Chapter 48 Same person
VICTORIA
“This doesn't make sense," Roseanna spoke up.
We were all standing before the board, staring at the pictures and watching Mr Thompson explain what he had explained to me some minutes ago. I had managed to calm down before the team arrived at the cabin.
“How?" Mr Thompson asked, turning around to face her.
Roseanne straightened up and walked closer to the board, her hand wrapped under her large breasts.
“These women's cases are different, even though it was never solved, and let's not forget that we don't have proof he killed most of these women. There is no possession of their properties, and I thought we all agreed the serial killer was a young man…” She paused and looked at me, her brows raising.
“Right?" She nodded her head towards me.
My lips parted and slammed shut as all heads swerved in my direction.
“I… I don't know,” I blurted out.
Roseanne frowned, tilting her head to the side in question.
“You said he is a young man…”
“I don't… I'm not… I'm not sure. I didn't see his face!” I snapped, and turned around, rushing to the door to take in some fresh air and clear my head.
“What's going on?" The woman asked when I popped my head out.
I looked at her, tears in my eyes threatening to spill out.
“I don't know what is going on… It's just crazy,” I whispered and slapped my hand over my forehead.
I glanced back at the team and my heart dropped into the bottom of my belly when I realized that all eyes were on my back.
All of them had disappointment and confusion laced against their faces. Mr Thompson looked upset. He deserved to be upset. I was acting like a fool.
“Shouldn't you join them?" The woman asked, and I turned to look at her.
“Yes, I should, but his connection with my mother is messing with my head,” I replied.
She nodded her head and stared down at her hand.
“Then you should take a break. Think clearly later," she muttered.
I nodded and walked back into the room, my head dropped to avoid their questioning gaze.
“I…”
“We should talk about this tomorrow, there seems to be a lot of conflict right now,” Mr Thompson said and everyone agreed unanimously.
“Do you agree too, Miss Alexander?" My head shot when Mr Thompson called me by my surname and not my name.
I gulped hard and nodded, trying not to show how pained I was over his reaction and disappointment.
“Gather everything and send the blades and finger to the forensic department for testing. We might get to find out who the finger belongs to, and if it turns out to be one of these women, then…” Mr Thompson paused and glanced at our faces.
We didn't need to be told what the words were. It was clear that once evidence was found, he would be announced as the serial killer and put on a wanted list.
I hope the results come out soon. I couldn't wait to play that hide-and-seek game with him.
“We'll take the board with us," Sam said and reached for the board after putting on his gloves.
I sighed and rubbed my hurting neck, then began to head out of the room silently.
The sun would be down soon, and the man might appear at my window again. But given that he would be on the run soon, I doubted if he would take the risk just to hunt me.
“Victoria?" Roseanne called, and I stopped in my tracks, craning my neck back. She walked briskly to where I stood and placed her hand on my shoulder.
“I'm sorry, I didn't know one of his victims was your mom,” she said, her eyes filled with pity.
I forced a smile onto my face and nodded.
“No need to apologize, the psycho will pay for his crimes soon,” I muttered.
“His cabin seems normal, though," she said, and I looked up.
"Normal? This doesn't look normal," I said, waving my hands at the living room.
“I know the living room looks diabolical, but the inner room and the kitchen look normal. No single bloodstain was there and the only pictures found there were your mom's pictures pasted against the wall,” she whispered, and my throat knotted.
“Wait, what?" I gasped loudly and didn't waste a second longer before heading towards the bedroom. My colleagues stopped and stared at my back as I ran past them.
“Where is she heading?" I heard one of them ask, but I didn't bother to pay any attention.
I pushed the door open, and burst in, forgetting that I wasn't putting on any gloves to prevent getting my fingerprints on his stuff.
My heart dropped into my stomach when my head swung to the side and I beheld what Roseanne was talking about.
My mom's pictures, taken without her knowledge, were pasted all over the wall.
From her picture when she was still young to the pictures of her taking us to school.
Even pictures taken unknowingly at her wedding and anniversaries were there with my dad's face cut off.
I clenched my fist, shaking in rage as I stared at the pictures.
The door burst open, and I heard feet trudge into the bedroom.
“Hey, are you okay?" Mr Thompson asked, but sighed when he saw pictures.
“This bastard has been after my mom right from when she was younger," I stammered, almost choking on the tears.
“That is why I don't need evidence to tag him as a serial killer. He is a psychopath who goes around killing women and their families if they reject his fuckass black roses and proposals. He is mentally ill and needs help," he said.
I sniffed and shook my head in disagreement.
“He doesn't need help…” I paused and walked closer to the wall while they stared at me.
“He needs death, and I don't mind soiling my hands with blood to make that come to pass," I whispered.
Roseanne gasped, and Kevin groaned out in disagreement.
“No, don't do that," Mr Thompson said, but I shook my head. I lowered my head and let the tears drop, unable to hold it in anymore.
“That bastard deserves the worst," I whispered.
I felt his hands wrap around me and pull my body against his.
“We're going to find him, very soon, I promise,” he whispered, and rocked me slowly.
“Uhm… we'll be outside, boss,” Kevin said and Roseanne quickly agreed. They trudged out of the room and slammed the door shut behind them.
Mr Thompson slowly let go of me and turned me around, then cupped my cheeks, his eyes piercing into mine.
“You don't have to worry about anything anymore…”
“No, I have a lot to worry about. Remembering that man is walking around freely kills me inside. I want him dead and I want to do it myself,” I whispered, letting my grief take over my mind.
I didn't care what anyone thought anymore. I wanted him dead and that was all that mattered, and I would do anything possible to make that come true.
“He'll get a death sentence," he whispered.
I scoffed, my heart crushing at his reply. He definitely didn't understand how I felt since I had never experienced something that tragic.
“Mr Thompson," I called and his head tilted.
My lips trembled, and I blurted out the words in my mind.
“Have you ever terribly lost a family member? Has someone you loved been murdered cruelly before?" I asked.
I knew his answer would be no but I still wanted to hear him stutter and question his words. Perhaps, he would understand why I wanted to kill him myself.
His eyes darkened and his hands which were on my cheeks grew cold
“You want to know?" He asked and I nodded.
He took a deep breath, cursed loudly, and
stared piercingly into my eyes before speaking.
“Yes, I know that feeling because I've experienced worse," he blurted out and my blood froze.