I’m with him there. It’s bad enough to have guessed what had taken place without seeing the aftermath.
I point at the floor. ‘A dime says those towels are still wet.’
‘A dollar says you’re right. C’mon, we better leave this for the CSI team.’
40
Once the CSI team arrive at Evie Starr’s house, the chief drops me back at my car. Neither of us says much. We are both wrapped up with our thoughts. We agree to meet at six and go our separate ways.
I make a call and find I’m in luck. Or out of it depending on your point of view. Dr Edwards has a window. Still, I’d rather see a psychologist than inform a family of a loved one’s murder.
I sit on the couch in his office, wondering if any of Mother’s friends have spied me. Knowing what vampiric souls they are, I can imagine them shaking with excitement as they fumble with their cells in their desperation to call Mother and ask why I’m seeing Dr Edwards.
‘So, Jake, what can I help you with today?’
‘You’ll have heard about the other two murders by now?’
He nods.
‘Alfonse and I are helping the chief in an advisory role and I want your input on a couple of theories I have.’
‘Okay. Same terms as last time though.’
I expected this arrangement would continue and have tried to prepare some answers to the questions I suspect he’ll ask.
He gets a tight smile as my confirmation. ‘We talked about Kira’s hooking last time I was here. Have you had any further thoughts about that?’
‘A couple but none that will help you.’ He sees me waiting for an explanation. ‘Just that she was either narcissistic or she had an end game in mind. Do either of these options say anything to you?’
I hesitate, not wanting to reveal Kira’s obsession with me. ‘Anything’s possible. Now, about the killings. Two of the three have shown signs of anger or rage but two have also shown a calculating mind. Is it possible the same person has killed all three victims?’
‘Can you give me a few details so I can better answer your question?’
I tell him what he needs to know and allow him time to consider what I’ve said.
‘They sound very different, but I can see why you’re asking.’ He scratches a cheek. ‘First impressions are they’re unconnected. Yet the precise cut on Mrs Starr and the coup de grâce on Kira both speak of a person who can exercise a great deal of self-control. Mr Johnson’s death appears to be frenzied and opportune but there may be more to it than –’
‘What do you mean?’ These insights are the reason I am here.
I get a stern glare for the interruption. ‘As I was about to say. A town like Casperton sees very few homicides, so there’s every chance these killings are connected. If I was you, I’d be looking for a connection between the victims rather than their deaths. If you can find a common thread, there may be a way of identifying the killer.’
‘I’ve got Alfonse looking into it.’
‘So what about you? How do you feel about the idea an ex of yours was murdered by what may turn out to be a serial killer?’
I can’t do anything except be honest with him. ‘I don’t like it. I don’t like the way she was cut up before being killed.’
‘And would you like to see her killer brought to justice?’
‘Definitely.’ The word comes out with more vehemence than I’d expected or planned.
His eyebrow lifts a fraction. ‘What do you think would be a fitting justice?’
‘Death.’ I soften my tone. ‘My turn, Doc. If there is just one killer out there, what kind of psychoses may he have? Other than homicidal mania, that is.’
He shakes his head. ‘I’m not going to attempt a diagnosis on someone I’ve never met. All I can tell you is he is intelligent, adaptable to circumstances and he’s playing a game.’
‘A game?’
‘There’s no doubt in my mind he’s enacting a fantasy or has what he sees as a mission.’ He picks up his pad and pen. ‘You seem very determined this killer deserves to die. Why does it bother you so much? Is it because of latent feelings for Kira?’
I pick my words with care. ‘I believe no man should take another’s life without forfeiting his own right to live. That anyone who kills three people in such a cold manner should be removed from the face of the earth.’
‘So you believe in an eye for an eye rather than the justice system. Isn’t that what you’re saying?’
‘No. I’m saying he should be caught, tried and sentenced to death.’
‘What do you think you would do if you came face to face with this person?’
‘I’d take him down and then hand him over to the cops.’
He makes a few notes on his pad. ‘You seem very confident of yourself.’
I shrug. ‘One on one, I haven’t lost a fight for a very long time. So, you think this guy may have a mission or purpose driving him. What might this be?’
‘It could be anything. Revenge against people who’ve slighted him in some way. Not feeling respected or valued can often prey on a person’s mind until they snap. It could be someone they owe money to. Because they haven’t paid up or are disputing the amount, this guy has taken it into his head to get them back.’
‘Could it really be something that mundane?’ It doesn’t seem credible to me. ‘People don’t become serial killers because someone owes them a few bucks or hasn’t shown them enough respect.’
‘Don’t they? You’d be surprised how petty grievances can be blown out of proportion. I take it you’ve heard about how Chinese water torture works? By the slow incessant dripping onto a prisoner’s head.’ He doesn’t wait for me to answer. ‘What starts out as a negligible irritation grows through time and repetition into a major source of discomfort. The next drip – or slight in this case – becomes expected. Anticipated to the point where the person on the receiving end is already bitter about it. The resentment is built in before the slight is delivered. Paranoia is a very powerful driver.’
‘I see what you mean. It’s like having a permanent sense of defeatism. Even innocuous comments are taken as digs.’
He smiles at my understanding. ‘Exactly. Now imagine this situation carrying on for months or years until you’re a ball of twisted resentment. Every word or gesture to you scrutinised for insults that may or may not be there. Any kindnesses towards you rejected due to the irrational fear you’re being lured into a humiliation-filled trap.’
His words are painting a terrible picture. It’s hard not to imagine myself being in this position and fighting to retain sanity and decency. It would be too easy to lash out with verbal barbs or physical blows.
I’m aware I have confidence in myself, that I’m unafraid to speak my mind and stand up for myself. If that self-confidence was eroded away, would I still voice my thoughts or raise my fists?
The answer to my question is no. In such a situation the safe mentality would be to keep your head down. To go unnoticed and hope the insults aren’t too cutting and the slights can be passed off as insignificant.
‘So what happens? Does a switch just flick and the person in question turn into a maniac?’
‘It’s not as cut and dried as you suggest. There can be many different manifestations of a complete lack of self-confidence. Self-harming, a narcissistic side, a tendency to overspend and act out in an attempt to impress people into liking you. These are the better options for society.’
‘How so?’ I’m intrigued by what he’s saying but unsure of how any of it is better.
Dr Edwards puts down his pad and looks right into my eyes. ‘The worst-case scenario is if, and I stress if, there is a serial killer lacking self-confidence, he’ll probably be a loner, an introvert who’s never quite fitted into any social circle. I suspect he may have fantasised about killing for years before actually doing it. Once he’s taken the first step, he will have felt a sense of empowerment.’