1
Beating him at his own game.
Think About the Killer
2
The motive still isn't very clear to me. I think this specific killer wants attention, they were probably neglected as a child and were transformed into something sinister as a result. The chloroform kill tells me that this killer isn't as violent as he portrays himself to be. He stabs the victims just to paint a different picture in our minds... he doesn't actually kill the victims with a blade.
3
It seems like this game is simply a test of intellect. We have the clues and evidence we need to catch this killer... the question is, if we are smart enough and quick enough to get him.
4
If the killer is leaving clues for us... his ego is definitely huge. To play a murderous game is so risky... this killer must think he or she is exceptionally smart. No average or sane person would ever attempt this.
5
This killer conceals pieces of information to keep control of the situation, but he or she gives us just enough to keep it entertaining. I know that the new victim worked at the morgue and is already dead... how can I use this to my advantage?
6
*Call Kostya*
Kostya: Sergeant Kostya here.
Nikita: Kostya! Pull everyone back! Did anyone find the victim yet?
Kostya: No, we're still calling everyone, but I thought you said you were sure.
Nikita: The new victim is already dead. We're too late, trust me. But I know how to win this game.
Kostya: If there's a chance to save this new victim, we need to try.
Nikita: IF YOU TRY, HE WILL GET AWAY AND KILL SOMEONE ELSE!
Kostya: Nikita, we can catch him in the crime!
Nikita: THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HE THINKS WILL HAPPEN, KOSTYA! He's ready for this... exact outcome!
Kostya: I don't understand...
Nikita: He's waiting for us to begin investigating. If we do, he will move on to his next victim. We must conceal our investigation!
Kostya: Nikita... I don't know about this. This seems like a bad idea... We could try to save this new victim.
Nikita: The killer gives us 16 hours to solve a nearly impossible puzzle. It's never going to end!
Kostya: But how do we catch him?
Nikita: Did anyone find out who didn't answer the phone?
Kostya: There were three different homes. Here are the addresses.
Nikita: Thank you, I'll call you back in 5 minutes. Just wait, please.
Kostya: If you're wrong about this... this blood will be on your hands.
*Kostya hangs up*
7
Pavel: So, what's the plan, brother?
Nikita: Well, that was Kostya... I got him to wait for a while.
Pavel: Right, we don't want to give away the fact that we know about the new target.
Nikita: Exactly, but we do need to know which of the three homes was attacked.
Pavel: That wouldn't be too difficult to find out.
Nikita: Haha, are you volunteering...? You want to go against this guy?
Pavel: If what you told me was true, you can't count on your team to not mess something up.
*Think for a moment*
Nikita: You're goddamn right.
*Pavel nods*
Pavel: Let me locate the victim. I won't make any mistakes.
Nikita: I know you won't. Here are the three addresses.
Pavel: Tell Kostya to meet you at the headquarters while I investigate. Don't let anyone interfere.
Nikita: Once you find the correct house, call the headquarters from that house's phone and tell me which address.
Pavel: Yep, after that set up the perimeter and go to the scene as if you're going to investigate.
Nikita: The killer will think we are investigating when really, we are trapping him.
Pavel: Easy enough. I just need to find the right house. I'll get going now.
Nikita: You're going to have to be really stealthy, so the killer doesn't spot you.
8
Kostya: Alright, Nikita, what's your plan...?
💭Pavel: Three locations, how can I deduce which location was most likely the target location? Location A is only 7 minutes away from my current location, I could check that first.
However, the other two locations are in the opposite direction from Location A... So, if Location A is not the target, I'll have wasted 7 minutes getting there, plus another 7 coming back to my current position.
Nikita will only be able to stall Kostya for so long... so I can't check every location. If my brother doesn't produce a plan quickly enough, the killer could escape.
The morgue is 35 minutes away from my position, and I'm in between the morgue and Location A, so Location A is 42 minutes away from the morgue... That's not that close...
The killer's game is very precise and doesn't allow for mishaps. The target is chosen well in advance because of the riddles left at the previous victim's murder scene.
Thus, this killer WILL kill the target, but how can you guarantee a kill? I suppose you must follow the victim at all times... so you can kill them at the correct moment to continue the game... Risky business...
From the time the target leaves work... If the chosen target was the person living at Location A, the killer would need to tail them for 42 minutes, but with traffic that could be 84 minutes. Being tailed for 84 minutes is extremely suspicious and could compromise the entire murder plan. There's very little chance the killer picked this target.
So now between Location B and C, Location B is on a direct highway route to the morgue so it's only 12 minutes away from the morgue. Location B is also only 12 minutes away from me. But Location B is in a high-rise apartment.
I think the most reasonable location is Location C, which is 15 minutes away from my location and 20 minutes away from the morgue. This location is also adjacent to a forest... so the killer would have a good vantage point if he were to choose this location.
Once I get there, I need to be extremely sneaky. If this is the correct location, the killer will be watching.
I've already spent 40 seconds thinking; I need to move. My brother needs to provide Kostya with a plan as soon as possible.
*17 minutes later*
Nikita: Give me a couple minutes, I can figure it out.
Kostya: Nikita, any ideas yet? I need something.
Nikita: Yeah, one moment, I think I got it.
Kostya: I'll send the team in if you can't figure out where this guy is...
*Continue waiting for Pavel*
Nikita: You don't have the resources to cover all three locations!
Kostya: How will the killer know we are creating a perimeter?
Nikita: It's not that he will know that we are trapping him, it's that there is a 67% chance you pick the wrong location.
Kostya: We can send men to each location.
Nikita: Then you're spreading your men thin, and you can miss him even if you pick the correct location!
Kostya: If he's watching his murder scene until the investigating begins, we can hit all three locations.
Nikita: This is what will happen. We will pick a location at random... then once we don't find him, media coverage will come.
Kostya: What's the big deal about the media?
Nikita: Once the media covers the story, he will catch wind of this and flee the scene, this killer is smart.
Kostya: You think he will run right away? You said he waits for us to investigate the scene.
Nikita: Creating a perimeter around a potential crime scene will make him run. There's a 67% chance you miss him.
*Kostya rubs his chin*
Nikita: We need to conceal our hand until we have a winning hand.
9
Pavel: Brother, it's Location C, it's... a bloody mess... It's horrific. I'm leaving the scene. Good luck.
Nikita: Thanks, talk later.
*Hang up*
Nikita: Kostya, create a perimeter around Location C.
Kostya: Who just called you?
Nikita: Just trust me. Location C.
*Kostya shrugs*
Kostya: Alright, well, you have a good track record... I hope you're right.
Nikita: This is the right way to do it, we will capture him.
*Kostya notifies his men to create a perimeter*
Conclude Investigation
1. What advantage do I have over the killer?
- I can figure out his location without him knowing
- I know how he sneaks into victims' homes
- I know how the killer kills his victims
2. Why did the killer create a gruesome crime scene?
- The killer enjoys seeing his victims in pain
- The killer created a red herring
- The killer wanted to make sure he got our attention
3. What deduction allowed Pavel to narrow his search to Location C?
- The killer needs to tail his victims at all times
- The killer will be waiting at the house before the victim arrives
- The killer will pick the closest location to the morgue
- The killer chooses good vantage points
Jenna: So that was how you caught him? You trapped him inside a perimeter of police?
Nikita: Yeah, my brother figured out the murder location so then we created a perimeter. He was found in the forest... It was a pretty high-profile case... a triple homicide in three days.
Jenna: I still don't get why you didn't just tell Kostya to send someone to each location.
Nikita: That would have been fine if I trusted the men I was working with... But honestly, after the Alexi incident... I just wasn't 100% confident in the team. So... my brother was a better option.
Jenna: I still don't get why you didn't just tell Kostya to send someone to each location.
Nikita: It was quite the creative plan... Something my brother always excelled in... creativity.
He knew that whoever was watching the house would have an obstructed view of the roof because of the trees.
He climbed the trees. Trees are almost completely black during the night, so he was completely invisible while he was climbing the trees.
The trees were close enough to the house that he could grab the edge of the roof and climb on top of the roof. No one expects someone to enter the house through the chimney.
Once inside, he discovered the dead person... and he called me. Then he existed the same way.
Jenna: Yeah... I guess I understand why you wanted your brother to break into the house... He really thinks about every detail.
Nikita: There were many examples of my brother's intellect surpassing my own. This is just one of those examples... There's no way I would have thought of everything he thought of. When we took the IQ test just for fun, I told him what I got... but he never told me what he got.
Jenna: He was even smarter than you? No way... What are some other examples?
Nikita: He somehow very quickly saw through Ri Zhou's manipulation... Deep down, I think he knew that I got manipulated, but... I think he didn't have the courage to tell me... that... I got played.
Jenna: Ri Zhou... So, when does he come into the picture and how did he play you?
*Nikita looks down and takes a very deep breath*
Nikita: Don't worry, we're getting there... but... let's continue tomorrow, Jenna.
*A bead of sweat forms on Nikita's temple*
Nikita: See you tomorrow, Jenna.