Page 46 of One
“Because the killer targets men whose blood doesn’t clot properly,” Meg explains.
“So why does he strangle them?” Sari pushes his glasses up his cute nose.
“What do you mean?” Uri asks him. He’s sitting so close to Sari that their elbows are rubbing together.
“A person who inherited hemophilia bleeds profusely when injured,” Sari clarifies.
“They can even have spontaneous bleeding incidents,” I chime in, trying to keep up with the conversation. But this roast beef is melting in my mouth.
“Exactly. So why does the killer just strangle them?” Sari repeated.
“Did the victim have other wounds?” Meg asks.
“No,” Raph replies.
“It can’t be a coincidence that all the victims have the same disease. If the killer doesn’t enjoy the sight of blood, why pick victims specifically with hemophilia?” Sari asks.
Why indeed, I ask myself while gulping down more food.
“It could be related to an obsession.” Meg’s voice sounds solemn and professional. “Some serial killers have an ideal victim; a fantasy. Others’ preferences are based on a combination of what victims are available and desirable. No one knows for sure why a serial killer will choose a certain individual as their victim. The most common belief is that the killer wants to feel complete control over another person. They thrive on the fear their victims display and see murder as the ultimate form of dominance over a human being.”
“But he strangles them from behind,” Rami says. “He doesn’t look at their faces while he kills them.”
“Coward,” Rague snarls.
“Maybe he feels the push to kill, but he thinks it’s not right. He feels guilty?” Uri suggests.
“Or he likes to feel them fighting against him,” Gabe’s adds.
The idea is creepy; could it really be the truth?
“Or it’s the gurgling sounds they make, and not the sight he craves?” Another disturbing image, from Raph this time.
“All valid hypotheses. The victims are killed in a very vulnerable position.” Meg nods almost proudly. This is what I always thought Dexter’s family would chit-chat about during a meal.
“So they know the killer.” I look at Raph, remembering him saying something about it.
“Yeah, babe.” His close-mouthed smile makes me all warm inside.
“Babe?” Gabe frowns.
“Told you.” Rami coughs the words into his fisted, gloved hand. He doesn’t take those gloves off, even when he eats.
“Could be. I’d need to check those police files first.” Meg winks at me. I guess all our detective talks at the diner weren’t a new thing for her, if murders and killers are usual topics at her dinner table.
“The crime scene and the victim’s position and state could tell a lot about the killer,” Uri offers.
“The Rope Killer leaves them in a supine or sitting position, arms on their sides,” Raph tells him.
“Serena, email Meg the Rope Killer’s police files, please,” Rami says out loud. And just then, I notice the earpiece he’s wearing. Wow, that’s really cool.
“To me as well.” Gabe tilts his chin at Rami.
“Me too.” Uri and Sari say together.
“Serena, just email it to everybody.”
After that, Sari and I start talking about his past research for a while we eat. The food is to die for, and the current conversation is stimulating.
