In the mind of the Genius

Capricorn

It is not too common for this kind of organization to do extensive background check. Honestly, I was flustered when Sherlock spoke about my amnesia but I should have known that they have already researched things about me, including my latest incident.

"I should never underestimate your researching skills, guys." I said in confidence. "Of course you already did a background check on me. You won't choose me to be a participant for this case if you haven't researched my recent exploits and condition"

"Wait a second, I don't even know that you have amnesia." Mister Morris said in shock.

With wrinkles in my forehead, I looked at the man in confusion.

"Well, you're right." Mister Morris said. "We did a background check on both of you, but that is within of the standards where we operate. I personally did the background check on both of you, and I never went to check your medical histories. With time against us, I just checked your capabilities based on your credentials."

"So you're implying that you don't know that I have amnesia?"

"I just heard this news right now, but I can't still believe it. I should not have allowed you to join us if you're suffering from amnesia in the first place." the man said in surrender.

I don't know what's going on anymore. Is Mister Morris saying that Sherlock deduced that I have no recollection of my past based only on what he's seen at this very moment so far?

Not unless I slipped and unconsciously said something about my condition, diagnosing amnesia just by looking at the person, however I think about it, is seemingly impossible.

Sherlock Holmes must have done his own research - that's the only possible explanation.

What a cheating bastard. I'm sure he won't confess that he's really done his own background check on me just to look cool.

"So the girl here really has amnesia?" Mary retorted. "So that's the reason why I get this feeling that something's off about you, poor girl. The way you stare, your somewhat stiff movements and the emotions behind your words seemed a bit forced - so it's because of amnesia, huh? I never could have thought about that."

All of us looked at Sherlock Holmes in bewilderment.

With our mouths closed, our whole facial expression shouts this one phrase - 'Are you for real?!'

Oozing with confidence, Sherlock spoke "You use your eyes to see, while I use my brain to see."

"Enough with this." Sherlock continued. "My dear Steph, why don't you brief our ladies as to what case we're facing."

Is he trying to mimic the way the fictional character, Sherlock Holmes, talks? This man is intelligent, but his acting skills are way too bad.

"Oh yes." Mister Morris replied.

He then opened his laptop and connected it to the projector. After setting up few things, he went and turned off the lights and started the briefing.

"Exactly one week ago, Brandon Sierra, 33, was found dead at the streets near Palmdale. He was killed with an ordinary kitchen knife, one slash at the neck, 2 stabs in his stomach and 1 stab in his side." Mister Morris said as he presents the related photos in the projector.

Upon seeing the projector, what calls my attention is how well built the victim was. He's tall, black and bulky. If someone's gonna straight up assault him, there would be a struggle at the very least.

"Based on the photos, there were no signs of dispute or fighting. Did the victim just let himself be killed? Or was he drugged, killed, then brought to the place were we was killed?" Mary Elseworth asked.

"The autopsy says no to all your questions." Mister Morris answered coldly. "He was not drugged, there were no signs of struggle, the blood stains on the street were directing that it was done right on the spot."

"The next victim was a half- Korean, Half-American named Charles Lee. He's 24 years old and was a med student. He's the second confirmed victim of the Zodiac Killer. The killing was done 3 days after the first incident occurred. Same with the first, the victim was killed using a kitchen knife - 4 stabs in the stomach, 1 in the right lung and 1 at the neck."

I don't know if it's because of the jet lag, but upon seeing the photos, my stomach started to swirl. I feel like vomiting. I've seen plenty of dead bodies during my activities in the Sleeping Club so I should be accustomed seeing these kinds of things, but I guess my body is failing me this time.

"The recent victim was a girl named Sarah Williams. She's 25 and her body was found at Sutter Creek at Sacramento. Again, the killer used a kitchen knife to kill the girl - 1 slash on the neck, and 1 stab in the heart."

"From these information, can someone enlighten me how it became probable that the culprit is a girl?" Mary asked.

This is also baffling me, even my brother was able to come up with the hypothesis that the Zodiac Killer is a girl - but how?

"You should check the news from time to time" said Morris. "It's the smell of the perfume. All the three victims were doused with an unbelievable stench of perfume. We also included this report in the news that aired"

"But I personally think that that is inconclusive." I said. "If the smell of the perfume was transferred during a contact, that scenario would be more believable that the culprit was indeed a woman. Dousing a dead body with perfume seems illogical."

"All of them was slashed in the neck." Morris said. "There's something peculiar about that. The autopsy report shows that aside from the knife that slashed their necks, something foreign penetrated the existing wound."

"Stiletto heels." Sherlock interjected. "After killing the victim lying on the ground, the Zodiac Killer pierced the neck of the victims using stiletto heels, stepping on the dead body on the neck."

"Upon hearing Sherlock, I'm also inclined to believe that a heel was used to create an irregularity on the neck slash." Mister Morris said. "They are still confirming this but if sherlock said so, there's a high probability that it's true."

"I get the point." Mary spoked. "But why on Earth would someone wear a stiletto heel when planning to kill someone? Wouldn't wearing rubber shoes more efficient?"

"Don't come up to conclusions too fast. It is only highly probable that Zodiac Killer is a woman or that is what the killer would want us to think. Understand the peculiarities, but don't lean on those peculiarities. It's easier to kill using a gun, but the choice of weapon was a knife. Pouring perfume on the dead body is an additional task. Also, stepping on the neck while wearing stilettos is a habit of the Zodiac Killer. We can't understand his way of thinking, but it is our job to see beyond it" Sherlock explained "And to add, just like the previous Zodiac Killer, this new Zodiac Killer is sending coded messages to the police, news agencies and even posting it online."

"And it is a test for both of you to decode the Zodiac Killer's messages." Mister Morris said as he stands up and turned on the light. "It's a very easy code, Sherlock deciphered it at first glance, in fact, there are few people who were also able to decipher the code and sent it to us."

"Dear Steph, in this day and age, creating a code that could surpass the computer capability is close to impossible. Computers can now easily solve most codes in seconds. We're not dealing with hieroglyphs, it's just a code from a normal person." Sherlock remarked. "Anyway, I'm hungry. Can we have our food now? What's the menu for today?"

"It's beef stew with broccoli" Morris answered.

"Let's eat outside. I don't like it." Sherlock commanded.

I can't believe that this man still has the appetite to eat after seeing those gruesome photos. I should keep up with them.