"You were right, Ells." The five of them were huddled around a table in Charleston's libraries, researching the case. "Everyone killed was stationed at the 4077th. No exceptions." Hi continued.
"These aren't just murders. This is a crusade." Tory replied. "Now how do we figure out whodunnit?"
"This is why we need current cases." Ben remarked.
"I say we make a list of everyone who was ever stationed there and cross reference it with a list of the murder victims. If anyone appears in the first list but not the second, chances are it's the killer." Hi suggested.
"Then how do we find motive?" Ella asked, looking over gratefully at Hi.
"Research?" Shelton returned to the realm of the Internet as soon as he'd said it.
Two hours passed with little success.
"No good. I've got a couple of people who didn't get killed, but one of them was stateside when the murders began and the other was stateside by the end of the war. No good." Tory sighed.
"Maybe we're looking for more than one killer."
"If that's the case, Shelton," the redhead responded, "we have no chance."
"I told you so." Ben singsonged. Ella whacked him with her braid.
"Do you want to call it a day?" She asked her friends.
"Yep.' Ben got up from the table.
"Maybe we'll have a fresh perspective tomorrow." Hi tried to reassure her.
"I'm sick of Korea." Shelton muttered.
"Wait!" Tory stopped them. "You see that guy over there?" She indicated a thick-set man with dark glasses, a hat and an expensive-looking suit. "He keeps looking over at us. It's almost like he's watching what we're doing."
"Is there a connection?" Shelton was starting to panic. "I thought this case would be safe!"
"How could there be a connection?" To be fair, Ben did have a point.
"I don't know. Still, I think we should be careful." Tory shot one last look at the man, before heading out.
The man watched the five teenagers exit the building. What were they doing, researching the case? Surely there was no new insight to be gained. The killer had ensured he could not be traced. He wore gloves and used stolen weapons, and killed far from anyone. He couldn't be connected to the murders.
These kids were different, he could see it. He had to stop them discovering the truth.
He had to protect the killer's legacy.