Eldric was determined to uncover the truth. A gnawing feeling had settled in his chest, one that wouldn't let him rest. After poring over the case files until well into the night, he discovered a disturbing pattern: out of the seven victims, only three had been identified. The latest of them unearthed a chilling link—both the first and third victims had ties to the massive fire that gutted the xxx Business Complex fifteen years ago. They were family members of those who'd perished in the blaze. Why were they being targeted now? And how did it all connect?
With those questions circling endlessly in his mind, Eldric finally succumbed to exhaustion, his head drooping over the scattered files on his desk as sleep claimed him.
[The following day]
Senior Inspector Alina Ramirez stood at the front of the precinct's conference room, her presence composed and authoritative. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow over the table filled with weary but attentive officers.
"This case began nine months ago," she started, her voice even, "and since then, we've counted seven victims. Unfortunately, the perpetrator remains at large. We hope that the most recent incident is the last—but we must remain vigilant."
Alina clicked the remote, and a map flickered onto the screen behind her. "On the day of each incident, the suspect sends an anonymous email to the police. The message contains nothing but a sequence of numbers—coordinates. It took us until the third case to realize what they meant. I'm sharing this with you under strict confidence. This information has not been released to the public."
She turned to face the group fully. "Let's go over the victims."
"The first was Marla Johnson, age 30. Cause of death: blunt force trauma to the head, likely from a fall or a deliberate blow. Her body was found near the banks of the xxxx River after three days, discovered by a maintenance worker. She'd been missing for a decade, and her remaining family members had either passed away or moved away."
"The second victim, a woman in her mid-20s, remains unidentified. Her body was recovered from a sewer shaft in Mxxx City. No signs of sexual assault were found, but the cause of death was asphyxiation. Again, her body surfaced three days later."
"The third victim, Sean Reyes, a man in his mid-30s, was reported missing ten years ago. There were no stab wounds, but his body showed extensive bruising. Autopsy confirmed he died from a prolonged beating."
"The fourth and fifth victims were found together in a crumbling, long-abandoned hotel in Suxxx City. Two unidentified men in their mid-20s, both shot execution-style in the head."
"The sixth case involved another unidentified woman, likely in her mid-30s. Her body was entombed in cement and dumped into the Pxxx River. It weighed nearly a hundred kilos. A gruesome and calculated act."
"And then the seventh—the most recent. A man, identified only yesterday, died of a heart attack. The circumstances were unusual. The killer's email arrived late, and by the time we located the body, decomposition had already begun."
There was a tense pause before Inspector Eldric Noor stood from his seat at the side of the room. "Thank you, Miss Ramirez. Now, allow me to share what we uncovered last night."
He stepped to the center, holding a USB. "Late yesterday evening, the village chairman contacted us. He had recently installed a hidden camera near the old building, citing a local ordinance. What he found changed the direction of our investigation."
The video began to play. On screen, the grainy footage showed four masked individuals moving under the cover of darkness. The room went quiet as the officers watched.
"Due to the masks and hats, it's difficult to make out identities. We're unsure whether they're the killers or hired to dispose of the bodies. But one of them has a distinct tattoo on his right hand—a design associated with the Changco Gang. This criminal group is notorious in the outskirts and underworld, named after the feared Emilio Changco."
Murmurs rippled through the room.
The Chief, seated at the far end, leaned forward. "And what of the latest victim?"
Eldric nodded. "As you've heard, cardiac arrest was the cause. However, we're still determining the trigger. The village chairman, who knows the owner of the abandoned property, revealed that both are survivors of the Business Complex fire. The victim's relatives confirmed he had a unique birthmark matching our unidentified man. He's been missing for ten years."
Gasps and low conversations followed.
Alina raised her voice slightly, regaining focus. "We need to identify the man with the tattoo. A still from the footage will be distributed. Any information—no matter how minor—must be reported immediately. Proceed with caution. Use force only if your life is in danger. Avoid unnecessary conflict."
The Chief stood, his face a rare blend of sternness and pride. "You two are doing outstanding work. If you need additional resources, say the word."
"Thank you, sir," Alina and Eldric replied in unison.
Once the briefing ended and the others filtered out, David turned to Alina, curiosity etched across his face. "Hey, Detective Ramirez. I've been dying to ask—how did you figure out there were accomplices?"
She smirked slightly. "Think back to the sixth case. The body encased in cement? It weighed nearly 100 kilograms. No one moves something that heavy without help—and definitely not without drawing attention."
David raised a brow. "We actually considered that, but… here. Let me show you something."
They leaned over the files, tension thick with the knowledge that the deeper they went, the darker it all became.