Chapter Twenty-One
“Gather around, everyone,” Sergeant Woods instructed as Zach took a seat near the front, and the other detectives and officers who had been assigned to the copycat case pulled out chairs around the conference table.
Zach glanced up at the board in the front of the room where pictures of Josie Stratton, Aria Glazer, and Miriam Bellanger hung.
Zach’s gaze snagged on Josie’s smiling face for a moment.
She looked a little younger, hair blowing in a gentle breeze, and she was smiling brightly, as though she didn’t have a care in the world—obviously a snapshot from before the crime.
Although, from what Zach knew of Josie’s past, there hadn’t been an abundance of moments when she’d been completely carefree.
His eyes moved to Aria Glazer and then Miriam Bellanger, both pretty, young women with long hair and bright smiles.
The copycat was obviously following a pattern as far as physical attributes, along with the other similarities in the crimes.
His heart felt heavy as he looked from one woman to the next.
“From here on out, this is the designated incident room for this case,” Sergeant Woods said.
“Anything related will go on that board, and we’ll meet daily to discuss new leads and information.
” His lips thinned as he glanced around.
“I know you’re all already aware of the three women on that board and the details of the case thus far.
The victim found yesterday in the abandoned basement has been positively identified as Miriam Bellanger, the UC student who was reported missing a little over six weeks ago.
Because her father is a member of city council, there will be extra media attention aimed at this case, including political scrutiny. ”
There was a small murmur among the group before the sergeant started speaking again.
“The chief has scheduled a news conference for noon today where we plan on updating the public—especially the university—about the link between the original victim, Josie Stratton, and the two copycat killings. All three women attended classes on the campus. Josie Stratton and Miriam Bellanger were full-time students, while Aria Glazer took night classes that she’d dropped months prior to her abduction.
Still, there’s a possibility that the killer is targeting UC students, because it’s a similarity to the Stratton case. ”
Zach listened as the sergeant went through the results from both autopsies, the starvation, the words carved into each victim’s thigh. Several officers visibly cringed when crime scene photos were passed around the table.
“If you haven’t met Reynard Pickering, he’s a retired detective and profiler who worked in the department for almost thirty years. He’s studied the facts of this case and is prepared to offer his initial thoughts.”
The older man with the glasses and puff of white hair stood and faced the group.
“First, let’s talk about a copycat killer in general, and then I’ll get to what I believe, based on the facts of this case so far, you should look for.
” He used two fingers to smooth his mustache.
“A copycat killer most often seeks to adopt a persona in order to justify their violent actions. This is called depersonalization. In essence, they become the killer they are mimicking; therefore, it is not them committing the crime, not them who must account for what has been done.”
Zach remembered using similar words to describe a general copycat killing to Josie as she stood across from him in her kitchen.
He glanced out the window. He wondered what she was doing right now.
Jimmy had arrived at her house at ten, along with a locksmith who would change her front door locks so her prick of a cousin couldn’t use his spare key if he had one, and Zach had driven straight to this meeting.
Despite that he was itching to dig into this case, he needed at least a few hours of sleep if he was going to function later and be on his toes when he needed to be.
“Copycats also thrive on attention. He will watch every news conference, including the one today. He will read every article, every blog post on the crimes. They are very important to him. He will derive much satisfaction through them. Because of this, you may address him and rest assured he’s listening from wherever he is. ”
Detective Pickering paced once, lacing his fingers behind his back.
“Now to the man you’re looking for. I believe he is in his late twenties or early thirties.
Caucasian. By a wide margin, serial killers target those of their same race.
He has a vehicle, most likely a low-level job where he performs well yet keeps to himself.
He grew up in an abusive household, most likely with an absent or emotionally checked-out father and an aggressive mother.
He blends in well on a college campus, and he has access to a computer.
He’s very organized. Well put together. Clean.
He is intelligent, and he is purposeful.
Know this, detectives—you will likely only find what he wants you to find. ”
Zach wasn’t sure that profile advanced them any further in the case, but it was still good to have confirmation of what he and Jimmy had already determined.
And as more evidence emerged, he knew the profile would expand.
He nodded at the retired detective as he again took a seat.
He considered the fact that the part about the absent father and aggressive mother applied to Josie Stratton as well.
It was a constant wonder to him how one human being rose above bad circumstances, while another who had experienced almost the exact same thing, became either a victim or a predator.
What was that certain something in a person that gave them the strength to overcome what others could not?
He supposed if he had that answer, he could bottle it and fix the world.
Too bad humans were far more complex than a one-elixir-fits-all.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I know this has been a quick briefing, but we’ll reconvene here tomorrow with any updates.
We’re also in the process of looking at similar crimes in other states.
Detectives Copeland and Keene are the main points of contact on this case.
But they’ll need your assistance as, along with the Oxford Department, they’re also ensuring the safety of Josie Stratton, who may or may not be a target of this copycat.
Like I said, this case is going to have a lot of eyes on it and political ramifications.
We cannot afford to bungle this investigation.
Not only that, but our city deserves our very best efforts here.
” He looked pointedly around the table, his eyes landing on Zach.
“Let’s get this maniac off our streets.”
* * *
The house in Indian Hill was large and luxurious. Zach pressed the doorbell and heard the chime echoing from within. He glanced behind him at the immaculately manicured lawn right before a man pulled the door open, his expression stoic.
“Councilman Bellanger.” He flashed his badge. “I’m Detective Copeland with the Cincinnati Police Department. We spoke on the phone.”
The man whom Zach recognized from seeing him on the news and around the courthouse pulled the door open so Zach could enter. “My wife is in the living room with family. If you’d wait in here”—he pointed into a room that looked like an office but also featured a sitting area—“I’ll get her.”
Zach entered the room, taking a seat in one of the chairs facing the small sofa.
He could hear the low whisper of conversation from another part of the house, and a moment later, footsteps moving toward the room where he waited.
He stood and turned as Julian Bellanger entered, his hand on the elbow of a slim woman with blond hair pulled back into a bun.
Her eyes were swollen and rimmed in red.
Mr. Bellanger led his wife to the sofa across from Zach.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Zach said as he sat back down.
Mrs. Bellanger winced slightly and dabbed at her nose with the crumpled tissue in her hand. “Thank you, Detective.”
“I won’t take much of your time. I just have a couple of questions I need to ask you so we can find the person who did this to your daughter.”
Mrs. Bellanger made a quiet mewling sound and brought her hand to her mouth, and Mr. Bellanger put his arm around her, pulling her close to him. Zach gave them a moment.
“Whatever we can do,” Mr. Bellanger said once his wife had composed herself, “to catch this monster, we will do.”
“I feel the same way, sir. The whole department does. We are going to find out who did this to Miriam. We will not stop until we do.”
Mr. Bellanger held eye contact, and though pain flashed in his eyes, he appeared strengthened by Zach’s words. “Hattie, show Detective Copeland what you found this morning.”