"Signs of both an organized and disorganized killer," said Wile.
There were some blank faces. Victoria said, "Those are very important terms Lieutenant Wile just used--organized and disorganized. For criminal profilers, that's the fundamental way of separating two very different types of personalities who commit multiple murders. Organized killers are better planners who carefully select and control their victims. They're generally more intelligent and possess good verbal and social skills. Think of the smooth-talking con man who lures his victims into his car or apartment. The disorganized killer is the opposite. He's often delusional, and the crime scene reflects his confusion and lack of preparation. Think of the social misfit who talks to his shadow and drinks blood out of coffee cups."
"Why do you say the profile is mixed here?" asked Kessler.
"Lots of reasons. The killer brings his own murder weapon, which is organized. But he leaves the rope at the scene, and also uses knives from the kitchen, which is disorganized. The bodies show no sign of defensive wounds, suggesting the victims were at all times completely under the killer's control. That's organized. But then the bodies are mutilated after death. That's disorganized. The killer makes no attempt to hide and dispose of the body. Again, disorganized. But there is no sign of forced entry, which suggests he may have used a ruse or a con to get inside. Not a single witness saw or heard anything suspicious. And he doesn't leave a single fingerprint at the crime scene. All organized."
"What about the way he left the woman?" asked Kessler. "Taking her from the murder site and hanging her in the tree. What does that say?"
"In this context, it makes me even more inclined to say we don't really have a disorganized killer, or even a psychological hybrid."
"Why is that?"
She glanced again at her notation. "It's quite possible that the disorganized aspects of these crime scenes are completely staged. I see a highly organized killer who is simply trying to throw us off the track by deliberately exhibiting some disorganized traits. I see an experienced killer whose fantasy about killing is so well developed that he not only plans the crime to the last detail, but he also stages his crime scene. The fact that he displayed his latest victim by hanging her from a tree in a public park tells me he's growing more bold, more confident. He's taunting police, probably reveling in the media coverage. He thinks he's too good, too smart to be caught. Which means one thing for certain. He will kill again."
The room was eerily silent. Andie cringed inside, thinking of Gus Wheatley's wife, wondering if he had already killed again. Finally, Wile spoke up. "Sounds like we're up against some homicidal egomaniac who thinks he can pull off the perfect crime."
"Fortunately, there's no such thing," said Victoria. "Even if he weren't taunting us with clues left behind at the crime scene, a killer would always reveal himself through post-crime behavior. That's why it's so important to focus on what he's doing now after the kill."
Kessler grumbled. "How the hell are we supposed to know what to look for?"
Her look hardened, the eyes narrowed. It was as if she were already entering the mind of a serial killer. "That's exactly what I can help you with."
Chapter Eleven.
Gus skipped the beauty pageant. It surprised his partners. Gus was never one to miss an opportunity to land a new client. The mention of a serial killer had changed everything. It was time to find his wife.
Agent Henning's explanation for the newspaper article had left him angry and dismayed. She didn't know how the newspaper had gotten hold of her theory. Right. He knew a BS excuse when he heard one. Either she wasn't being honest, or she had no control over the investigation. Either way, someone had to take action.
Publicity was key. Get Beth's picture out, get people looking for her. He and the law firm's publicity director spent several hours making personal calls to media contacts. He did a phone interview with the Times and the PostIntelligencer. The local television stations wanted an interview at his home. Gus did it right after lunch, well in time for the piece to air on the evening news.
The last interview finished just after two o'clock. The reporters thanked him, wished him luck. The crews packed up their lights, microphones, tangle of wires, and bulky equipment. Gus showed them to the door. The vans pulled away. The door echoed when it closed. After the flurry of activity he felt like the widower after the last guest has left from the post-funeral gathering.
Alone in the empty house.