Lexie’s left. “And you, Detective Tucker?”
Lexie’s face had burned when she provided the information about her failed marriage and her son. Something about baring that information in front of John Tucker made her more aware of her past, more aware of the things that had happened and the things she couldn’t change.
He leaned forward in his seat and looked at Angel when he spoke. “I was born in Macon. Married in ’91. Abby was murdered in 1999, as I'm sure you know. Any more questions?”
“No.” Angel inhaled, and Lexie leaned forward, curious to hear what she’d tell about herself. But Special Agent Jackson acted as though revealing her own information wasn’t part of the deal. None of the men asked. Instead, Captain Pierce asked the question all of them wanted answered. “So, did we give you what you’re looking for, Agent Jackson?”
“What I’m looking for?”
“The profile. How many of us fit?” He glanced in John Tucker’s direction.
Angel didn’t bat a lash. “Three are close, but none hit the mark.”
Lexie swallowed. She had determined that from their brief responses? Or did she look at people and know whether they were capable of murder? Lexie scanned the men around the table; they didn’t look at all surprised by the quick assessment. Three potential killers, but none hit the mark?
Which three?
“You’re saying your profile differs from the previous guy’s profile?” Captain Pierce didn’t attempt to mask his glance in Tucker’s direction this time.
“I’m not saying that at all. Special Agent Carlton identified several aspects that I still believe are associated with our killer; however, I do have some additions to his evaluation, which you’ll see on the profile I’ve generated.” She withdrew a packet of papers from her file, removed the black binder clip from the top then passed them around the table.
Lexie accepted her page and scanned the FBI profile, while Angel Jackson read aloud.
“We’re looking for a white male, since the first victim in 1985 was Caucasian. The first victim is almost always the same race as the perpetrator. The killer starts out within his comfort zone. Sometimes he will move beyond that barrier, but in this case, he didn’t.”
Captain Pierce nodded.
Angel read, “He’s in his forties to mid-fifties, which means he’d have been a teenager or in his early twenties during the first series. He would have lived in Macon during the time periods of all preceding series. Our guy knows his way around and appears to have entered several victims’ homes without sign of forced entry which, as Stan Carlton noted, could indicate he wore a police uniform or another uniform identifying a trusted profession. Or he could have a face they all recognized and respected.”
Unimpressed, Captain Pierce crossed his arms. “We knew that much.”
“But what I’ve added to Agent Carlton’s evaluation follows.” Angel continued, not swayed by his skepticism. “Our perpetrator was married, or began a serious relationship, between 1985 and 1992. My reasoning for this addition is his MO changed between those two series of murders. In 1985, all of his victims were attacked outside, beaten and left to suffer the elements until their bodies were located. When he returned seven years later, he approached victims from within their home and stopped beating them. Instead, he strangled them then placed them almost reverently on their beds to be found.”
“Which means?” Lieutenant Sims prompted.
“Remorse. Our killer began seeing his victims as more than mere bodies after 1985. This means the UNSUB had a change of heart, so to speak, with regards to his interpretation of humans and life in general. However, it wasn’t strong enough to stop his urge to kill. In past experience, our unit has found that a change of MO such as this means one of two things.”
When she paused, Pierce scowled. “We’re listening.”
“Either we’re dealing with a
Lexie’s face had burned when she provided the information about her failed marriage and her son. Something about baring that information in front of John Tucker made her more aware of her past, more aware of the things that had happened and the things she couldn’t change.
He leaned forward in his seat and looked at Angel when he spoke. “I was born in Macon. Married in ’91. Abby was murdered in 1999, as I'm sure you know. Any more questions?”
“No.” Angel inhaled, and Lexie leaned forward, curious to hear what she’d tell about herself. But Special Agent Jackson acted as though revealing her own information wasn’t part of the deal. None of the men asked. Instead, Captain Pierce asked the question all of them wanted answered. “So, did we give you what you’re looking for, Agent Jackson?”
“What I’m looking for?”
“The profile. How many of us fit?” He glanced in John Tucker’s direction.
Angel didn’t bat a lash. “Three are close, but none hit the mark.”
Lexie swallowed. She had determined that from their brief responses? Or did she look at people and know whether they were capable of murder? Lexie scanned the men around the table; they didn’t look at all surprised by the quick assessment. Three potential killers, but none hit the mark?
Which three?
“You’re saying your profile differs from the previous guy’s profile?” Captain Pierce didn’t attempt to mask his glance in Tucker’s direction this time.
“I’m not saying that at all. Special Agent Carlton identified several aspects that I still believe are associated with our killer; however, I do have some additions to his evaluation, which you’ll see on the profile I’ve generated.” She withdrew a packet of papers from her file, removed the black binder clip from the top then passed them around the table.
Lexie accepted her page and scanned the FBI profile, while Angel Jackson read aloud.
“We’re looking for a white male, since the first victim in 1985 was Caucasian. The first victim is almost always the same race as the perpetrator. The killer starts out within his comfort zone. Sometimes he will move beyond that barrier, but in this case, he didn’t.”
Captain Pierce nodded.
Angel read, “He’s in his forties to mid-fifties, which means he’d have been a teenager or in his early twenties during the first series. He would have lived in Macon during the time periods of all preceding series. Our guy knows his way around and appears to have entered several victims’ homes without sign of forced entry which, as Stan Carlton noted, could indicate he wore a police uniform or another uniform identifying a trusted profession. Or he could have a face they all recognized and respected.”
Unimpressed, Captain Pierce crossed his arms. “We knew that much.”
“But what I’ve added to Agent Carlton’s evaluation follows.” Angel continued, not swayed by his skepticism. “Our perpetrator was married, or began a serious relationship, between 1985 and 1992. My reasoning for this addition is his MO changed between those two series of murders. In 1985, all of his victims were attacked outside, beaten and left to suffer the elements until their bodies were located. When he returned seven years later, he approached victims from within their home and stopped beating them. Instead, he strangled them then placed them almost reverently on their beds to be found.”
“Which means?” Lieutenant Sims prompted.
“Remorse. Our killer began seeing his victims as more than mere bodies after 1985. This means the UNSUB had a change of heart, so to speak, with regards to his interpretation of humans and life in general. However, it wasn’t strong enough to stop his urge to kill. In past experience, our unit has found that a change of MO such as this means one of two things.”
When she paused, Pierce scowled. “We’re listening.”
“Either we’re dealing with a
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