Chapter 159: A False Lead (2/2)

Nash gasped. ”From the pattern of the shirt to the pose… even the open eyes. They have it down to a T,” Nash analyzed. ”We should send it to the lab for prints, right?”

”BTK didn't send this,” I interrupted.

Nash startled. ”What are you saying? This looks exactly like someone who was at the scene recreated it!” he argued.

”Everything is the same… except for the knot on the pipe.” My voice was just a whisper.

I zoomed in on the picture and showed it to him. Nash inspected it closely before shaking his head.

”It looks exactly the same!” he protested.

I agreed. ”It does. But from what you can see in the picture…”

”What are you trying to say?” Nash asked, now intrigued.

”The picture only shows part of the knot, and that is how it is recreated, but the actual knot is a complex knot used for fishing and police-work,” I grinned.

”You think the sender is not the real killer?” Nash hissed.

”It's not. But your next question will be: how did they see the crime scene then?”

Nash nodded. ”Crime-scene photos have not been released, right?”

”No, they never released the photographs because the victim's youngest son is still alive.” I took out the note and showed it to him. ”Does the paper look familiar to you?” I asked casually.

Nash looked at the script for a generic moment, flipping it around and analyzing the writing before he froze. ”Holy fucking shit. Is this… it's the same paper!”

He looked around to see if anyone else was looking. No one seemed to have noticed.

”But how would the accomplice from the Elegant Butcher case have the ID card for one of the victims?”

”That's what I am trying to figure out. I need to go back to the files and see who should have the ID card,” I explained. ”But the crime scene photographs look so similar that I think they were taken from our records.”

”If it is the accomplice, he has inside knowledge. But why would he do this? Some weird way to help us solve cases and rid the city of other serial killers?” Nash analyzed.

”No. It happened right after we visited Alicia. And this man knows how good Evie and I are at our job. He knew we will figure out his identity soon and he is stalling us. He is not helping us in the least…”

”He is piling more cases on our plate so that we have to push back finding out who he is,” Nash finished.

”This also means that he is around us. It means that he is easy to find.” That was the logical progression.

”But he thinks he is clever, that he is fooling us,” Nash said. I could hear the awe in his voice.

”I am surprised by how well he has portrayed the BTS Killer and how he does things,” I acknowledged. ”I am not above this guy helping us solve a case,” I admitted.

”You think he knows who the killer is?” Nash asked.

I shook my head. ”He is a psychopath. He has the same wavelength as the BTS Killer but he thinks himself superior. He might not know the identity of this man, but if the press finds out and circulates the news that the killer is back… the original killer will feel at a loss,” I explained.

Nash grinned. ”The spotlight will be taken away from him. He wanted to be seen as someone equal to Jack the Ripper but if someone steals his thunder, he would try his best to establish himself.”

”And when criminals get anxious, they make mistakes,” I prompted.

”So, you will be luring out the real killer?” Nash repeated.

”Yes. It will help solve the cold case… but it will also help me get closer to this accomplice.” I placed the doll down and tapped at the picture. After placing everything, I stood up.

”I'll be delivering the back to the forensics department myself. No one else can touch it, understood?” I ordered. The officers made their way and I went into the car with Nash.

Before I could start the car, I turned to him. ”Remember, the real facts of our conversation and speculations stay between us. No emails or reports will go out to our seniors. Neither will the officers be informed of the progress.” I was not above pleading.

”Is there something bothering you?” Nash asked frankly.

”There is something at the back of my mind that keeps nagging me, but I can't grasp onto it. Seeing this bag has made it worse,” I admitted.

”Get some sleep tonight. I am sure it will help you out.”