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“No,” I say. “Please continue, I’m listening.”

Her eyes lift slightly, reassured. She exhales and stares at me, “What is your opinion on this case, Professor Caldwell?”

“I asked you first, Miss Vitelli. Mine is not relevant for now.”

She nods and adds, “The patterns, how he organized the victims, the lack of evidence, the spacing of the crimes, I think they indicate planning, awareness and discipline. He’s methodical and observant. Everything about him was calculated, including how people perceived him.”

She leans back slightly after finishing her analysis and I remain silent for a moment.

“Alright, thank you for your time, Miss Vitelli.” I finally say.

She nods shyly, glancing down at her bag, before murmuring, “Of course.”

“You’re smart,” I add, almost offhand. “Don’t overthink your opinions.”

Her phone buzzes at the same time, and she glances at it before awkwardly smiling back at me, “Thank you.”

That smile. It doesn’t feel happy.

“Have a good day, sir,” she says politely as she tucks her phone away.

“You too, Miss Vitelli.”

She leaves and I exhale slowly, now the classroom is empty except for me.

First course, first class, done.

My mind drifts back to the case, the patterns, the things they missed back then.

That student who just left the room sees things differently, and that perspective might just be exactly what I need.

15

Damien

Play - Heathens by Twenty One Pilots

Found You

“Caldwell,” I say into the phone as I walk towards my parked car.

“Sir, the files you have requested are ready.”

I fumble with my keys as I push them into the car's lock.

“Thank you. I’m on my way.” I hang up and drop the phone onto the passenger seat. My hand goes to my pocket without thinking, closing around the lighter. I turn it over, thumb brushing the small scratch on the side, click it open once, then shut it again before putting it back and starting the car.

The police station isn’t far from campus, and I’m there sooner than I expect. I parked the car outside the small, allotted space before exiting the vehicle.

I need to check a few things before I settle in. Starting with the obvious, whether anything similar happened here around the same time, before or after the murders outside the island.

Rylan called before I arrived, according to Kyle's text. That way, there won't be any waiting or delays. The files are waiting for me when I arrive and present my badge at the entrance to the station.

“The archive room is at the end of the corridor, here’s the key, the files are in the box on row F, everything is there. Don’t hesitate to come back to me if you have any questions,” the officer at reception told me. “Most of these went cold years ago,” he adds. “Accidents, suicides, overdoses, mysterious deaths.”

“That's good. Thank you,” I replied before heading to the room.

I open it and see a box on row F, as indicated, old and a little worn, with several files, then sit down and begin.