Chapter 002: The Storm Approaches

A voice with a hint of a smile reached his ears, and Adrian had no time to turn his head to discern it clearly. He pulled his thoughts back and finally noticed the cigarette that was about to burn his hand, with a long ash precariously hanging.

Adrian hurriedly leaned on the cigarette, but due to his awkward and flustered movements, the ash broke off and fell onto his lap, and he ultimately could not hold back his curse.

The news report was indeed reported, but it was merely an inconspicuous block of tofu, lacking any splash whatsoever

No one noticed the figure walking in the darkness

The New York Times truly lives up to its reputation, capturing attention without the need for sensationalism

Grass

Adrian Guzman, with a face full of irritation, took a deep drag of his cigarette, and the smoke that had been building up in his chest could no longer be contained. He exhaled in one breath, and his entire face was enveloped in a swirling cloud, his ginger-colored head appearing as if it were on fire

... ...

It is challenging, but the rewards are substantial

Clearly, it is merely smoking, yet it emits the sound of honking a horn

The serial killer case, this is a challenge, but it is not insurmountable

Remove the disposable gloves, disinfect the receiver with an alcohol wipe, and erase all traces around the public telephone booth

Are you ... ... Megan's date

The night is deepening, and the world is gradually quieting down

Each case officer and * graphic * book person has experienced similar situations, with more important and troublesome cases requiring complex attention at hand, and there is constant pressure from above, thus the "not so important" homeless case is temporarily set aside

In fact, during an election year, this is a double-edged sword

The issue is that this is no longer the first or second incident; to Adrian's knowledge, it is at least the third event within three weeks.

Above, it is estimated that one is about to go insane

The New York Times

If an investigation is initiated, they will need the NYPD to mobilize.

However, if the news leaks and it becomes impossible to continue concealing it, with such a sensitive and tricky case emerging this year, an explanation must be provided; otherwise, the public will not let it go easily

All the names and information of the victims are accurate, including details known only from the internal police investigation report, which certainly indicates that there is an insider leaking information

Black man. Serial killer

What is the "New York Times" and where does it get its news from

Adrian took some time to review the case files and inquired with the heads of different cases, subtly sensing some anomalies

What should be done if the police suspect him to be the source of the leak due to his inquiries from some time ago

Seven victims, all of whom were homeless

Moreover, regardless of whether it is possible to contact the families of other homeless individuals, even if the librarians are all willing, their voices may be too weak, and the media sharks may not necessarily care.

The sound of engines echoed from a distance, and the figures lurking in the sheltered corners at the bend emerged one after another, peering curiously towards the source of the noise. However, the vehicles whizzed by without stopping, leaving them to retreat back into the shadows in disappointment

Front page headline

A roaring sound surged in my head, as if a jet was flying low over my eardrum, leaving behind a long trail of resonance.

A storm is brewing

In the first step, Kirk requested Richard Curtis to personally appeal to the media, expressing that his case had not received adequate attention. He was to leverage his connections to promote and hype the news as much as possible. They needed public support to pressure the NYPD, with the ultimate goal of continuing the investigation into the case

Front page headline

Initially, the next step for Kirk was to contact the families of other victims to unite and raise their voices, thereby forming a collective force, but ultimately he gave up

Adrian desperately wanted to curse, but in order to avoid drawing unnecessary attention, those words were forcefully swallowed down.

Although this is a local case, the serial murder case did not trigger an alarm from the FBI; instead, it was kept under tight wraps. This suggests that the underlying interests and entanglements are likely not so simple. Kirk only needs a slight hint, and I believe that the journalist from the New York Times should be able to uncover more.

The nonexistent black serial killer case

Not only him, but the entire Special Investigation Department is also permeated with a sense of low pressure, as an atmosphere of restlessness gradually spreads, like a storm brewing on the horizon

Is this normal

Thus, Kirk took over

In fact, the last victim was only a few days ago. It was not Adrian who took over, but he found it somewhat strange and was preparing to inquire with the investigating detective. However, the case was concluded as a suspected robbery manslaughter, but it was temporarily shelved due to the inability to locate the criminal suspect.

In the shadow across the street, a drunk man lies directly on the road, half of his body hanging out, resembling a circus performer who has failed at walking a tightrope, mumbling indistinctly in an incomprehensible manner

Chris Adams, Dennis Curtis

On the other hand, to arrest and prosecute the murderer through legal means

Damn

For the media, they require sensational points, they need gimmicks, they need bloodshed, they need drama; otherwise, in the present of 2012, even serial killers seem to lack a certain topicality, quickly being submerged in the tidal wave of information on the internet, not to mention that Richard alone cannot bear the burden.

Once there is attention and popularity, then nothing is a problem anymore. The NYPD can no longer continue to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the situation, while also needing to invest substantial resources.

serial killer

However, now Kirk does not need to take action himself, as he has the assistance of public servants, making things much easier immediately

Everything is directed towards the general election

Then, once again raising the collar, turning around and stepping forward, that figure disappeared into the night.

It is precisely because the NYPD investigation bureau is aware that the case may stir up a storm that they chose to block the news, covering it up before it could ferment

Moreover, the negligence of the NYPD is not merely ordinary negligence; it is a premeditated negligence that is reflected in every word and action, alluding to this year's election.

Adrian jumped up directly, quickly flicking away the ash, worried both about his fingers and his pants, in a flustered manner

It is hard to imagine how vast and complex the quantity of personal belongings of these victims is, which may include a significant amount of debris, and merely sifting through these clues requires an immense amount of effort

After all, they are just homeless people; no one will continue to investigate.

The vision has become unclear, yet I still fixate on the copy of the "New York Times" in my hand, unable to look away

Ba, ba ba ba

Relying solely on Kirk, whose energy is limited, it is necessary to make full use of official resources; then, based on the investigation of the NYPD, further filter the clues

Coincidence

At this moment

On one hand, the evidence is both fragmented and extensive

And the picture book, however, did not work.

Next, one can simply wait quietly for the public opinion storm to brew, ferment, and ultimately explode in full force

Since the media craves drama, Kirk provides them with drama

Buzz

However, before Adrian could continue his investigation, the "New York Times" detonated the bomb

After a hard struggle to regain some semblance of rationality, Adrian felt somewhat awkward and embarrassed, yet he turned his head to look over. It was only then that he had the time to scrutinize the person before him, who turned out to be a stranger, but...

Be careful, the cigarette butt is hot to the touch

If it is indeed a serial killer, and the police department coincidentally puts the investigation on hold, it is not that no one has noticed the connections; it is certainly not a coincidence. What does this imply

The evidence collected by private detectives cannot be used in criminal court trials. Kirk not only needs to conduct his own investigation but also needs to guide the NYPD in their investigation

It may even further attract the attention of higher authorities, such as the mayor, and even the governor

Subconsciously glancing at the author's signature in the lower right corner: Jeff Mingela

For a moment, Adrian was at a loss as to what he should be worried about, his mind a chaotic jumble of thoughts akin to a balloon that was continuously expanding

The concise and clear title directly addresses the main point, while the subtitle contains no superfluous words, merely listing the seven names one by one, resembling an obituary, yet highlighting their significance amidst the black lettering

Wait a moment, this seems somewhat familiar