The Doctor Of East Hadena [MXM] [SERIAL KILLER] ✓

DEX POV [1]

[15K WORDS]

The worst part, is that I knew.

"Camilo Carter, age 25. Mortuary assistant. Grew up in foster care, has an associates degree from a nearby community college. He is the only Camilo Carter in our database who fits the profile."

I looked down at the picture of Camilo, and for some reason, I got the sense that this was a waste of time. He had the most innocent baby blue eyes I'd ever seen and features so soft he looked five years younger than he actually was. There was no way this was a serial killer, he looked like he probably fed stray dogs in his free time.

"It's not him," I told Lieutenant Kelly. The woman just quirked an eyebrow at me, crossing her arms, unimpressed. I flipped the picture over to show her, pointing at it for emphasis.

"What? Look at him. How tall did you say he was again?"

"5'4" or 5'5", I don't remember," Kelly answered, waving her hand and already seeming to move on. At least I wouldn't have to pay for the apartment, I guess, but I'd still be getting a whole new schedule. I'd wanted to move a little further away from home for a while now, though... "We have to investigate anonymous tips, especially when someone fits the profile this well."

Wait, five feet and five inches? This man was not capable of murdering and disposing of people so much bigger than him. He didn't look like he was capable of murder, period. He looked kind of... dare I say it, cute. He looked like the type of guy I'd bring home to meet my mom. Maybe someone I'd have defended from a bully in high school.

"There's no way this is our guy. He probably volunteers at his local church. I bet he rescues kittens."

"Actually," Kelly seemed to have completely moved on, now typing at her computer. I continued to stand in front of her desk, fully aware of the fact she was done with our conversation. I wasn't, though. Did she really think this guy was The Doctor? He did not look like an evil mastermind. He didn't look capable of even forgetting to return his shopping cart, much less murder. Much less serial murder.

"Almost all of his foster families and group homes reported pets missing, at some point."

Oh. Okay, well that wasn't good. That was one of the fastest ways to identify if someone's on a bad path, in fact. Of course, if he only had say... two foster families, it wouldn't be saying much, though. "How many families?"

"Nearly ten."

Oh, Jesus. Okay. Maybe this guy should've been on our radar.

Moving in across from and befriending a suspect would be new territory. I'd never had to do this level of undercover work before, to the point where it would be bleeding into my personal life. However, every other approach we'd taken to our suspects had gone wrong. We were growing desperate, and since I was about to be the lead investigator of The Doctor's case, I was willing to make the sacrifice.