Wednesday

9:31 AM

1.836 inches

The ARI was over the data show. Captain Leighton Perry, Lieutenant Carter Blake and the police officer Ash were all sitting in the room, waiting for the newcomer, Agent Norman Jayden, from the FBI, to show what he had gathered until now.

And there he was. A 34 years old man, brown hair, green eyes and a pale face, not to mention a notable scar on his right cheek, ready to show them what he was capable of.

"The killer is white, aged between 30 and 45. He doesn't act on impulse but plans his crimes in a very meticulous fashion. He doesn't have anything personal against the victims. That's why he covers their faces with mud, to make them anonymous."

"Why does he kill them if he doesn't have anything against them?" Asked Ash.

"For him they're more of an image, a symbol. That's probably why he gives them an origami figure and a orchid, as gifts to apologize for what he's done to them" Answered the young man, calmly.

"Very interesting" Said Carter Blake, challenging the man "And where does all that get us?"

"The best way of tracking a predator is being familiar with his behavior" Explained the agent.

"That may be true in novels but there's a child's life at stake here", Carter exclaimed. Norman doubted he actually cared about the kid.

"Continue, Jayden" Captain Leighton Perry told him.

"One detail attracted my attention. The interval between the time when a victim disappears and the time when the body is found ranges from three to five days – But the rainfall is always at 6 inches, give or take 10%" Jayden said and, without waiting for an answer, said "All the victims were drowned in rainwater! The killer kills only in the fall, when there's plenty of rain… It could be that he puts them in some kind of well or tank that is opened to the sky and that fills up with rainwater! The more it rains…" He added, a suspenseful tone in his voice "The less time the victim has to live…"

Blake sighed, as if it all was just a waste of time. That made Jayden angry, but he wasn't going to give up.

"Then I studied the geographical distribution of the murders…"

He was just about to explain what he had found when they heard a knock on the door.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, sir…" Said Charlene, looking really sorry "It's just that Ethan Mars, the father of Shaun Mars, is here and wants to speak with you, Lieutenant. He says it's really important."

Blake got up as fast as lighting and said, an ear-to-ear smile on his face.

"Oh, thanks God! Wouldn't be able stand this bullshit for too long."

Norman stared at him, hate spread all over him. Shit, he had just arrived but he was sure as hell that he would want to kill that fucking Lieutenant as soon as possible!

He was about to continue his explanation – Not having Blake around would be better, anyway - when Captain Leighton Perry interrupted him.

"I'm sorry, Jayden, but without Blake I'm afraid your studies won't have too much of a affect. Let's wait for him and, when he's done with whatever Mars has to say, you can continue."

The Agent stood there, surprised by the abrupt choices. Seconds later, he was alone in the room, Perry being followed by Ash out of the room. What the hell had just happened? Shit, the victims' father was here, he had to have something really important. That thought, Jayden ran off the room after Blake.

Brown hair and blue eyes, that was Ethan Mars. Didn't know too much about him, yet, but he knew he would have to do it soon or later. He was holding a shoe box and had a really concerned look on his face. Norman approached him and he started to talk, Blake staring at him.

"A… A day before Shaun disappeared I received a letter. This letter" He said and gave the letter to the Lieutenant. Blake held it and read it loud so Ash could also hear – Yes: Ash. He really didn't care about Jayden.

"When the parents came home from church, all their children were gone. They searched and called them, they cried and begged but it was all to no avail. The children have never been seen again.. You received this right before you son was kidnapped?"

"Exactly. And, with the letter, there was this… Luggage locker ticket. I saw it today, in the morning, and went to the subway station so I could get whatever was inside and…"

He gave the shoe box to Blake.

"I found this."

Raising a brow, Carter Blake opened the box meticulously. Norman stood right by his side and, when the box was opened, both of them felt into silence.

There were five Origami Figures inside it, numerated from 1 to 5. Aside that, there was a cell phone and a gun. Nothing more than that.

"I-I don't know what it means…" Ethan started uncertain "But… I turned the phone on and…"

His voice trembled. Norman took one of the figures in his hand and stared at it. It had the shape of a lizard, the number 3 written on it.

"As soon as I turned it on I saw… I saw Shaun!"

The three present people looked down at him.

"Wait, you saw your son?" Blake asked, impatient.

"Y-Yeah, he was locked in a kind of… Of a well or something which it was filling with rainwater!"

Blake stared at Jayden for a second. Jayden smile, challenging. Bingo, his theory had just proved to be right.

"I thought about opening the Origami Figures but as soon as I saw my son I knew I would be needing help."

"You did the right thing, Mr. Mars. Anything else?"

Ethan sighed.

"Yes. There's was a message on the phone and it stated what was in the figures."

!And what is it? Spill it out!" Ordered Blake, even more impatient.

Mars' head was hurting; his eyes were closing by itself. Yet, he remembered it all very clearly…

"How far would you go to save someone you love?" He said "'Five origami figures. Each figure is a trial. Each trial provides letters. The letters reveal an address'. That's what it said."

Jayden closed his eyes, thinking. Damnit, this was no ordinary murderer. He was literally playing with lives here, both father's and son's. It was a game, a game which had to be played by his rules with no exception.

"Did you read any of these "trials"? _The Lieutenant asked.

"No. None of them." Ethan answered.

"Well, then, thank you Mr. Mars. We'll call you back as soon as we find your son."

"Wait! I…"

"What is it?" Blake asked, nervous.

"I think the killer… Somehow, I think he knows me."

"What?" Blake exclaimed.

"And what makes you think that, Mr. Mars?" Asked Jayden, trying to cool things up for the man.

"He… He chose me; he sent me the letter to warn me that my son would soon disappear! Now I have to go through these trials and he'll know if I get help because he's watching me, I know he is!"

Blake sighed.

"Mr. Mars, you helped us out but there's nothing else you can do. Have a nice day" He said, getting up and trying to take the box with him.

Trying since Jayden had been faster and had pushed the box against the table.

"Mars is the father's victim, he has the right to know what going to happen and how the investigation will be carried out!"

"What the heck? Are you saying you know better than me, Norman?"

"The killer is playing with everyone's mind and if he chose Mars he surely knows where he is!"

"Wait! Think you can do a better fucking job than me with your psychology degree and your great glasses?"

"Please…" Ethan started, tired "I just want to make sure that my son ends up safe."

Blake was buffing, angry. Jayden still held the box against the table and his eyes were burning with challenge. Fucking FBI Profiler, he would regret messing up with Carter Blake…

"Don't worry, Mr. Mars" Ash started. Norman and Blake jumped: They had forgotten he was there "We'll make sure you know everything so we can save your son."

Ethan sighed once again. Staring at the men in front of him, he said at last:

"So… Shouldn't we open the first figure already?"