Chapter 30: The Use of Toys

"Roan, do you have any thoughts?"

Hearing August's voice, Roan paused his contemplation and looked up to find Mona, Lacey, and the others all gazing at him. He no longer hesitated and began his analysis directly:

"It's like this."

Roan signaled to Lacey to escort Mr. Daren into the conference room for a rest; what he was about to say was not suitable for the latter to hear.

Placing the crime scene report and brief information about the two victims on the table, Roan spoke:

"First, the perpetrator has a habit of kidnapping women and torturing them with toys for a period of time. This can be deduced from the way toys were used at the crime scene."

August and Mona picked up the crime scene report, which showed clear traces of toy usage, some even broken from prolonged use.

Lacey returned to her seat. August and Mona nodded in agreement with Roan's assessment, and Roan continued:

"So, based on this, we can infer that Sabina is not in immediate mortal danger after being kidnapped. In previous incidents, victims were tortured for at least five days, judging from the state of the toys."

"Isn't that too presumptuous?" August frowned and questioned. "Before the news coverage, that was very likely, but after the news broke, wouldn't the perpetrator, in a panic, just kill her outright?"

Hearing Roan mention that the perpetrator enjoyed torturing victims with toys, both Lacey and Mona wore expressions of disgust. After August spoke, Lacey also questioned:

"Exactly, the perpetrator has already dismembered two victims. Killing another would hardly be difficult for him."

Roan shook his head. "You're mistaken in one regard: it's likely the perpetrator has dismembered more than just two victims."

He pointed to several photos in the crime scene report and said:

"Look closely at the condition of the body parts. Despite the severe signs of freezing, it's evident the perpetrator dismembered the victims along their joints, not simply hacking through bone. This indicates at least a basic understanding of human anatomy... or perhaps he's done it so many times he's gained experience."

Mona covered her mouth; Lacey's expression grew grim, but she continued Roan's line of analysis:

"So the perpetrator is a doctor?"

"Not necessarily," Roan shook his head. "A veterinarian, a butcher, a forensic examiner, even a farmer—any of these are possible."

Seeing Mona's expression turn increasingly pale, Roan took the photos back and continued:

"As for why I say the perpetrator is unlikely to kill Sabina immediately after seeing the news, here's my second point: because he doesn't care."

August frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing special, simply that he doesn't care." Roan took out a pen, circled an area on the document, and tossed it to August, explaining:

"Note that the perpetrator didn't thoroughly clean the kitchen where he dismembered the victims. He brazenly left the body parts in the refrigerator instead of disposing of them. This implies he actually wants someone to discover what he's done."

"Fuck!" Mona cursed under her breath. "What a sick bastard! What on earth goes on in his mind?"

"Who knows?" Lacey wholeheartedly agreed with Mona's assessment: this was a lunatic and a pervert.

August concurred with the two, and continued Roan's analysis:

"From this perspective, the perpetrator is extremely arrogant. Even if he sees the news, he won't harm Sabina immediately, because he doesn't believe we can find him, right?"

Roan nodded and gave August a look of approval. "That's right, your analysis is spot-on."

August straightened up with pride, pleased by his own deduction and apparent talent for solving cases.

Wait a minute—who's the team leader here?

Before August could get irritated, Mona and Lacey exchanged a glance and voiced a question:

"But what's the use of all this analysis? The fingerprint comparison failed. We don't know who the perpetrator is, or where he's hiding."

August turned his gaze back to Roan, convinced Roan had further ideas.

Not letting August down, Roan leafed through the reports in his hands and explained:

"You're correct. What I've said so far was only to establish that Sabina is not in immediate danger. The next part of my analysis pertains to the perpetrator's whereabouts."

The implication was clear: the most important points were still to come.

Mona and Lacey instantly sat up straight; August sharpened his focus.

"First point."

Roan took out photos of two credit cards found at the crime scene, placing them beside Mona's computer, his face serious:

"The perpetrator always uses the victim's credit cards to purchase toys. Mona checked earlier and found Sabina's credit card had been used. This is a recurring behavior."

The three nodded in unison, the evidence undeniable, and Roan's analysis sound.

"Second point."

Roan took out the records of the two victims' vehicles and placed them beside Mona's computer again:

"After kidnapping the first victim, the perpetrator used her car to buy toys. After kidnapping the second victim, he used the second victim's car for the same purpose. When he broke into Sabina's apartment to steal toys and clothes, he also drove the second victim's car."

Upon hearing this, August's eyes sparkled and he added:

"But the second victim's car is still parked in the garage. The report says they found no clues inside it."

Mona, somewhat confused, asked:

"So? What does this have to do with the perpetrator?"

Understanding Roan's analysis, Lacey excitedly wrapped her arms around Mona's waist and exclaimed:

"This means the car the perpetrator used to kidnap Sabina was, in all likelihood, Sabina's own car! If we find Sabina's car, we'll find the perpetrator!"

"So that's the connection!" Mona suddenly understood. Recalling the luxurious cars owned by Daren and Sabina, Mona became energized:

"As soon as Mr. Daren tells me Sabina's vehicle information, I can locate her within three minutes!"

August was thrilled; he hadn't expected to find the perpetrator's trail so quickly.

Roan: "..."

Seeing his colleagues get inexplicably excited, Roan coughed to draw their attention, spread his hands, and said:

"Have you all forgotten? We previously investigated the vehicles at Sabina and Daren's villa—none were missing."

The three: "..."

Mona, refusing to give up, asked:

"Is it possible, like with the credit card, that Sabina owns a car Daren doesn't know about?"

Roan was speechless, but it wasn't impossible—who knew how much Sabina had kept from Daren?

"We can ask Mr. Daren about it later, but we shouldn't pin too many hopes on that car. Searching for a vehicle via surveillance takes too much time, and the perpetrator could easily abandon it."

Not wasting words on this issue, Roan continued:

"The car isn't important; what's crucial is this behavior—it's a recurring behavioral pattern."