Tick Tock Part Four - The Mouse Fell Down

Late Night Brooding

"Thank you..." Perkins didn't even look up from his steepled fingers as he heard it. He was leaning back in his chair with his elbows on the armrests, fingertips pressed together as he stared blankly at the surface of his desk. The papers he'd been working on earlier were set aside in a neat pile, signed and ready to be handed off to his superiors. Now was the time for brooding. The gentle tap on his coaster was enough to alert him to Colin's arrival with another coffee. It was late. Well beyond the end of his usual shift. Colin had remained with him, as he often did. He'd become a confidant of sorts over the past two years, a constant, loyal support.

"What are you thinking?" Something was eating at him. It didn't take a genius to see that. Perkins sighed as he lowered his arms and reached for the steaming mug. It was an old one. One of those Father's Day mugs that were common back in the 2020s. Back when he had regular contact with his children and a healthy marriage. The thought made his coffee taste more bitter than usual. He pursed his lips, still holding the mug as he sat back in his chair. His tie was loosened, the top button of his shirt popped, and his sleeves were rolled to the elbows. It was about as casual as he got at work, and only at night once most people had left. Colin was as put together as always, not a hair out of place.

"Just trying to figure it out..." Colin tilted his head in what he assumed was a programmed quirk. He'd seen Detective Anderson do it, too. "Sergeant Reed...What's the plan with him? At first, I thought we might find his body within the first few weeks, but now...He's kept him alive all this time, and it seems like he's making him do his dirty work now. Why? Getting off on the kill is his primary motivation, but he's giving that away at this point." That clarified things a little, but Colin was still confused. They had evidence that Sergeant Reed was involved, and that he may have landed the killing blow on multiple victims, but there wasn't a hundred percent certainty in that. Despite the thought, he humoured Agent Perkins.

"Perhaps he gains a certain level of power and satisfaction from forcing him to take part." Perkins nodded thoughtfully. It was possible. They knew he'd gained some level of pleasure from torturing him from afar, breathing his suffering like a wraith. Seeing it up close undoubtedly made him feel powerful, but was that all?

"You may not be far off...I just get the feeling there's more to it. It's almost like he's making him an active participant. An accomplice, of sorts." He didn't think Reed was willing, despite Detective Yates being their latest victim. The injuries on the other bodies they'd found, along with the blood, suggested it had been a life or death situation. Reed had fought for survival multiple times and come out on top. But the killing style has changed. He's not fighting anymore, he's executing. He still didn't believe he was taking part willingly, but it wasn't impossible.

"Is it possible that the Hickory Killer is training him? Creating his own successor?" Perkins breathed out slowly. He hadn't considered that. It wouldn't be unheard of, but cases like that were rare. So rare that he couldn't think of one off the top of his head. Serial killers were often solitary creatures, living for the thrill of the kill, unwilling to share the spoils. Why would it be important to the Hickory Killer to create a successor? He was already the most famous killer of his time. Would he really want to shine the spotlight on another? Then again, he didn't seem overly concerned during the early days of the copycat murders.

"It's extremely rare for that to happen, and I'm not sure the Hickory Killer is the type...His first series of murders were well thought out and methodical. Playing with Sergeant Reed was almost an afterthought the first time. He was completely focused on the murders, painting the perfect canvas, and leaving structured messages behind. The shift of focus to Reed was gradual...It's almost like there was a slowly building overlap in the pleasure he got from killing and the pleasure he got from leading Reed in circles." Colin could agree with that much. Until the fourth murder, there had been no express contact with law enforcement at all. Then he'd laid eyes on Reed. It was almost love at first sight. A very twisted version of the phenomenon. From there, a marked shift had occurred with the addition of letters and recordings alongside the wooden blocks. The wording had become more personal over time, shifting from Detective Reed to Gavin. Reviewing the letters, he found the tone became more and more possessive, especially after his extended break.