Chapter 293: Investigation (3)

[Edward POV]

"Tea Time Strangler?" As I read the file, memories from several months ago flooded back—specifically, the car trip I took with Taylor. I first heard the name of the murderer from a police officer who stopped our car. I never expected to see the case file for this case now.

"Appearance; unknown. Age; unknown. They have absolutely no clue about this person huh." I muttered as I flipped through the case files. 

Other than the victims sharing the same traits– white woman in her late 30s till mid 40s, living alone, in a position of authority, a brunette. "Robin, take notes," I said as I read the case file out loud. Robin's holographic body appeared next to me, in a detective's assistant getup, flipping her notebook as she pretended to write it there. 

"Psychological profile: The perpetrator, dubbed the "Tea Time Strangler," exhibits a complex psychological profile shaped by past trauma and a need for control. The choice of victims—women in positions of authority—suggests a deep-seated resentment and a desire for retribution against figures who represent authority and perceived abuse."

"All victims share a history of abusive behavior, either toward their children or students, indicating that the perpetrator targets those who have exploited their positions of power. This selection reflects a calculated approach, suggesting the killer seeks to address injustices inflicted upon vulnerable individuals. The specific targeting of authority figures may signify unresolved issues stemming from the perpetrator's own childhood experiences with authority figures, possibly including maternal figures who were abusive or neglectful."

"The choice of a "tea party" setting for the murders is particularly telling. This ritualistic aspect may indicate a desire to recreate a childhood scenario, transforming a traditionally innocent and nurturing activity into a scene of horror."

"The juxtaposition of the tea party—often associated with civility and femininity—against the brutality of the murders suggests a profound psychological conflict within the perpetrator. It may also signify a twisted form of justice, where the perpetrator enacts a form of punishment in a setting that should embody comfort and safety. 

I had to stop as I read the rest of the criminal profile. "Wow, who is the profiler for this case? Why is it so good? Is this really the level of a police profiler?"

As I checked the name, disbelief washed over me. "Dr. Linda Martin... my therapist?" My mind quickly blanked out, leaving me standing there motionless.

"Sir? Should I continue writing?" Robin asked, waving her hand in front of my face, trying to get my attention.

Thanks to her voice, I finally snapped out of my deep thoughts. "Ah, thanks, Robin. No— I mean, yes, you just need to scan everything and create a murder board."

When Robin finished her work, I stood in front of the holographic board displaying all the dates and locations of the murders, including the names of the victims. Robin held a red thread and asked me excitedly, "Should I connect the murders together like in TV shows, sir?"

"No need. That'll make it too messy," I replied casually. Robin's enthusiasm deflated, and she slumped away. As I studied the murder board, I noticed something. "So, he planned the attack dates too."

"Why did you say that, sir?" Robin asked, her curiosity piqued.

I turned to her with a smile. "See here? Every single victim lived alone. The criminal attacked them on the first day of any holiday, which meant it would take days, or even weeks, for their bodies to be discovered."

"Mrs. Reyes, the latest victim, was supposed to go on a cruise. Her body wasn't found until the smell of her rotting corpse disturbed the neighbor. None of her friends tried to contact her because she warned them not to do so," I said, pointing to the location of the murder nearest to my city.

"It's almost the holiday season, so I guess Detective Deckard thought the culprit would strike again," Robin chimed in.

I nodded in agreement and teased, "So, how is it, Robin? Can you solve this one instantly too?"

Robin pouted. "Whoever this person is, they didn't use any phones."

"How about credit cards? Car rentals? Nothing?" I pressed. Given the suspect's familiarity with the victims' daily routines, I suspected he had stalked them for a while. I asked Robin to check for any overlapping credit card transactions to see if someone had been present around all the victims' daily activities.

Robin shook her head and said, "There's nothing, sir. He must've used cash for all his transactions."

"Hmm, this is quite intriguing. If he used cash, then where did he get his money from?" I muttered.

"Robin, pull out the witness interviews," I ordered before suddenly thinking of something else. "Before that, in the serial arsonist case, did the culprit work alone?"

Robin looked into it for a moment and said, "There's nothing to signify that she was working with someone."

"It might seem that way, but didn't you see her disability card? She hurt both of her legs in a car accident. She can't drive anymore. Based on the tire marks left at the scenes, the police guessed that she used a truck to get to the crime scenes."

"Do you think someone is helping her?" Robin asked. "I'll check the CCTV footage again."

My heart raced with anxiety as I asked urgently, "You've already given the arsonist's name and location to Chloe, right?"

"Yes, sir," Robin replied.

"Call the Captain," I ordered. Robin dialed the police captain's number, and as soon as it connected, I asked, "Cap, have you seen the arsonist?"

The captain answered with a sleazy, sycophantic tone, "Yes, you really are a prodigy—"

"Stop that. Did Chloe go to arrest her yet? Because I think she might have an accomplice."

The captain sounded shocked. "What?! Seriously?!"

"Did she go there yet?" I pressed anxiously. "She remembered to bring her partner with her, right? I warned her about not going in without backup. She must've remembered that." There was hope in my inflection, as I thought that the situation could still be salvaged. 

"Umm…" The captain stammered. "Damn it." I cut the call and ran to my car immediately. "Robin, get me Detective Deckard's location!" I shouted.

Robin got to work quickly, and when I arrived at the car garage, she had already sent Chloe's location to my phone. My Audi R8 roared to life as I pressed the accelerator, dashing through the streets as I drove to the arsonists' current location.

"Why in the world did she turn off her phone?" I muttered anxiously as I tried to contact Chloe. The captain also sent backups to the location immediately, but I knew that I was the closest one to her.

…

[General POV]

"My battery is empty," Chloe sighed as she watched her phone shut down after she got out of her car. Fatigue was evident on her face; she had been chasing and arresting criminals since early morning.

She entered an abandoned warehouse after checking the suspect's home and finding no one there. It was one of the hideouts identified by Robin, so Chloe decided to make the stop.

With her gun drawn and a flashlight in her other hand, Chloe cautiously moved through the dark warehouse filled with boxes. Suddenly, she heard sounds coming from deeper inside. Staying alert, she advanced slowly.

As she opened the door from which the sounds originated, she aimed her gun at a woman with a crazed expression, standing with a cane inside the room. Blueprints were spread out on the table before her.

"Freeze! Emily Wallaby! You're under arrest for arson!" Chloe shouted. Emily looked shocked, but then a manic smile crossed her face.

"You're alone?" she asked.

"I am enough to bring you in. Hands up! NOW!" Chloe commanded. Just then, she heard a grating voice coming from behind her, "She's alone."

Chloe turned quickly, but before she could react, a metal pipe struck the back of her head. She lost consciousness and collapsed to the floor, blood pooling beneath her. Emily and her lover dragged Chloe up, disarmed her, and chained her to a nearby metal pole.

As Chloe regained consciousness, her vision blurred. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, and she struggled to steady her senses. Faint voices echoed around her.

"Hmm, we should probably kill her," Emily said casually, pointing Chloe's own gun at her head with her finger on the trigger.

The tall, stocky man with a glass eye pushed Emily's hand down. "If she knows who we are, then every cop already knows it. We should run. We're only wanted for arson, but if you murder a cop, it'll turn into a major case."

Emily grumbled and shoved his hand away. Grabbing his shirt, she whined, "Ethan, don't you love me anymore? You said you'd help me take revenge!"

"Yeah, I said that," Ethan sighed, moving his hand away and letting her go. Emily grinned maniacally, pointing the gun at Chloe and cocking the trigger.

Chloe struggled to speak. "Re…venge? How is it revenge?"

"Ah, no one has solved it yet! My puzzles!" Emily said, pulling her hand back to gloat. "They all think they're better than me, laughing at me when I need to use my cane," she struck her leg in frustration, resenting her disability.

"What?" Chloe asked, confused. Emily continued, "Like them, you too, the police! They never even caught the guy who caused the accident. You know what I'm going to do next, Detective?" She picked up her blueprints and held them up to Chloe.

Chloe's eyes widened as she muttered, "That's…the police station."

Emily grinned. "My next target. I already know how to get inside. After I kill you, I'm going to torch that place too!"

"The police station?" Suddenly, another voice interrupted from behind them. Emily turned to Ethan, fuming. "Are you stupid and DEAF? I already said I'm going to burn that place down!"

"No, that wasn't me," Ethan said, shaking his head emphatically. "Huh?" Both of them turned to see a silhouette behind them. Edward smiled as he aimed his tasers at both arsonists. As he pressed the button, he said, "Sorry about this. I don't have a gun, and I'm in no mood for a fistfight today."

He continued talking while they were electrocuted. Their bodies jerked before they collapsed to the ground, spasming. However, the big man wasn't going down so easily. "Ah, double dose then," Edward said casually before bringing the two tasers together and electrocuting only the big guy.

After both arsonists stopped resisting, Edward hurried over to Chloe and checked on her. "Are you okay? You're bleeding a lot." Edward's face changed as he checked on Chloe's head. He knew she needed immediate medical attention now based on his medical knowledge. 

"I'm…fine," Chloe replied with a sigh of relief. Edward suddenly grew furious. As he tried to remove her chain, he nagged, "If you're fine, then I can get angry at you. I TOLD YOU TO BRING YOUR PARTNER, YOU DUMBASS! You're lucky I got here in time. Also, you're going to pay for all my speeding tickets because I'm pretty sure I ran through about four red lights."

Edward ripped his shirt to fashion into a bandage and wrapped it around Chloe's head to stop the bleeding. The big man groaned, and Edward raised his index finger to Chloe. "Be right back."

"Who are you—" Before Ethan could finish, Edward electrocuted him again, and then again, and then again…until he finally stopped resisting.

Once Edward returned to Chloe, she looked at him in disbelief. "You have no mercy."

"Mercy is for the innocent," Edward muttered. He tried to unchain Chloe, and at that moment, they heard sirens blaring from outside the warehouse. Backup had finally arrived.

As soon as the uniformed officers and other detectives entered the warehouse, Edward picked up Chloe in a princess carry, startling everyone, including her.

"I—I can walk," Chloe stammered shyly. Edward shook his head. "You were hit pretty hard. I'm taking you to the hospital now."

"I—"

Before she could reject his offer, Edward said, "You didn't listen to me once. Do it a second time, and I'll partner up with the Captain instead."

Edward carried her out of the warehouse under the gazes of the uniformed officers, which made Chloe extremely embarrassed. No one dared to say anything as they understood how much danger Chloe was in.

Edward placed her inside his Audi and then took the removable cherry light from Chloe's car, attaching it to his own. "Now, I can legally speed through the streets," he muttered.

Although her mind was hazy, Chloe retorted, "You're impersonating a cop…"

"I'm a detective intern, so I won't get into much trouble." He pressed on the accelerator and drove Chloe straight to the nearest medical center.

As he carried her through the emergency ward door, a nurse immediately catered to Chloe. Edward told the emergency room doctor, "She's suffering from a head injury, being hit hard by a pipe. She has a laceration on the back of her head and is bleeding profusely. Vital signs are stable, but she's disoriented and may experience dizziness or nausea. She needs a CT scan to rule out any intracranial bleeding."

The female doctor quickly asked as she checked on Chloe's response, "She got hit by who?"

"By a criminal. She's a detective." Edward replied quickly. As he placed Chloe on top of the hospital bed, her blood was all over his shirt and hand. 

The doctor nodded, quickly assessing Chloe's condition while the nurse prepared to transport her for imaging. Edward added, "Also, monitor her for any signs of increased intracranial pressure. She might need a neurology consult."

"We got it from here!" The doctor replied with annoyance. Edward sighed as the doctor's left, mumbling to himself, "What should I do now? Should I contact her family?"

He looked at his half-ripped shirt and muttered, "I'm cold." The nurses and other patients there giggled as they looked at him, some even started taking pictures. Soon, Edward's bloody abdomen went viral on social media, with a lot of people asking the question, 'What happened to him?'

…

[Edward POV]

Randall came by bringing me a change of clothing. He wanted to move me away from the hospital as the reporters were congregating there, wanting to know what happened. 

The only reason they couldn't get into the emergency ward was because of the crowd of police officers who came to support Chloe. It seemed that she had people's respect even though she was always discriminated against by the Captain.

I decided to wait until Chloe came out from the treatment room. Sitting on the metal chair nearby the ward, I sipped on some coffee Randall gave me before I asked, "Hey, Chloe's daughter. She's in school. Did Chloe pick her up or did she arrange someone else to pick her up?" 

"I think the father will pick her up. He's a police officer too, right? I'm sure he knows what happened to her." Randall replied.

I nodded in understanding and complained, "It's taking so long." I rubbed my sweaty palm on my jeans before chuckling slightly.

Randall looked at me anxiously and said, "You should go home. I can take care of the situation."

"I think I should wait," I replied with a beleaguered smile. "I won't be able to relax if I go home."

After seven hours, she finally emerged from the emergency treatment room and into the monitoring room. I walked inside to check on her. She had fallen unconscious after the treatment, and it didn't seem like she was going to wake up anytime soon.

An old, bald doctor wearing glasses entered the ward. He introduced himself as Dr. Vijay Kapoor from the neurology department and asked, "Are you her family member?"

Outside the ward, a few nurses and female patients grimaced at the question. "Doesn't he even know who he is?" one patient whispered mockingly.

I shook my head and replied, "I'm not, but her ex-husband will be here soon. You can tell me, and I'll relay the information to him."

Dr. Kapoor took off his glasses, preparing for what he had to say. "We found some concerning issues. She sustained a significant head injury from the impact. While the initial scans didn't show any major bleeding, there are signs of diffuse axonal injury, which can cause widespread damage to brain tissue."

He took a deep breath. "This type of injury can lead to cognitive impairments. She may experience difficulties with memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. In some cases, it can result in permanent damage."

"We'll need to monitor her recovery closely, but she may face significant challenges," Dr. Kapoor continued. "I recommend a comprehensive rehabilitation program, including physical, occupational, and cognitive therapy. However, depending on the severity of the damage, there's a possibility that she might not be able to return to her previous role as a detective."

"But it's still not definitive, right?" I asked, hoping for some reassurance.

Dr. Kapoor replied with a strained smile, "We both share that hope. I want her to make a swift recovery, but in this case, it's really hard to say."

"Thank you, Doctor," I sighed before I fell deep in thoughts. 'I think I still have the Minor Heal spell I got from the gacha. Should I use it on her? Gong Shin told me it can heal gunshot wounds. Can it even heal brain injury?'

As I thought about the plot for the series Lucifer, without Lucifer, Chloe would've been dead several times in that series. 'Maybe it is the best choice for her to quit being a detective?'

My finger was placed on my chin as I contemplated the situation. "Hmm, what should I do?" I mumbled. Suddenly, a small child ran into the room while crying, "Mommy!"

Her latino dad grabbed her before she could hug her mother, picking her up to stop her, "Trixie, stop. You cannot be rough with her."

Trixie burst into tears, "Mom…I promised I won't be mad at you anymore for making me sleep at dad's! Please wake up!"

"Yeah, I can't watch this." I muttered suddenly before cracking my fingers, "One healing spell, coming up."