1960: My uncle is the FBI Director

Chapter 244 What is this "Guan Guan is like Qing"?
Theodore had no idea what Bernie was thinking.

However, he was able to answer questions about Billy Hawke:

"Older, of low social status, in poor economic condition, and with similar physical characteristics."

"The killer did not commit the crime randomly, but rather sought out specific types of targets to kill."

"The four victims were all carefully selected and perfectly matched their targets."

Bernie raised questions:

"But the forensic doctor from the Third Precinct told us that the height and age of the three victims who were pulled up from the water varied considerably and were not concentrated in a very small range."

Theodore agreed:
"That's right. The four victims are not exactly the same or very similar. There are some differences in their height, appearance, and age."

"This difference is influenced by a variety of factors."

"It is impossible for two people in the world to be exactly the same, unless they are twins; otherwise, there will always be some differences."

Bernie still found it hard to understand:

"But isn't this difference too big?"

Theodore shook his head:

"This is because we put the four deceased together for comparison and observe the difference between their lower and upper limits, so it will naturally feel very large."

What if we insert an intermediate value during this period?

Bernie didn't understand what this meant and looked at Theodore with a puzzled expression.

Theodore further explained:
"The killer may have a clear prototype in mind, which has specific information such as height, age, build, appearance, and even demeanor and actions."

"But in reality, the killer cannot find a target that is exactly the same as this clear prototype."

"The killer can only be looking for a type that is close to this specific archetype as a substitute for his psychological goal."

"They randomly search for targets on the street, rather than conducting precise screening in the police station's archives, and the victim groups they can reach naturally vary."

"The killer selects those who best fit his psychological template from the available options."

"Therefore, the victim characteristics present a statistical cluster rather than a precise point."

"The killer's ultimate target was simply someone who, in the killer's subjective judgment, was closest to that specific prototype in his mind."

“In many similar cases, the substitute targets that the killers look for only have one or two similarities, and it is not required that the substitute targets be completely identical to the original targets.”

"For example, having the same hair color, similar height, the same occupation, or even the same scarf, the same skirt, participating in the same organization, coming from the same class, or praying in the same church could all make someone a potential target for the murderer, becoming a substitute for that target."

"The killer was looking for a similar feeling, not a completely identical, highly simulated one."

Bernie frowned.

I could understand the beginning, but I understood less and less of it later on.

Things like 'statistical clusters', 'a precise point', 'the feeling of wanting to die', and 'highly simulated'.

He took a while to process the information, and based on the preceding context, he made a guess about this statement:

"You mean the killer has someone in mind to kill, and he's targeting that person, looking for someone who most resembles that person to kill?"

Theodore thought about it and felt that although this statement was not rigorous or comprehensive enough, it did describe the core content, so he nodded.

Billy Hawke glanced at Bernie, then at Theodore, not quite understanding this statement:

"Then why doesn't he just go and kill the people he wants to kill, instead of going outside to find prostitutes to kill?"

Bernie answered before Theodore could:
"That's because he wasn't ready."

“He used ‘Cherry’ and the other three victims as substitutes for the person he wanted to kill.”

"He practiced on them."

"Once he has practiced enough and feels ready, he will take action towards his ultimate goal."

The car happened to run into a red light at the intersection.

Bernie stopped the car and turned to look at Theodore with some excitement.

This bears a striking resemblance to the murders committed by the killer in the Riverside Hotel suicide case they investigated previously!
Theodore and Bernie looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

Bernie grinned, looking very happy.

Billy Hawke still has many questions.

He also thought of the Riverside Hotel suicide case.

He had read the case report and had some understanding of it:
"But if he has someone he wants to kill, then 'Cherry' and the others are just substitutes for that person. Shouldn't he be filled with rage?"

"Shouldn't he have desecrated 'Cherry's' bodies?"

Theodore glanced back at him:
"The killer projected his feelings toward his target onto the victim, thus forming a certain emotional connection with the victim."

"His feelings toward the victims reflect, to some extent, his feelings toward his targets."

"This emotion is complex and cannot be explained by simple anger or hatred."

Bernie thought he understood and asked Theodore:

"Is this an enhanced version of Charles Anderson (the killer in the Riverside Hotel suicide case, chapter 133)?"

Theodore looked at Bernie with a puzzled expression.

Bernie explained:

“Charles Anderson saw Barbie Joe Carter (the victim of the Riverside Hotel suicide) and the services she provided at the hotel, which reminded him of his mother, Mrs. Anderson.”

"He vented his hatred and anger toward Mrs. Anderson on Barbie Joe Carter."

“Charles Anderson felt only anger and hatred toward Mrs. Anderson.”

Theodore added to this:

“Charles Anderson committed a crime of passion; it was not premeditated.”

"The perpetrator in this case premeditated the crime and had made preparations in advance."

"His criminal acts were simply putting his many fantasies about his target into practice."

"However, you are right. Judging from the murderer's attitude towards the victim, it was not simply hatred and anger."

Billy Hawke had his notebook propped up behind his chair and was frantically taking notes.

Bernie patted his pocket and clicked his tongue in regret.

Theodore glanced at Bernie with a puzzled look, and continued:
"She was very likely a very important and close adult woman in the killer's life."

"The most likely victim is the murderer's wife, followed by his mother or other family members of similar status."

“There was a deep, unresolved conflict between the killer and her.”

"She was a middle-aged woman. Based on the ages of the four victims, she was roughly 35 years old."

"She was relatively petite, and her height should be around 5 feet 3 inches (about 160 centimeters)." "In the killer's mind, she symbolized the denial and disruption of his male pride, sense of control, and life order."

"She may have been the root of the killer's career setbacks, perhaps complaining about economic pressures and belittling the killer's professional achievements, which exacerbated the killer's sense of incompetence and anger due to the obsolescence of his job skills."

"It could also be that the killer was someone who denied the victim's emotions."

"His rejection and contempt of the murderer in the marriage or relationship made the murderer feel extremely humiliated and powerless."

"In the killer's view, she was the source of his life spiraling out of control and causing stress, an uncertain factor that he could not control at all."

"The killer harbored extremely contradictory and complex feelings toward her, a mixture of anger, resentment, and dependence, and perhaps even lingering love or awe."

"This contradictory mentality directly explains his modus operandi."

"The murderer could not or dared not directly attack her, so he could only vent his anger on the prostitute who symbolized her and was weaker."

"The killer's feelings for her suppressed his desire to excessively mutilate and destroy the body."

He concluded:
"The killer's ultimate target was not a random object, but a specific, middle-aged woman whose life was closely related to him and who represented the root of all his failures and pain."

"The killer's choice to murder a specific type of prostitute is a meticulously planned, compensatory ritual. Each crime is a psychological execution and burial of this ultimate target, an attempt to regain the power and dignity that has been lost in real life."

Bernie said he couldn't understand it:

"So the murderer was someone who lost his job, couldn't earn money to support his family, and killed someone just because his wife said a few words to him?"

Bernie had no sympathy for the murderer.

In his view, the murderer was a complete loser.

The murderer wanted to kill simply because someone had touched a raw nerve, which enraged him.

After conducting a comprehensive critique of the killer from a psychological and ideological perspective, and concluding that "the killer is not a man at all," the car finally stopped in front of the Department of Justice building.

The three men took the physical evidence they brought back from the Third Precinct's forensic lab to the laboratory and then drove to the Seventh Precinct.

Upon arriving at the Seventh Precinct, Theodore went straight to the Evil Unit and stopped at the office door.

He pushed Bernie forward, hoping Bernie could talk to Stan Watson and, ideally, get the suspected targets of the other three victims directly from Stan Watson, just like last time.

He discovered that Stan Watson preferred chatting with Bernie, and during their several meetings, Stan Watson spoke with Bernie the most.

Bernie knocked on the door and then pushed it open to enter.

Stan Watson, with a pen between his large fingers, was hunched over his desk, seemingly writing something.

Upon seeing Bernie, he put down his pen, warmly stepped forward to hug and exchange pleasantries with Bernie, and then perfunctorily shook hands with Theodore and Billy Hawke.

Bernie explained his purpose.

Stan Watson's smile faded, and he became serious:
"I only heard that the Coast Guard had been searching the Potomac River these past two days and apparently pulled up three bodies. I never imagined it would be related to your case."

He frowned and asked Bernie for confirmation:
"Are you sure they're all girls from the street?"

Bernie turned to look at Theodore, and seeing that Theodore showed no intention of speaking, patiently explained:

"It's been too long; one of the bodies has been reduced to a pile of bones."

"We made the judgment based on the old fractures and wounds on the skeleton."

"All three bodies were women, with numerous fractures in their limbs, sternum, and ribs, which should have been left by pimps and clients."

Stan Watson didn't argue with Bernie or hesitate much; he simply nodded to indicate his willingness to help.

"You should know that not all girls on the street are managed; they often run around or disappear."

He turned and took a form from the drawer, handing it to Bernie:

“Some girls working for pimps have gone missing, been hurt by their clients, or been abducted by their clients. They will come to the police station to report the incident.”

“I’ve already spoken to the homicide squad. If a pimp calls the police, they’ll transfer the case directly to me.”

"This is a list of girls who have disappeared in our jurisdiction, compiled this month."

"This only applies to girls who have been reported to the police by pimps. There's no way to count the girls who work independently without pimps managing them."

He asked Bernie:

Do you have any clues?

Theodore glanced at the list, which contained four names, all listed as nicknames, with brief descriptions such as wearing a pink dress, having short hair, and carrying a white makeup bag.

Bernie handed the list back to Stan Watson, shaking his head with a wry smile:

"not much."

He selectively described the three deceased.

A brief silence fell over the office.

Stan Watson's brow furrowed even more.

He looked at Bernie and grinned:
"Dude, you're not kidding, are you?"

"Not only do we not know what he looks like or what he's wearing, but we also don't have a specific date he went missing. How am I supposed to help you find him?"

Bernie looked apologetic:
“We just came from the forensic department, and this is all the clues we have.”

"It's been so long that the clothes on the body have all rotted away."

Stan Watson paused for a moment, then sighed:
"Buddy, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that you've provided too few clues."

He proposed a solution:
"Well then, it just so happens that today is Sunday. I have a few friends who organize card games every Sunday afternoon. I'll go ask them for you."

"It would be best if you could come along."

He glanced at Theodore behind Bernie:

"Don't worry, it's just a few friends getting together to have some fun in private, it's all legal."

"If you're really worried, you can find an excuse to leave after you've asked for the results."

"But I'm afraid I'll have to play with them until the end, haha."

Stan Watson checked the time:
"The card games usually start at 5 p.m. and end at 8 or 9 p.m."

"If we go now, we should be able to make it in time."

Bernie readily agreed, stating that since he was Stan Watson's friend, he trusted him and that he could play along without Stan Watson's help.

Stan Watson was very happy:
"Alright, we need to get going now."

He grabbed his coat and put it on, then remembered to ask Theodore and Billy Hawke if they wanted to come along.

Theodore was confident in Bernie's skills and shook his head in refusal.

Billy Hawke was somewhat worried about Bernie.

He was unaware that Bernie had previously run an underground casino.

(End of this chapter)