Chapter 221 Solve the case as soon as possible
Lisa's body trembled, and tears welled up again.
She held her head, her voice hoarse and pained, "I know… I know, but I have no choice.
The money I owe is because of my mistake, and I have to take responsibility.
I can't let you all bear this for me."
"Taking responsibility doesn't mean destroying yourself."
Lynn spoke, his voice deep but powerful, "You made a mistake, but you still have a chance to correct it.
Those people won't bother you anymore, but if you continue to choose the same path, the outcome will only be worse."
Lisa looked up at Lynn, her eyes full of conflict and pain, "What else can I do?
I even lost my previous job; I have nothing left.
I'm like a useless person, good for nothing."
"You are not useless."
Carter grabbed her hand, her tone so firm it was almost a command, "You are Lisa James, my friend, a talented designer.
You just took a wrong turn, but you can still turn back.
You need to get back on your feet and rediscover yourself."
"Rediscover myself…" Lisa murmured, her gaze lost, "But where do I start?"
Lynn stood by, his gaze calm, but his voice carried a rare warmth, "Start by finding a proper job.
Even a small effort, as long as you're willing to start, there will always be a way.
Carter will help you, and I will help you too."
Lisa looked at Lynn, her eyes filled with doubt and hesitation, "Why are you doing this?
I've already messed up so badly, why are you still willing to help me?"
"Because you are my friend."
Carter's voice was filled with strong emotion; her eyes were brimming with tears, but she didn't let them fall, "I won't just watch you destroy yourself.
I might not have noticed your problem sooner, but now, I will never let you face this alone again."
Lisa's tears finally burst forth, and she threw herself into Carter's arms, sobbing like a helpless child, "I'm sorry… I'm sorry, I really don't know what to do…"
Carter gently patted her back, her voice softening, "It's okay, Lisa.
We'll solve it together.
You are not alone."
Lynn watched the scene, his gaze gradually softening.
He didn't say much, just quietly walked to the window and looked at the distant lights.
He knew that Lisa's path was still long, but at least she had taken the first step.
After a long while, Lisa finally calmed down.
She wiped the tears from her face and looked at Lynn and Carter with a long-lost determination, "I'll try.
I don't know if I can succeed, but I'll try."
Carter smiled, her eyes sparkling, "That's enough.
You just need to start; we'll figure out the rest together."
Lynn nodded, "This is a new beginning, Lisa.
But you have to remember, change doesn't happen overnight.
Every step is important."
Lisa took a deep breath and nodded, "Thank you… Really, thank you."
Lynn and Carter exchanged glances, both seeing a sense of relief in each other's eyes.
A few days later.
The plane slowly taxied to the tarmac.
Lynn leaned back in his seat, taking a deep breath, trying to calm the fatigue of the journey.
Carter sat beside him, flipping through a travel magazine, though her eyes weren't on the words.
Outside the window, the Manhattan skyline was vaguely reflected in the cabin window, like a restless oil painting.
"Do you think our trip was worth the price?" Carter asked with a smile, a hint of teasing in her voice.
"Of course, if you don't count your crazy shopping." Lynnraised an eyebrow, a slight curve to his lips.
Carter snorted dismissively, "You simply don't understand fashion investment."
The two gathered their carry-on luggage and followed the crowd off the plane.
As soon as they stepped out of the terminal, a cold wind hit them, instantly clearing their minds.
Lynn felt in his jacket pocket, habitually pulling out his phone to call a car.
Just then, his phone screen lit up—a missed call notification and several text messages appeared on the screen.
"Work again?" Carter noticed the change in Lynn's expression.
Lynn nodded, opened the messages, and his brows furrowed slightly.
The sender was his partner, Carter, and the message was brief but significant: "Serial case, five deaths, horrifying details.
Location: Manhattan city center.
Need you there immediately."
Carter saw the implication, her tone light but with a hint of worry: "It seems our vacation is truly over."
"Sorry." Lynn said softly, but without hesitation, he dialed Carter's number.
"You finally answered!" Carter's voice was anxious, "Five cases, no apparent connection between the victims, but the modus operandi is extremely brutal.
All crime scenes have the killer's signature mark—a Red Rose drawn on the wall."
Lynn frowned: "Did the killer leave any other traces?"
"Still investigating, but there's one survivor; she said she saw the killer's face." Carter paused, "She's in the hospital, but her condition is very unstable."
"Send me the crime scene location." After hanging up, Lynn turned to Carter, his tone becoming serious: "I have to go to the scene; I might be back very late."
Carter raised an eyebrow, a hint of excitement flashing in her eyes: "You wouldn't expect me to just stay home, would you?
A serial murder case, this is big news for my career!"
Lynn knew he couldn't dissuade her, so he sighed: "Alright, but you have to promise not to interfere with the investigation."
Carter raised an eyebrow, neither agreeing nor refusing, but quickly hailed a taxi: "Let's go, my Detective."
Night fell, and Manhattan's neon lights illuminated the streets in vibrant colors.
The taxi sped along, soon stopping outside the Policetape.
Police cars flashed their dazzling lights, and several Police officers maintained order around them, while Lynnand Carter walked directly through the crowd towards Carter.
"Finally here." Carter came forward, handing Lynn a file with a tired expression, "This is the preliminary report of the case.
The victims are five seemingly unrelated citizens, including a lawyer, a housewife, a bar attendant, an unemployed person, and a university student.
Each person was killed individually, but the method was identical—fatal stab wounds, carotid artery severed.
What's stranger is that each victim's body was arranged in a seemingly carefully designed pose."
Lynn flipped through the report, asking in a deep voice: "What about the eyewitness?
How is her condition now?"
"Still in the hospital, severe psychological trauma, almost unable to speak.
The Doctor said her nerves are on the verge of collapse." Carter rubbed her temples.
"What about the surveillance at the crime scene?" Lynncontinued to ask.
"All destroyed, no video records whatsoever." Carter gave a bitter smile, "We don't even know how the killer precisely avoided the patrol teams."
Lynn pondered for a moment, then looked up at Carter: "You'd best stay here; don't approach the crime scene."
Carter nodded, but quickly took out her voice recorder and notebook, walking directly towards a young Policeofficer standing on the periphery, clearly having already started her "interview."
Lynn shook his head helplessly and led Carter into the cordon.
The crime scene was on the top floor of an abandoned apartment, the air filled with a putrid smell of blood, making one nauseous.
On the wall, a vivid Red Rose pattern appeared eerie and alive under the dim yellow light.
The victim's body was arranged in a strange pose—arms crossed, legs straight, as if performing an absurd ritual.
Lynn knelt down to carefully examine the body's wounds, noticing that the knife marks were clean and precise, indicating extremely high skill in the attack.
He touched the ground around the body with his gloved hand and found a subtle shoe print.
"The shoe size isn't large; the killer might be female." Lynn analyzed in a low voice.
"Female?" Carter was clearly surprised, "Are you sure?"
Lynn nodded: "Precise knife work, agile movements; these characteristics usually indicate professional training.
Furthermore, the size and depth of the shoe print do not match the characteristics of an adult male."
Just then, a technician walked over and handed Lynn a sample result: "We found a small amount of blood near the body, but preliminary analysis shows it does not belong to the victim."
"The killer might have been injured." Lynn stood up, "Have the forensic Doctor confirm the DNA as soon as possible to see if we can find a match."
Carter nodded, just about to leave, when Lynn's phone rang again.
This time, the caller was the Doctor from the hospital.
"Detective, there's something you must know." The Doctor's voice was urgent and low, "The survivor just woke up, but her description is very bizarre… She insists that the killer's eyes were red, and she saw the killer wearing a coat covered in rose embroidery."
"Red eyes?" Lynn frowned, "Did she mention any other details?"
"She also said that when the killer was killing, her face wore a strange smile, as if… as if she was enjoying it all."
After hanging up, Lynn fell into a brief contemplation, then turned to Carter and said: "We have to go to the hospital, immediately."
Seeing Lynn and Carter leave in a hurry, Carter quickly put away her notebook and chased after them: "Any new leads?"
"An eyewitness just woke up; she might give us a breakthrough." Lynn quickened his pace as he replied.
The atmosphere in the car was exceptionally heavy.
Carter secretly observed Lynn's expression and noticed the veins on his forehead twitching slightly.
This was Lynn's characteristic expression when he was thinking, usually meaning he already had some theories, but these theories were not easy ones.
In the hospital room, the eyewitness was curled up in a corner, her hands tightly clasped, her body trembling incessantly.
She looked up, and when she saw Lynn, a glimmer of hope flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by fear.
"Don't be afraid, we're here to help you." Lynn tried to keep his voice calm, "Can you tell me what the killer looked like?"
The woman swallowed, her voice trembling: "Her… her eyes, red like blood.
Her coat, it had many roses on it… She smiled terribly, as if… as if she was enjoying it all."
Carter listened carefully from the side, countless questions emerging in her mind.
Red eyes?
Rose pattern?
These descriptions were too bizarre, even somewhat unreal.
However, Lynn's expression grew even heavier.
He stood up and whispered to Carter: "This doesn't seem like an ordinary serial murder case; the killer's behavior and motive reveal a sense of ritual."
"You mean…" Carter hesitated, "This could be some kind of ritualistic killing?"
"Can't be sure yet." Lynn said in a deep voice, "But we need to find out the killer's identity as soon as possible; time is running out."
Carter stood at the street corner outside the crime scene, looking at the busy figures within the Police tape, and took a deep breath of the cold air.
She knew she couldn't get firsthand investigative data like Lynn, but she could use her journalistic methods to uncover clues hidden in the case.
Carter pulled out her small notebook and voice recorder and quickly walked towards a middle-aged man standing on the street corner smoking.
His jacket was open, and his fingers trembled slightly; he looked like he had been standing in the cold wind for a long time.
"Sir, could I bother you for a few minutes?" Carter spoke politely, her voice soft and firm, "I'm a reporter from the Manhattan News, and regarding this case, I'd like to hear your thoughts."
The man paused, hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice: "I don't know what I can tell you… But that night, I did hear some strange noises."
Carter immediately turned on her voice recorder and nodded, encouraging him to continue: "Can you describe it in detail?"
The man took a drag from his cigarette, his gaze drifting into the distance: "It was midnight; I had just gotten off work from the bar and was walking down this street when I suddenly heard a woman's scream from upstairs.
The sound was sharp and short, like it was cut off.
I was terrified, but I didn't dare to get close; I just looked from afar… I saw a Shadow, blurry, like a woman, but her movements were incredibly fast; in a flash, she was gone."
"Are you sure it was a woman?" Carter pressed, trying to grasp something from it.
"Couldn't see clearly, but her silhouette wasn't like a man's." The man took a final deep drag from his cigarette, then extinguished the butt, "Also, the coat she was wearing, it faintly reflected some light… as if it had embroidered patterns."
Carter's heart tightened, and Lynn's mention of the "rose coat" flashed before her eyes.
She suppressed her excitement and continued to ask: "Do you remember any other details?
Like her height, build, or… face?"
The man shook his head: "Couldn't see very clearly, but when she left, her back was thin and tall, and her movements were very agile."
Carter thanked him solemnly, quickly jotted down the information, and then walked to another small convenience store nearby.
The owner was an old grandmother in her sixties, arranging the cash register behind the counter.
Carter smiled as she handed over her press ID and began: "Hello, I'm investigating the case that happened nearby.
Have you heard anything about that night?"
The old grandmother frowned and looked at her warily: "The Police have already asked; I have nothing to say."
Carter nodded in understanding but didn't give up: "I just hope to record the community's voice, to tell everyone what happened here, and perhaps help solve the case sooner."
These words seemed to touch the old grandmother; she hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice: "That night, I was resting upstairs.
Around one in the morning, I heard urgent footsteps outside the door, as if someone was running.
I looked out the window and only saw a black Shadow flash by, moving so fast it didn't seem like an ordinary person."
Chapter 222 Hidden Threat
Kate keenly grasped the keywords: "Hurried footsteps? Like high heels?"
The old woman thought for a moment, then nodded: "That's right, it sounded like high heels, but lighter, like she was dancing."
Kate couldn't help but gasp, and quickly asked: "What about after that? Did you notice anything else unusual?"
"Nothing else."
The old woman shook her head, "But I don't know if it was a coincidence, the next morning, I found a rose petal on the steps outside my door."
Kate was shocked and quickly pressed: "Do you still have that petal?"
The old woman showed a regretful expression: "No, I thought it had fallen off someone's clothes, so I just swept it away."
Kate nodded, writing down this information, vaguely feeling that this petal might be a "gift" deliberately left by the killer.
She decided to interview more people near the crime scene, hoping to piece together a more complete picture.
Over the next few hours, Kate moved through the streets like a hound.
She interviewed taxi drivers on duty, an old man walking his dog late at night, night shift workers, and even knocked on the doors of some nearby residents.
Although most people could not provide more useful details, the commonalities mentioned in several different descriptions deepened Kate's suspicions.
Whether it was passersby who saw a blurry figure or witnesses who heard footsteps, they all consistently mentioned that the killer's movements that night were unusually fast, even beyond the normal range of a human.
And the coat embroidered with Red Rose appeared in almost all descriptions, like a unique symbol.
As dawn gradually broke, Kate stood at a street coffee stall, holding a cup of hot coffee, flipping through her densely packed notes.
Her mind kept replaying the keywords: "red eyes," "Red Rose," "dance-like footsteps."
Although she knew she couldn't directly participate in the investigation like Lynn, she had to find a way to compile this information into an in-depth report, which might attract more attention.
Kate found a quiet coffee shop and sat down, opening her laptop and starting to type.
Her article began with the background of the case, gradually introducing eyewitness descriptions and her own findings, using a calm and objective tone to sort out the case, while subtly permeating a sense of unease between the lines.
She wrote:
On the streets of Manhattan late at night, a bloody Shadow hides beneath the neon lights.
One witness described the killer's movements as dancing, while another mentioned the coat embroidered with Red Rose and the strange red eyes.
The details they couldn't explain, do they point to some non-human existence?
Or is this just a psychologically twisted, extremely confident serial killer, deliberately leaving us with a puzzle?
Whatever the truth, we must be vigilant, because the City's night is no longer safe.
Kate's fingertips flew across the keyboard, and finally, she ended the article with a thought-provoking conclusion: "Who is the killer? What does the Red Rose mean?
We may not find the answer immediately, but every night's street could become the next crime scene.
And all we can do is stay vigilant until the truth is revealed—because danger often lurks where we can't see it."
She pressed "Save" with satisfaction, as if she could hear her heart pounding in her chest.
Lynn and Carter stood in front of an old apartment building, the cold wind biting, the paint on the house number peeling, but still legible as "14B."
This was the residence of one of the victims, Jason, a bar waiter, and his only residence during his lifetime.
Lynn knocked on the door, and after a moment, a haggard middle-aged woman opened it.
Her eyes were red and swollen, clearly having cried for a long time.
She was Jason's older sister, Martha.
"Hello, I'm FBI Detective Lynn, and this is my colleague Carter.
We are investigating Jason's case," Lynn said in a soft but firm voice, "We'd like to ask you some questions."
Martha nodded, opening the door to let them in.
The small living room was cluttered with old furniture and scattered items, making it cramped and oppressive.
After inviting them to sit down, she couldn't help but wipe away tears: "Jason was a good boy, he never held grudges against anyone.
I really can't understand why someone would do such a cruel thing to him."
Lynn took out his notebook and asked softly: "Please try to recall, did he mention anything strange recently? Like contact with strangers, or participating in any special activities?"
Martha shook her head: "No.
His life was very simple, work, home, occasionally going out for a drink with friends.
He was never a troublemaker."
"Among his friends, was anyone particularly close to him recently?" Carter interjected.
Martha thought for a moment: "His best friend is another waiter at the bar, his name is Anthony.
They often left work together and occasionally came home for a drink."
Lynn noted down the name "Anthony" and then asked: "Did Jason ever mention having contact with any of the other four victims?"
Martha showed a confused expression: "Other people? No, I never heard him mention it."
Lynn nodded, stood up, and thanked her: "Thank you for your cooperation.
We will do our best to find the real killer."
After leaving the apartment, Carter frowned and said: "It seems Jason's social circle was quite simple; we haven't found any valuable clues yet."
"We'll go see the relatives of the other victims."
Lynn's tone was firm, clearly having formulated the next step of his plan.
Over the next few hours, they visited the families of several victims.
In each conversation, Lynn tried to find clues from different angles, but all relatives stated that the victims had no connection to each other.
Their life trajectories, professional backgrounds, and even hobbies were completely different.
Finally, they arrived at the home of the fifth victim, Alyssa, a university student.
When Alyssa's father opened the door, he appeared calmer than the other relatives, his gaze filled with suppressed anger.
"Detective, please come in."
He said, his voice low and powerful, "I hope you can catch that beast as soon as possible."
Lynn nodded, and after entering the living room, he went straight to the point: "We want to understand Alyssa's recent life.
Did she mention knowing any of the other victims, or participating in any special activities?"
Alyssa's father pondered for a moment before speaking: "Alyssa is an adventurous girl, and she recently became obsessed with an activity called 'City Puzzle,' often participating with friends."
Lynn immediately caught this detail: "'City Puzzle'? What kind of activity is this?"
"I heard it's a game popular with young people; they form teams and solve puzzles scattered throughout the City.
Alyssa particularly liked these challenges and made time to participate every week."
Her father paused, his brow furrowed, "But after she came back from her last activity, her mood was clearly off, as if she had been scared.
I asked her what happened, but she wouldn't say anything."
Lynn and Carter exchanged a glance, both clearly realizing that this was unusual.
"Do you know the date of her last participation in the activity?" Lynn pressed.
"It should have been two days before the incident, but I'm not sure of the exact date," her father replied.
Lynn nodded, writing this information in his notebook: "Did she mention who she participated with?"
"Her university friends, Danni and Lucy."
Her father paused, "I can give you their contact information."
After leaving Alyssa's home, Lynn quickly dialed Danni's number.
The student was clearly shocked by Alyssa's death but was also very willing to cooperate with the investigation.
"Can you tell me the details of your 'City Puzzle' activity?" Lynn asked.
Danni's voice on the other end of the phone trembled: "We were assigned a very quiet route that day, solving puzzles along abandoned buildings in the City center.
Everything was normal at first, but then the last task point went wrong..."
"What went wrong?" Lynn's tone became more urgent.
"We entered an abandoned warehouse, and it was pitch black.
Alyssa found a puzzle card with a Red Rose drawn on it.
Just as she picked up the card, someone suddenly let out a sharp laugh from the Shadows, scaring us badly.
We ran out, but Alyssa was not herself after she got home."
Danni paused, her voice even lower, "Now that I think about it, that card might have been deliberately left by the killer."
After hanging up the phone, Lynn frowned: "It seems the core clue to this case is that 'City Puzzle' activity."
Carter nodded: "Perhaps the killer targeted the victims through this activity.
But the question is, why did he choose these people? Are they really unrelated?"
"Not necessarily."
Lynn narrowed his eyes, calmly analyzing, "Perhaps there's some hidden connection between these victims, and 'City Puzzle' was just a tool for the killer to screen targets."
They were silent for a moment, both realizing that they had to investigate this activity in depth, to find out the truth behind the organizers and other participants.
This was not only about uncovering the connection between the victims but also possibly the key to solving the entire case.
Lynn and Carter decided to personally participate in the "City Puzzle" activity, disguised as ordinary players, hoping to discover hidden clues.
They fabricated identities—Lynn became a programmer named "John," while Carter transformed into "Mike," a photographer.
They chose a "Shadow Trail" route within the activity, a route that Alyssa and her friends had previously chosen.
On the day of registration, Lynn and Carter followed the instructions to the meeting point—an abandoned cafe.
It looked desolate outside, but inside it was crowded with excited young people, and the activity organizers were distributing maps and task cards.
The lights on the walls were dim, and some old props were placed on the tables; the whole scene looked exactly like the beginning of a mystery movie.
"Welcome everyone to the 'City Puzzle' activity!"
A man wearing a Red Rose-patterned mask stood at the front desk and said in a low voice, "This time, the theme is'Shadow Trail,' and each team needs to gradually solve puzzles according to clues to find hidden treasures.
Please remember, there might be something malicious lurking in the dark, so don't let it catch you!"
A cheer erupted from below, while Lynn and Carter kept a low profile, silently taking their task cards.
The card read the first clue: "The unlit candelabra points to the entrance to the truth."
"It's started," Lynn whispered to Carter, and they exchanged glances, quickly springing into action.
They followed the map to an abandoned old building, which was the first task point.
The building was dark and damp, and the air was filled with a musty smell.
According to the clue, they quickly found a row of dilapidated candelabras, and after careful inspection, they found a string of numbers—"303"—engraved on the base of one of them.
"This is the next coordinate," Carter whispered, looking up at Lynn.
Lynn nodded, and they continued forward.
The next few tasks were relatively simple, mostly small games requiring careful observation and decryption, such as piecing together broken maps or cracking combination locks.
Although the process was quite interesting, they didn't find anything unusual.
A few hours later, Lynn and Carter arrived at the last task point—an abandoned warehouse.
Under dim lighting, the warehouse was filled with rusty metal boxes and old wooden shelves, appearing desolate and oppressive.
"This is where Alyssa last solved a puzzle," Lynnwhispered, his gaze sweeping around.
They followed the instructions and found a puzzle card placed in a corner, with a familiar Red Rose drawn on it, and a line of text below: "Darkness will eventually welcome dawn, but you must find the hidden key."
Carter squatted down and carefully observed the card: "It looks just like Alyssa described.
This card might be crucial."
Lynn nodded, and they split up to search for the key.
However, apart from abandoned junk and cobwebs, there was almost nothing else noteworthy in the warehouse.
They searched every corner, even opening several rusty metal boxes, but still found nothing.
"There's nothing unusual here."
Carter stood up, her face full of confusion, "Did the killer clear all traces after the incident?"
Lynn looked around, and a similar question arose in his mind.
Their activity seemed no different from an ordinary puzzle game, with no hidden threats or unsettling signs.
"Let's search again."
Lynn was unwilling to give up, his voice low.
They searched again but still found nothing new.
Just as they were about to leave, Lynn's gaze lingered on a load-bearing pillar in the warehouse—a small Red Rosepattern was carved on the pillar, almost covered by paint, making it difficult to notice without careful inspection.
"This symbol..." Lynn walked over and gently wiped away the dust, revealing the complete Red Rose pattern.
Carter leaned closer, frowning and saying: "It looks very similar to the Red Rose on the puzzle card, but it doesn't seem to have any further hints."
Lynn pursed his lips, feeling the surface of the pillar, and suddenly noticed an extremely tiny crack next to the pattern.
He tried pressing it, and the pillar made a slight click, and a hidden small drawer popped out.
Inside was a rusty small key and a note.
Lynn opened the note and saw it read:
"Where the Red Rose blooms, is the end of darkness, and the beginning of judgment."
Chapter 223 Probably a Mutant
Carter's brows furrowed, "What do you mean? This doesn't seem to be just game content."
Lynn put away the note and key, and said in a low voice, "I think this might be a clue left by the murderer. The place where the rose blooms might point to his next action."
After the two left the warehouse, Lynn immediately notified the technical department to examine the note and key. However, neither the handwriting on the note nor the marks on the key contained any information that could be traced back to the murderer. This "City Puzzle" activity still failed to provide them with a clear breakthrough.
"Did we miss something?" Carter asked in a low voice, her tone full of remorse.
"Perhaps it's time to think from a different angle." Lynn's eyes were deep and his voice low. "If the murderer really locked onto the victims through the activity, then his motive is not just killing, but to convey some kind of message to us. We need to find the logic behind these messages."
"The problem is, where do we start?" Carter pressed.
Lynn pondered for a moment, his voice firm, "Start with the meaning of the rose. Every action of the murderer seems to revolve around it. We must figure out what the rose symbolizes."
After Lynn and Carter returned to the office, they immediately began to delve into the symbolic meaning of "rose". They gathered a small team of analysts and listed all possible cultural, historical, and psychological explanations.
Love and beauty: traditional symbols, but unrelated to the case.
Sacrifice and death: commonly seen in religious symbolism in the Middle Ages.
Mystery and secrets: roses are often used as symbols of hidden information.
Ritual and worship: In some secret organizations, roses represent a certain ritual or power.
Lynn stared at the whiteboard, pointing to the last item: "We know the murderer's behavior has a sense of ritual. If this is some kind of ritual, then the rose may not just be decoration, but a core clue."
"The problem is, is this a personal ritual or a group activity?" Carter rubbed her Sun, "This will determine the direction of our next investigation."
Lynn circled the text on the whiteboard: "We have to assume the most complex situation. What if this is not an isolated case, but part of a larger plan?"
At this moment, a technician knocked on the door and handed Lynn a report: "Detective, we have conducted a detailed analysis of the note found in the warehouse. Although the handwriting on it does not match the database, the source of the paper is a bit strange—this kind of paper is handmade and is only sold in an antique bookstore located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan."
Lynn immediately seized on this clue: "Address?"
The technician handed over a note: "Carner Bookstore, East 79th Street."
Lynn looked at Carter: "Let's go, let's go to the bookstore."
Carner Bookstore is an old small shop hidden in a corner of Manhattan. Pushing the door open, a smell of old paper and ink greeted them. Thick bookshelves almost occupied the entire space, and sunlight streamed through the windows, casting mottled shadows, making people feel as if they had traveled to another era.
An old shop owner with gold-rimmed glasses was tidying up the ledger behind the counter. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and said kindly, "Welcome, what do you need?"
Lynn showed his identification: "I am FBI Detective Lynn, and this is my colleague Carter. We are investigating a case and have found some clues that may be related to your shop."
The old shop owner pushed up his glasses, his expression a little surprised: "Case? Related to me?"
"We found a note, and the paper used was sold from here." Lynn went straight to the point, "Can you tell us if anyone has bought a large quantity of this paper recently?"
The old shop owner frowned, thought for a moment, and then nodded: "This paper is a special product of our shop, and indeed few people buy it. But a few months ago, a woman bought two dozen at once."
"A woman?" Carter pressed, "Do you remember her appearance?"
The old shop owner stroked his chin: "I don't remember clearly, but she looked a bit special. She was tall and dressed very elegantly, and she seemed to have a pair of… blood-red eyes."
"Red eyes?" Lynn's heart tightened, and his voice deepened, "Are you sure?"
"I thought it was some kind of special contact lenses." The old shop owner shrugged, "She gave off a very strange feeling, but she was very polite, and her voice was very low and elegant."
"Did she leave a name or contact information?" Cartercontinued to ask.
The old shop owner shook his head: "No, she paid in cash. However, I remember she asked about a certain book at that time."
"What book?" Lynn immediately pressed.
The old shop owner rummaged for a while and took out a yellowed register: "Let me see… Ah, I found it. It's a book about esoteric symbols and rituals, called 'Roses and Thorns: Secrets of Shadow Rituals'. She asked about it, but I didn't have it in stock at the time."
Lynn wrote down the book title, his eyes becoming even colder: "What is the content of this book?"
"It talks about an ancient ritual involving the mysterious worship of roses as symbols." The old shop owner's voice became low, "It is said that participants will establish a connection with 'unknown forces' through the ritual to obtain some kind of 'blessing' or 'salvation'."
Lynn and Carter exchanged a solemn look, vaguely feeling that the outline of the case was gradually becoming clear.
Back in the office, Lynn immediately began to track the flow of the book. He contacted the antique book collection network and soon discovered that this "Roses and Thorns" was indeed a rare book, but a private library in Manhattan might have a complete version.
At the same time, he shared this information with the technical department, ordering them to investigate all recent activities related to esoteric practices.
"Roses, rituals, esotericism." Lynn murmured to himself, "The murderer is not just a cold-blooded killer, she may be part of a larger organization, and these victims… may be her 'sacrifices'."
Carter nodded and added: "If so, then other participants may also become targets. We must quickly find the core of this organization and prevent more people from being harmed."
Lynn took a deep breath, staring at the keywords on the whiteboard. He knew that the next step would be a life-and-death struggle, and the secret of the rose was likely the only key to unlocking everything.
Kate left her apartment, holding her latest interview notes and materials, ready to continue working in a quiet cafe. She had been digging deep into the details of the serial murder case recently, trying to restore the truth in her own way. However, as she walked on the street, her keen intuition made her sense an unusual atmosphere.
She vaguely felt eyes following her from behind, and her pace quickened involuntarily. As she turned a corner, she quickly glanced at a shop window and found a man in a dark coat following her with his head down. The man always maintained a subtle distance, neither far nor near, but it made people feel oppressed.
Kate's heart raced, and various possibilities flashed through her mind. She remained calm, pretending to casually take out her phone, switched to camera mode, and used the selfie function to observe the movement behind her. The man was still following, his steps steady, his eyes gloomy.
"Someone is following me." This was the only thought in Kate's mind.
She did not go straight home, but quickly turned into a busy commercial street. The corner of her eye saw that the man still had not left. Kate quickly thought, she needed a safe place, and at the same time, she could covertly observe the other party's intentions.
She found a fast-food restaurant, quickly entered, and chose a window seat, deliberately placing her phone on the table. Through the window glass, she clearly saw the stalker stop across the street. He did not enter the fast-food restaurant but leaned against a newsstand, pretending to read a newspaper, but his eyes occasionally swept into the shop.
Kate's heart tightened. She knew she couldn't delay any longer and immediately took out her phone and dialed Lynn's number.
The phone rang twice and was answered. Lynn's voice was low and calm: "Kate? What happened?"
"Lynn, someone is following me." Kate lowered her voice, trying to sound calm, but there was still a hint of tension in her tone, "A man in a dark coat. He's been following me since I left home, and he's still staring at me from across the street."
Lynn on the other end of the phone obviously paused, then his tone became more serious: "Where are you now? Don't hang up, tell me the exact location."
Kate quickly reported the name of the fast-food restaurant and the block it was in, and continued: "He hasn't approached me, but I dare not leave rashly."
Lynn's voice showed calm command: "Very good. Stay in the shop, don't show any abnormality. I will come over immediately, and at the same time send nearby police officers to support."
Kate nodded, then realized Lynn couldn't see her, so she whispered: "Okay, I'll wait for you."
After hanging up the phone, Kate placed her phone on the table, pretending to write something with her head down, while observing the movement across the street with her peripheral vision. The man was still leaning there, occasionally pretending to read the newspaper, but his eyes occasionally swept to her location.
"Who is this person? Why is he targeting me?" Countless questions flashed through Kate's mind. She guessed that this might be related to her report, but the other party's purpose was completely uncertain.
About ten minutes later, Lynn's figure appeared outside the fast-food restaurant's glass window. He was in plain clothes, but his eyes were sharp. As soon as he entered, he walked straight to Kate's table.
"Are you okay?" Lynn asked in a low voice, his eyes quickly scanning outside the window.
Kate nodded, lowering her voice: "He's still across the street. That's the man leaning against the newsstand."
Lynn quickly glanced, a cold light flashing in his eyes. After sitting down, he took out his phone, pretending to make a casual call, but in fact, he was calling for backup. At the same time, his voice remained low: "Very good, listen to my arrangements next. Don't look at him, and don't show any abnormality. I need to confirm whether he is alone."
Kate nodded and continued to pretend to look through her notes. She could feel Lynn's tension, but she also felt a sense of security because of his presence.
A few minutes later, an unmarked police car stopped on the street, and two plainclothes police officers got out and quietly approached the target. Lynn whispered to Kate: "Stay here, I'll go see who he is."
Kate nodded nervously, watching Lynn stand up and walk out of the fast-food restaurant as if by accident. His steps were slow and unhurried, but his eyes were always fixed on the suspicious man. At the same time, the two plainclothes police officers surrounded him from different directions.
The man seemed to sense something, suddenly looked up and scanned around, then quickly turned and left. His movements were swift and decisive, obviously trained. Lynn immediately raised his voice: "Don't let him run away!"
The police officers immediately chased after him, and pedestrians on the street stopped in surprise at the sudden chase. Kate saw through the window that the man was very fast, but Lynn and the police officers cooperated tacitly, and finally pinned him to the ground at an alleyway.
A few minutes later, Lynn returned to the shop with a stern expression and said to Kate: "We caught him. He has no identification and refuses to answer any questions, but from the equipment on him, he is not an ordinary person."
Kate's heart sank: "Is he here for me, or because of the case?"
Lynn sat down, leaned closer to Kate, and his voice became even lower: "I don't know yet, but you need to be careful. For the next few days, don't go out alone. I will arrange for someone to protect you until we figure out his identity and intentions."
Kate bit her lip, her heart trembling with fear, but she forced herself to remain calm: "Lynn, I can protect myself, but you must tell me the truth."
Lynn nodded, his eyes firm: "I will find the answer. And no matter who they are, they won't hurt you."
As Lynn and Kate were about to leave the fast-food restaurant, his phone rang. It was one of the plainclothes police officers who was chasing the suspect. From the other end of the line came hurried breathing and faint groans.
"Detective, that person…" The plainclothes police officer's voice was filled with shock and pain, "He's not an ordinary person. When Jack and I surrounded him, he suddenly turned around and extended his hand, and I… I felt like I was violently thrown out by an invisible force and hit the wall. Jack… Jack is injured."
Lynn's face immediately darkened, and his voice was low: "Invisible force? Describe it in detail."
"It was like… an Impact suddenly exploded in the air." The police officer's voice trembled slightly, "We didn't even touch him. He just waved his hand, and we were thrown three meters away. This guy was very fast and disappeared in a flash."
After Lynn hung up the phone, his fists clenched, making a cracking sound. He turned to Kate, his voice low but firm: "It's confirmed now, the person who was following you is very likely a Mutant."
Kate was slightly stunned, then her eyes widened: "Mutant? You mean… related to the serial murder case?"
"It's not certain yet, but this ability is clearly not something an ordinary person can possess." Lynnfrowned, "If he is a Mutant, his tracking of you is definitely not simple."
Chapter 224: A simple personal symbol?
Carter pursed her lips, the calmness on her face finally wavering: "Lynn, does this… does this mean that this case is not just an ordinary serial murder case?"
Lynn didn't answer, directly took out his phone, dialed the FBI internal communication, and calmly said: "This is Detective Lynn, I need to access all Mutant files in the Manhattan area, A-level clearance and above, open them for me immediately."
After confirming Lynn's identity, the other party immediately granted authorization. Lynn took Carter back to the bureau and headed straight for the archives.
The archives were dimly lit, and the air was filled with the smell of old files. Lynn stood in front of rows of dense electronic file cabinets, quickly operating the terminal. He entered the keywords: "Manhattan, Mutant, suspected ability: Impact/Air Control."
A series of data popped up on the screen, each file with a corresponding photo, code name, and ability description. Lynn's gaze quickly scanned each file, trying to find a suspect that matched the information just received.
Carter also arrived at this time, holding the brief submitted by the police officer who had just been in pursuit: "Lynn, the specific features of that guy have been confirmed: male, about 1.85 meters tall, wearing a dark trench coat, light brown hair, and most notably, he seemed to deliberately hide his face when escaping, but someone caught a glimpse of his pupils, which showed a strange purple color during the pursuit."
"Purple pupils?" Lynn's gaze searched the screen faster, and he quickly entered "abnormal pupils" as a new filter condition.
A file popped up on the screen, and the data for a Mutantcode-named "Hurricane" appeared.
Name: Unknown
Code Name: Hurricane
Ability: Airflow manipulation, capable of creating high-pressure Impact waves through air for attack and defense, and even instantly increasing his movement speed.
Record: This person was previously noted for multiple thefts and violent incidents but was never arrested. The last recorded activity was two years ago when he disappeared after attacking an armored car. It is believed he may have extremely strong anti-tracking abilities.
Lynn stared intently at the photo in the file. The man in the photo wore a baseball cap, most of his face hidden in shadow, but his light brown hair and cold demeanor highly matched the features described by the police officer.
"Him." Lynn pointed to the screen, "This Mutant—Hurricane. We have reason to believe he has at least some connection to this serial murder case. His abilities completely match what the plainclothes officer described."
Carter frowned: "But the problem is, why was he following Carter? If he is the serial killer, what is his motive? If he isn't, what is his relationship with the real killer?"
Lynn was silent for a moment, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "No matter what role he plays, his targeting Carterindicates that her report touched a sensitive point. What Hurricane wants, or who else is behind him, we must find out."
At this moment, Carter stood behind Lynn, staring at the file on the screen, and suddenly asked: "If he is a Mutant, could he also be related to the content of that book, 'Rose and Thorns'?"
Lynn paused slightly, then nodded: "It's possible. Secret rituals, rose symbols, serial murders, Mutants—these seemingly independent clues might be pointing to the same truth."
Carter bit her lip: "Lynn, I want to help you. I can try to investigate more information about Hurricane through my channels. Perhaps he has contacted certain people or appeared in certain places."
Lynn turned around and looked at Carter seriously: "Carter, this is too dangerous. Hurricane has already targeted you. The only thing you need to do now is protect yourself."
"Protect myself?" Carter raised an eyebrow, her eyes showing stubbornness, "I'm a reporter; my job is to pursue the truth. If I just hide like this, not only will the truth never surface, but I will also live in fear forever."
Lynn was silent for a moment, then nodded in compromise: "Alright, but you must promise me that you will tell me about every action. I will arrange a team to protect you 24/7, no matter where you go."
Carter nodded: "Deal."
Just as Lynn and Carter continued to organize their thoughts, Carter's phone suddenly rang. He answered the call, and after listening for a few seconds, his face instantly became solemn: "Lynn, another murder just occurred downtown… a Red Rose was drawn on the wall."
Lynn's gaze suddenly darkened: "The killer has acted again."
He grabbed his coat and turned to look at Carter and Carter: "Let's go to the crime scene. This time, the killer will definitely leave more clues."
Lynn's car drove through the streets of Manhattan in the rain, silent inside. Carter sat in the passenger seat, holding a notebook, occasionally looking up at Lynn. His gaze remained focused, his facial features taut, clearly continuously reviewing the case in his mind.
When they arrived at the crime scene, the cordon had already been set up, and the alternating blue and red police lights pierced the rain, making the dilapidated neighborhood appear even colder. The crime scene was an abandoned warehouse, surrounded by police officers and onlookers.
"Stay in the car." Lynn instructed Carter before getting out, his tone stern.
Carter was unwilling, but she knew that Lynn's professional judgment was more important at the scene, so she could only nod: "Be careful."
Lynn walked to the cordon, showed his ID, and was allowed through. Carter was already waiting for him at the scene, his face not looking good: "This time the victim is a small business owner named Peter Reynolds. According to preliminary investigation, he runs a small restaurant and has no obvious enemies. The crime occurred between midnight and early morning last night."
"Is there a rose on the wall?" Lynn asked directly.
Carter nodded: "Yes, the exact same Red Rose, spray-painted on the wall, still the killer's mark."
Lynn walked past the police officers and entered the warehouse. It was dim and damp inside, and the air was filled with a decaying smell of blood. The victim's body was placed in the center, hands crossed over his chest, as if a ritual was being performed. Lynn knelt down to observe carefully, finding that the knife wound to the carotid artery was clean and precise, almost a single fatal blow.
"The knife work is still precise, showing extremely high control," Lynn said in a low voice, then stood up and scanned the entire scene, "Have any other traces been found around?"
Carter handed over a photo: "A footprint was found next to the body, a small shoe size, seemingly female. But in the surveillance outside the warehouse, a man was captured stealthily appearing nearby."
Lynn frowned: "A man? Any specific features?"
"He was wearing a dark trench coat and a baseball cap, his face was unclear. We are retrieving clearer surveillance footage, but he is likely a witness, or…" Carter paused, "…possibly an accomplice of the killer."
Lynn quickly made a decision: "This person must be found. If he is an accomplice, we can track the killer through him; if he is a witness, he might have important clues."
Just as Lynn was analyzing, a police officer rushed over, out of breath: "Detective! We found a suspicious man at the street corner; he was trying to leave, but we've stopped him."
Lynn immediately followed the police officer to the street corner outside the warehouse and saw two police officers surrounding a man in a dark trench coat. His hat brim was pulled low, his face hidden in shadow, and he looked flustered.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" Lynn asked in a deep voice, his gaze sharp.
The man looked up, revealing a gaunt face. His eyes darted around, and he clutched a small leather bag tightly in his hand: "I… I was just passing by, this place is none of my business!"
"Passing by?" Lynn sneered, "This place is desolate and remote, and it's raining. You came here in the middle of the night just passing by?"
The man looked even more nervous, stammering and unable to speak. Lynn motioned for the police officer to search his belongings, and soon a stack of bills and a business card for the victim, Peter Reynolds, were found in his leather bag.
"You know Peter?" Lynn raised his voice.
The man's face instantly turned pale: "I… I don't know him, I just happened to pick up these things here!"
"Don't lie." Lynn's voice was cold, "What are these bills and business cards? You'd better tell the truth, or you'll be going to jail."
The man's psychological defenses clearly collapsed, and cold sweat ran down his face: "Alright, alright, I'll tell the truth… Peter owed me money! He lost a lot at my underground casino and then didn't pay it back, so I came to find him!"
"Underground casino?" Lynn's brows furrowed even deeper, "So you followed him tonight?"
"Yes, I was following him, but when I got here, he was already dead! God knows how scared I was when I saw his body!" The man's voice trembled, "I just wanted to get my money back, I didn't do anything!"
Lynn stared at him coldly, trying to judge the truthfulness of his words. The man's fear didn't seem feigned, but Lynn still felt something was off: "You just said you picked up these things, where did you pick them up from?"
"Right at the warehouse entrance… I'm not lying!" The man quickly explained.
Lynn pondered for a moment, finally telling the police officer: "Take him back for a detailed interrogation. If what he says is true, his presence might have attracted the killer's attention, and we need more information."
Back in the warehouse, Lynn looked at Carter: "This gambler's testimony might be true, but it also means that the victim's debt problems might be related to the case. Check Peter's financial situation and see if his debts caused him to provoke dangerous people."
Carter nodded: "I'll follow up immediately, and at the same time, check this man's underground casino background to see if he's lying."
Lynn glanced at the crime scene again, his gaze falling on the Red Rose pattern. Although the gambler's presence explained some questions, the real killer was still in the dark, observing their every move.
"We're still chasing, but the killer is always one step ahead of us," Lynn murmured to himself, a cold glint in his eyes, "However, next time he won't be so lucky."
Lynn sat in his office chair, the case whiteboard in front of him densely covered with notes and clues. His brows were tightly furrowed, his thoughts constantly moving between the crime scene, the victim's background, and the serial killer's motive.
"The problem is still the motive," Lynn said in a low voice, fixing his gaze on the Red Rose pattern on the whiteboard as if talking to himself. "This isn't just a simple act of murder; the killer is conveying some kind of message, but what exactly is it?"
Carter came in from the next room with coffee, handing a cup to Lynn: "Lynn, I know you don't like to hear this, but maybe we need to re-examine this case from a psychological perspective. These behaviors are too symbolic; perhaps the killer's inner motive can unlock key clues for us."
Lynn pondered for a moment, then nodded: "You're right. Contact the psychological analysis team; I need an expert opinion."
A few hours later, Lynn and Carter sat in the office of Dr.Emma Green, a psychological expert at the Manhattanbranch. Dr. Green was a woman in her early forties, with sharp yet gentle eyes and a convincing, calm voice.
"Detective Lynn, I have reviewed all the case materials you submitted, including the killer's modus operandi and the symbolic marks left behind," Dr. Green began, "This killer isn't simply trying to create fear; he has a deeper motive."
"Deeper?" Lynn frowned, "He killed five people using extremely cruel methods. Isn't that just pure violence and brutality?"
"No," Dr. Green shook her head, "His behavior pattern indicates that he believes he is performing some kind of 'cleansing' or 'judgment.' In other words, he may believe he is punishing evil and promoting good."
"Punishing evil and promoting good?" Carter was confused, "But these victims have no obvious criminal records, and even Peter's debt problem can't be considered a great evil."
"That's from our perspective," Dr. Green sighed, "But from the killer's perspective, things might be completely different. He might have his own set of moral standards, or some extreme belief system, viewing these victims as 'blemishes' that need to be 'removed.'"
Lynn's gaze sharpened: "You mean the killer might believe he's doing the right thing?"
"Yes," Dr. Green nodded, "That's why he chose the rose as his symbol. The rose symbolizes both beauty and sacrifice and purity. In his psychological structure, he might believe he is 'purifying' these people, or even saving society."
Carter frowned: "Then how is that different from a serial killer?"
"Motive," Dr. Green explained, "Ordinary serial killers are more often driven by selfish desires or psychopathy, while this killer is more like a 'moral guardian,' possibly even driven by some religious or philosophical belief. His killings are not just an outlet; they also carry ritualistic and symbolic meaning."
Lynn was silent for a moment, then pointed to the Red Rose pattern on the whiteboard and asked: "Why does he draw roses? Do you think this is part of his belief, or just a personal symbol?"
Dr. Green thought for a moment and replied: "Possibly both. His belief system might assign a unique meaning to the rose, such as the virtue of sacrifice, or a tool for purification. And for him personally, it's also a form of display—he wants people to know about his 'great work,' even if it comes at the cost of fear and death."
Lynn nodded, his brows still tightly furrowed: "If he believes he is punishing evil and promoting good, then we should be able to find the logic behind his victim selection. How does he determine that these people need to be 'purified'?"