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

Chapter 102: The Tenth Case (2)

I settle into my desk chair, the first case file open before me. As I begin to read, Bundy's voice emerges in my mind, uninvited but somehow expected.

"Ah, the thrill of a fresh case," Bundy's smooth voice echoes. "Shall we dissect it together, detective?"

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I sigh internally, knowing I can't entirely shut him out. "Just observations, Bundy. No commentary."

"Of course, of course," he replies, a hint of amusement in his tone.

I focus on the file, reading about the elderly couple found dead in their home. Their son, unable to reach them by phone, discovered their bodies.

"Interesting," Bundy muses. "A family member finding the bodies. Always adds an extra layer of trauma, doesn't it?"

I ignore his comment, continuing to read. The CCTV at the main gate showed no sign of the killer entering.

"Clever," Bundy remarks. "He found another way in. Probably scouted the location beforehand. I always did enjoy a good reconnaissance."

"Focus on the facts, Bundy," I think sternly.

I read about the trace evidence found - leather gloves outside, cotton gloves inside.

Bundy's voice takes on an impressed tone. "Now that's preparation. Changing gloves to avoid leaving consistent trace evidence. This killer has done his homework."

"It shows premeditation," I think, reluctantly engaging. "He came prepared with multiple tools."

"Indeed," Bundy agrees. "The change of shoes as well. He's meticulous, our killer. Doesn't want to leave any traceable prints."

I continue reading, noting how the killer thoroughly checked both floors of the house.

"Thorough," Bundy comments. "He's not just here for the kill. He wants to make sure he leaves nothing behind. It's almost... artistic in its precision."

"There's nothing artistic about murder, Bundy," I think sharply.

"Oh, but there is, detective. In the planning, the execution, the clean-up. It's a complex dance."

I feel a chill at his words, but press on. The file notes knife marks on the victims, but death by blunt force trauma.

"Ah, now that's interesting," Bundy's voice grows excited. "He used the knife to control them, to instill fear. But the real goal was always the blunt force. Why do you think that is, detective?"

I ponder this, despite my reluctance to engage. "It's more personal," I think finally. "More... visceral. The killer wanted to feel the impact."

"Very good," Bundy praises, sending another shiver down my spine. "He wants the intimacy of close contact, the raw power of the kill. The knife is just a tool for control. The real satisfaction comes from the final, crushing blows."

I read the last details - the victims' crushed skulls, the clear signs of a planned attack.

"Beautiful," Bundy whispers, his voice filled with a disturbing admiration. "This isn't just a killer, detective. This is an artist. Someone who takes pride in their work, who plans every detail."

"He's a monster," I think back forcefully. "Nothing more."

"Oh, but he's so much more," Bundy argues. "He's methodical, intelligent, adaptable. He's a worthy adversary for you, detective. The question is, are you clever enough to catch him?"

I take a deep breath, consciously pushing Bundy's unsettling voice to the back of my mind. His insights, while potentially useful, are tainted by his twisted perspective. I need to approach this case with clear, unbiased eyes.

Focusing on the file before me, I delve deeper into the details, determined to uncover every nuance that might lead us to the killer.

My eyes catch on a detail I hadn't noticed before. The male victim, the elderly man, was a retired medical doctor. This piques my interest immediately. Could this be significant? I make a mental note to look into his medical background, wondering if it might be relevant to the killer's choice of victims.

As I continue reading, the forensic analysis paints a grim picture of the attack's sequence. Blood spatter patterns and time-of-death estimates indicate that the killer targeted the husband first. I try to put myself in the scene, imagining the horror of those moments.

The old doctor, perhaps hearing a noise or confronted suddenly by the intruder, becomes the first victim. But what catches my attention is the evidence of a struggle. Despite his age and the surprise of the attack, the doctor fought back. There are defensive wounds on his arms, signs of impact on nearby furniture.

I lean back in my chair, a wave of sadness washing over me. This man, in his twilight years, summoned the courage to fight against a much younger, stronger assailant. But it wasn't just self-preservation driving him. The evidence suggests he was trying to reach his wife, to protect her.

I can almost see it in my mind's eye - the elderly doctor, already badly injured, desperately trying to intervene as the killer turned his attention to his wife. It's a heartbreaking image, a final act of love and bravery in the face of unimaginable violence.

Swallowing hard, I force myself to continue reading. The wife's injuries tell their own tragic story. She was the second target, perhaps paralyzed by fear or trying to help her husband. The attack on her was swift and brutal, leaving no chance for escape or survival.

As I process this information, a detail in the report catches my eye. Despite the violence of the attack and the apparent ransacking of the house, nothing was stolen. No money missing from wallets, no valuable items taken from drawers or safes. This wasn't a robbery gone wrong or a burglary that escalated.

The killer's sole purpose was the act of murder itself. There was no secondary motive, no attempt to disguise the crime as something else. This speaks to a level of focused, intentional violence that is deeply disturbing.

I flip back through the pages, reviewing the evidence again with this new perspective. The careful preparation - the glove changes, the multiple pairs of shoes - takes on an even more sinister light. This wasn't just about avoiding detection. It was about executing a perfect kill, as if the act itself was the ultimate goal.

As I reach for the second case file, eager to delve deeper into the investigation, I hear footsteps approaching my desk. Looking up, I see Officer Lee Dongwon, his expression a mix of urgency and excitement.

"Detective," he says, slightly out of breath, "Inspector Ko needs you right away. We've found something."

We enter a small conference room where Inspector Ko is standing in front of a large map of Gwangju, surrounded by several other team members. She looks up as we enter, her eyes bright with the thrill of a potential breakthrough.

"Ah, good, you're here," Ko says, gesturing for me to come closer. "We've uncovered something interesting about the attack locations."

I step up to the map, my eyes scanning the marked sites of the murders. "What have you found, Inspector?"

Ko points to the first two locations on the map. "We've been cross-referencing the crime scenes with various landmarks in the city, looking for any potential patterns or connections. And we've noticed something peculiar about the first two cases."

She taps the map, indicating the Sinsu and Kuki districts. "Both of these attacks occurred in very close proximity to churches. Not just any churches, but prominent, well-established ones in their respective communities."

I lean in, studying the locations more closely. Indeed, there are two large church icons marked near each of the first two crime scenes.

"How close are we talking?" I ask, my mind already racing with possibilities.

Detective Park Minho steps forward, tablet in hand. "In both cases, the victims' homes were within a two-block radius of the churches. The Sinsu victims lived just 150 meters from Saint Mary's Cathedral, and the Kuki victims were about 200 meters from the Kuki Presbyterian Church."

"Have you found anything noteworthy in your review so far?" Ko asks, her tone a mix of curiosity and hope.

I shake my head slightly. "I was just going through the case files when Officer Lee came to fetch me. I've only managed to review the first case in detail so far."

Ko's expression shifts to one of slight embarrassment. "Ah, I see. I apologize for interrupting your process. These files contain crucial information, and we need your fresh perspective on them."

She steps away from the map, gesturing towards the door. "Please, don't let me keep you. Go back to your review. It's important that you have a thorough understanding of each case."

I nod, appreciating her understanding. "Thank you, Inspector. I'll continue my review and report back as soon as I've gone through all the files. This new information about the church proximity will definitely add an interesting angle to consider."

Ko smiles, a determined glint in her eye. "Excellent. We're counting on your insights. Take your time, be thorough. Every detail could be the key to cracking this case."

"Understood," I reply, already mentally preparing to dive back into the files. "I'll be back soon with a full report."

As I turn to leave, Ko calls out, "And detective? Don't hesitate to share any thoughts or hunches, no matter how small they might seem. In cases like these, sometimes the tiniest detail can break everything wide open."

I nod in acknowledgment, grateful for her open approach.

Settling back into my chair, I pull the second case file towards me, my mind already working to incorporate the new information about the church proximities. As I open the file and take a deep breath. The hunt for our methodical killer continues.