The Culprit is a Female
702 Words
Out of ten competitors, three had already lost their hands. The eerie pattern was chilling, and it consumed Luke's thoughts as he sat across from Bella in a cozy seafood restaurant. She was multitasking like a pro, peeling prawn shells while studying the list of names with hawk-like focus.
"Could the culprit be among the remaining seven people?" she asked, pointing at the list in her hand.
"That's possible," Luke mused, trying to piece together the puzzle. "But if we're being practical, the top three can probably be eliminated. They performed well—why would they want to chop off the hands of the losers? Doesn't make sense."
Bella nodded thoughtfully, her excitement visible. "That's true. Look, Luke!" She jabbed at the list. "The first victim, Mary Nelson, came in 3rd in the Grand Piano Competition. Yara Voss was 2nd, and Lisa Mendes was first. The culprit is following a sequence—chopping off hands in order! The most likely suspects are ranked below sixth place: seventh to tenth! These four people are the most suspicious!"
Luke nodded. "If the sequence starts from sixth place, the person in seventh is definitely the most likely culprit."
But Bella shook her head with unexpected confidence. "I already checked their backgrounds. The guy in seventh, Steven Lance, died in a car accident ten years ago. It can't be him!"
"What?" That threw him off. "Then we're left with three suspects?"
"Actually, just two!" she declared. "The ninth-place competitor has been bedridden with a bone tumor for years. Eighth place lives across the country and hasn't set foot in this city for ages. That leaves only the person in tenth place!"
"Really?" Luke's gut tightened. If this lead hit a dead end too, he didn't know if he could take it. "And who's in tenth place?"
Bella leaned in, her eyes gleaming with determination. "It's a woman. We should check her out this afternoon. If she's our culprit, then…"
A woman? Luke's mind spun. Could the mastermind behind the Maimed Case really be a woman? It didn't seem likely, but stranger things had happened.
"Luke, there's something else we can't ignore," Bella reminded him. "Tomorrow is the 26th. If the culprit sticks to their pattern, they'll likely strike again. We need to prepare."
"You're right." He exhaled, scanning the list again. "If they do strike, the next target should be… fourth place?"
"Yes exactly," Bella countered. "Fifth place, Sarah Linsen, moved to Australia with her family. And the sixth place, Levi, is teaching music at a college in the capital—too far away. That leaves fourth place: Lily Xavier. She's the principal of I Can Fly Art College right here in the city. If I were the culprit, I'd go for her."
"We've got a lot to do." Luke slapped the table, feeling the weight of the mission ahead. "We need to catch the culprit and protect the next victim. Let's get moving."
But first, they needed more information. Back at the office, they could check the exact addresses of the suspects and dig deeper into the competition organizers, judges, and staff. Bella was on it, sipping her fruit juice like she already had the answers.
They didn't expect to find Vincent Parker standing in their office, though. That smug snake was always lurking around, but seeing him now, hands clasped as he ogled Luke's case analysis whiteboard, rubbed Luke the wrong way.
"Dedicated, aren't you?" Vincent sneered as they walked in.
"Shoot, if not, scream," Luke snapped.
But Vincent Parker wasn't one to back down easily. He smirked, crossing his arms. "What's this? Solving the case already, Luke? Should I start saving 1,800 bucks for you?"
Bella tried to stay polite, but Luke wasn't having it.
"Bella," he said, tapping her shoulder lightly, "get me a big cup of coffee, would you?"
"Luke, quit it!" Vincent Parker barked, catching on. "Don't tell me you're thinking of throwing that coffee at me again!" He pointed at Luke with a shaky finger, his face red with anger.
Luke smiled, leaning in just enough to rattle him. "What's the matter, Captain Vincent? A little scared?"
When Vincent turned to leave, Luke let loose a sudden shout: "Haw!"
- Writer
