reach for the third case file, my mind still processing the intricate details of the previous two. As I open the folder, a bright yellow memo catches my eye, attached to the front page of the report. New information has just come in, and my heart rate quickens as I read its contents.

"Scene located next to a church, similar to cases one and two."

I lean back in my chair, the implications of this detail washing over me. What we initially thought might be a coincidence in the first two cases now appears to be a definite pattern. The proximity to churches can\'t be ignored any longer. I make a mental note to discuss this with Ko as soon as possible.

Turning to the main report, I begin to read about the victim - another elderly man. Unlike the previous cases, however, this victim was found alive by his son who had come home late. My breath catches as I read that the man was rushed to the hospital but ultimately didn\'t survive.

The thought of him clinging to life, perhaps able to provide some crucial information before passing, sends a mix of hope and sadness through me.

As I delve deeper into the report, familiar patterns emerge. The killer\'s modus operandi remains consistent - no CCTV footage, no DNA left behind, and evidence of changing tools during the attack. It\'s clear we\'re dealing with the same meticulous perpetrator.

But then I come across a detail that makes me sit up straighter. Unlike in previous cases, the killer had attempted to erase some evidence at the scene, primarily the victim\'s footprints. This is new, a deviation from their usual pattern.

The forensic report provides a harrowing explanation. The old man had actually tried to escape from his attacker. I can almost see it in my mind\'s eye - the elderly victim, terrified and injured, making a desperate attempt to flee. The killer, perhaps caught off guard by this unexpected resistance, had to adapt, trying to cover the traces of the struggle.

This new information paints a slightly different picture of our killer. While still methodical and careful, they\'re not infallible. They can be surprised, forced to improvise. It\'s a small crack in their seemingly perfect façade, but it might be just what we need to eventually catch them.

I reach for the fourth and final case file, my mind already working to connect the dots from the previous three. As I open it, I brace myself for what I might find.

The victims, once again, fit the pattern: an elderly man and his middle-aged caretaker. I note with grim confirmation that there\'s a church nearby, further solidifying the geographic pattern we\'ve observed.

What catches my attention immediately is the time gap - a full month between the third and fourth cases. This is new. I lean in, reading carefully about the increased police presence following the third murder. It seems our killer was cautious, testing the waters before striking again. This speaks to their patience and strategic thinking.

The intrusion method remains consistent - the same meticulous approach we\'ve seen before. But as I read on, I find myself tensing at the description of the attack. This time, the killer changed their pattern. They attacked the caretaker first, incapacitating but not killing her, then dragged her to the elderly man\'s room.

There, in a horrifying twist, they murdered her in front of the old man before turning on him.

I pause, taking a deep breath. The escalation in cruelty is disturbing. Our killer is becoming bolder, perhaps even enjoying the terror they inflict.

But it\'s the next piece of information that truly startles me. There was a survivor - a two-year-old child, the caretaker\'s son. The killer saw the baby but, inexplicably, left it unharmed. This is a significant deviation from their previous behavior.

Why spare the child? Is there a line even this brutal killer won\'t cross? Or does it hint at something in their past, a personal connection to young children?

As I continue reading, another anomaly jumps out. The killer attempted to start a fire, gathering papers and other flammable materials in a trash can. But then they extinguished it themselves. This is entirely new behavior.

I stand up abruptly, gathering the files. These new details could be crucial to understanding our killer\'s evolving psychology. We need to reassess our profile immediately.

Hurrying through the office, I spot Ko near the evidence board. "Inspector," I call out, my voice urgent. "I\'ve found something. Several somethings, actually. We need to talk."

Ko turns, noting the intensity in my expression. "What is it?"

"The fourth case," I begin, quickly outlining the key points - the time gap, the change in attack method, the spared child, and the aborted arson attempt. Ko listens intently, her brow furrowing as she processes the information.

"I knew you would find something," Ko says with a smile and turns to the team, her voice carrying across the office.

"Everyone, gather round. We have new information to discuss."