Page 28 of The Darkest Gift

There is that word again. I have to school my face to not show the humor I find in that word alone.

I hum thoughtfully, leaning forward to examine the photos of the missing women. "You haven't exactly given me much to work with, Detective," I muse. "No physical evidence, no commonalities between the victims, random locations... it's as if they simply vanished into thin air."

"That's what's so frustrating," Reeves sighs, running a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair. He’s an older man, looking weathered from too many years on the job, or too many frustrating cases. "We've been over every inch of the last known locations, interviewed friends, family, coworkers... nothing."

I stand, moving to the window. The manicured grounds of our home are large and beautiful and I make a mental note to check on the flower gardens to make sure the most recent body we buried there isn’t killing them off. "I can tell you that the person responsible for these abductions is likely highly intelligent and methodical," I begin, choosing my words carefully.

Turning back to face Reeves, I continue, "The lack of physical evidence suggests someone with forensic knowledge, possibly law enforcement background or medical training. They're careful and patient."

Reeves leans forward, his interest piqued. "Go on," he urges.

"The randomness of the victims and locations is interesting," I muse, pacing slowly across the space. "It could indicate opportunistic kidnappings, but given the lack of evidence, I'minclined to believe it's intentional. A way to confuse law enforcement, to make the abductions seem unconnected."

I pause, letting my gaze drift over the photos of the missing women. Young, old, different races and backgrounds... no obvious pattern. "As for motive," I continue, "there are several possibilities. Human trafficking is always a concern with missing persons cases, especially women. But the diversity of the victims makes me question that."

Reeves nods, jotting notes in his worn leather-bound notebook. "What other motives do you think we should consider?"

A sinister smile flickers across my face, gone so quickly that my face is once again smooth neutrality before I turn back to Detective Reeves. "There are darker possibilities we should consider," I say, my voice low and measured. "Given the lack of ransom demands or any attempts at communication, we may be dealing with someone who views these women as objects rather than people. A collector of sorts."

Reeves' brow furrows. "A collector? You mean like... trophies?"

I nod, moving back to my desk, sitting once again and picking up one of the victim photos. "Exactly. Someone who derives pleasure not just from the act of taking these women, but from possessing them. Keeping them. It's not about money or even sexual gratification in the traditional sense. It's about power and control."

I set the photo down, my fingers lingering on its edge. "This person likely has a highly organized mind. The ability to plan and execute these abductions without leaving a trace speaks to an almost obsessive level of detail-orientation. They're methodical, and extremely intelligent."

Reeves leans forward, his interest clearly piqued. "So we're looking for someone with resources? Money, property?"

"Most likely," I agree. "They'd need a secure location to keep the women, somewhere isolated perhaps. And the means to maintain such a place without arousing suspicion."

I pause, letting my gaze drift back to the window. The sprawling grounds of our home stretches out before me, lush and secluded. A perfect hiding place, really. The irony isn't lost on me.

"There's something else to consider," I continue, turning back to Reeves. "The randomness of the victims might not be as random as it appears."

Reeves' eyebrows shoot up. "What do you mean?"

I pick up another photo, studying it intently. "On the surface, these women have nothing in common. Different ages, races, backgrounds. But what if the connection is something less obvious? Something only the abductor can see?"

I spread the photos out on the desk. "Maybe it's a physical feature. The curve of a neck, the shape of their hands. Or perhaps it's something more intangible. A certain look in their eyes, the way they carry themselves. Whatever it is, it speaks to our perpetrator on a deep, possibly subconscious level."

Reeves nods slowly, his pen scratching across his notepad. "So you think this person is selecting these women based on some criteria we can't see?"

"It's a possibility," I say with a shrug. "Humans are complex creatures, Detective. Our desires, our obsessions... they don't always make sense to others. But to the person experiencing them, they're everything."

I lean back in my chair, steepling my fingers under my chin. "This person, whoever they are, they're living in a world of their own making. A world where these women belong to them, where taking them is not just acceptable, but necessary."

As I watch Detective Reeves scribble furiously in his notebook, another thought begins to form in my mind.

"Detective," I say slowly, my voice taking on a contemplative tone, "what if we're looking at this all wrong? What if these abductions aren't just about the act of taking, but part of something... larger?"

Reeves looks up, his brow furrowed. "What do you mean, Dr. Blackwood?"

"Consider this," I begin. "We've been assuming that these women are being taken for some immediate gratification—whether that's sexual, financial, or simply the thrill of the act itself. But what if the abductor has a grander vision in mind?"

I lean forward, tapping the photos of the missing women. "Look at them, Detective. Really look. What do you see?"

Reeves leans forward, studying the images intently. "I see six women, different ages, races, backgrounds..."

"Exactly," I interrupt, a hint of excitement creeping into my voice. "They're all different. But what if that's the point? What if our perpetrator isn't just collecting random women, but specific types?"

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