2:15 pm
FBI Headquarters
Nikki had spent the morning tracking down Chester Lewis, India, and found a missing person in Lexington, KY that they were sure was India. No sign of foul play, he just disappeared on New Year’s Day and no one has seen or heard from him since. No activity on his financials. Pretty much what Nikki knew they would find.
Unfortunately, she was also informed of a homicide that the Panty Snatcher task force all but assured her was the result of their unsub, back after 4 years. A 16-year-old girl was abducted walking home from school in southern Pennsylvania. She had been missing for 6 days when her body was found displayed at a rest stop off of I-79 north of Morgantown, WV. The MO was identical to the PS killer and she had no undergarments. They also confirmed that her undergarments were missing from her home. As usual, no fingerprints or trace found at either the victim’s home or crime scene. The body was at the FBI’s lab and the autopsy was taking place later in the afternoon but no one was anticipating they would find anything useful, PS didn’t make mistakes. Almost like someone else Nikki knows, but while one kills to try and improve the world, his words, the other was a destroyer, plain and simple. He destroyed young innocent lives that had nothing but promise. Each of the victims was a high achiever in some way either academically, through sports, or artistic. Each victim would have most likely made a positive impact on the world and never got that chance.
Nikki leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes and felt the anger percolating inside her and she had a small idea of what it was like to be Simon. She is not a violent person but if she had PS strapped to Simon’s table, knowing the families and seeing the devastation that PS inflicted on these victims, Nikki was pretty sure PS wouldn’t be walking away. As if on queue, Simon’s email alert went off and Nikki leaned forward and opened the new message:
“Dear Butterfly,
It’s the Panty Snatcher isn’t it? I read through all of your files and he is the one that got away, or went away and is now back in business as I saw from the news this morning. The girl in PA is tied to him, isn’t she? I think you are right about his layoff, there is no way he wouldn’t keep killing.
I don’t know what to do, I am worried about you and would come back to you but I had sent Philip Bernard a secure email to try and engage him and I received a response back from him:
“Simon, I am glad you finally contacted me. Unfortunately, I don’t need your help any longer, I have taken matters into my own hands. I have my own selection process so I don’t need you and your high and mighty ideals. I will take care of those I feel need to be brought to justice, it is my calling. The first of my sinners found his way to redemption a couple of days ago. I had only imagined the power you must feel but once I saw and felt the life leave that body, it was so much more than I had hoped, no wonder you do what you do. Two can play your little cat and mouse game.”
He wrote that email 2 days ago, but had a delay built into the email so I only just received it. The email generated out of an internet cafe in Tallahassee. I have to assume he knows I can trace his IP address back through the email so I think he is telling us his victim is in or around where he sent the email. I would focus on any homicides that share any of the “methods” I have outlined in the blog. He is making this a competition so I am sure he is going to try and one up me and will make sure we find a body.
I am making my way back over that direction so I can be close WHEN we find him but I will come back to you if you feel you are in any danger from this other idiot. How can I help you the most my love?
Love,
Simon”