Case no. 1035: Alice Syndrome

- The Mad Hatter? - Alice was surprised.

Mihajlo asked:

- What do you mean, The Mad Hatter?

The chief inspector took a deep breath and replied:

- It all started 3 years ago with a murder on Leninowa Street. Then, the first victim was Riste Markovski, 19 years old. The boy had blond hair and blue eyes. Just like this victim, he was dressed the same. But instead of a stuffed toy, he had a pocket watch next to his body. The first suspects were his close friends and his girlfriend. But, unfortunately, the killings did not stop here... There were second, third and fourth victims. My authorities called this case... Alice syndrome.

Mihajlo and Alice looked at each other and asked:

- ALICE SYNDROME?

Chief inspector Martin replied:

- Yes, but unfortunately we didn't had success with the identity of the culprit, so we called him Mad Hatter.

Alice said:

- Wait a minute... Alice Syndrome... Do you think like the book by Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland? But why?

Martin replied:

- We don't know, but our profiler estimated that the killer was aged 20-27 years and that he had a problem with boys with blond hair and blue eyes. Ah, I forgot to say one very important detail. These boys... They were all raped.

Alice and Mihajlo widened their eyes shocked. Alice ran to the pathologist and said:

- Doctor, check if the victim has been raped. If she was raped, it means that Crazy Hatter is really back...

The pathologist said:

- All right, Detective Markovski. When I do the whole autopsy we will have the final results and I will inform you.

Alice smiled and said:

- Thank you, doctor.

Mihajlo looked at the chief inspector and said:

- If this weirdo kills blond boys and rapes them, he must be a psychopath! And Alice... He is in danger as well... Don't you think Alice should be protected from this psychopath?

Martin said:

- Yes, but our priority is to catch Mad Hatter. Well, for this case I assign you and Alice.

Mihajlo grabbed Martin by the collar and shouted:

- YOU ARE ALL CRAZY! I CAN'T EXPOSE ALICE TO DANGER!

Martin pushed Mihajlo away and said:

- Calm down, Mihajlo... You and Alice are my only chance to catch Mad Hatter. You have the entire file in the archive. Review and resolve this case quickly.

Alice came up to them asking:

- What's going on here?

Mihajlo looked with his green eyes into Alice's blue eyes and answered:

- Our dear Chief Inspector Martin has just assigned us a case. Guess which. We will solve the case no. 1035, Alice Syndrome.