Unwritten Chapter 27

There are thousands of thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up the pen and writes. - William Makepeace Thackeray

"I thought for sure an hour early would be on time." Christina sat her hot coffee down on the desk before offering Russo the one in her other hand. "I love snow as much as the next, but does it ever stop here?"

"It's a bad winter is all." Russo popped the lid off her coffee letting the steam warm her hands. "I think the heat is off in here as well."

Christina stopped from taking her coat off at Russo's words and let herself fall into the chair at Vince's desk. She looked around the desk and then up at Rachele. "You cleaned off Vince's desk. You must've come in really early."

"I want to go at Reed a different way. I think if we play him correctly he will lead us straight to Cayden Kyle even if it's unintentional." Rachele only glanced up when she was finished talking. She could tell Christina was in pain, but she doubted anybody else could see it despite the ugly bruising on her face.

"We've gone through his background, he is who he says he is. What he tells us checks out." Christina decided to take the lid off her coffee suddenly as if she had forgotten about it. "What about what he doesn't tell us."

Rachele smiled. "I'm guessing you didn't sleep much last night. What do you have, Regan?"

"Aiden Reed is a private investigator. Is, was, whatever. His prints are on file." Christina paused.

"Already ran them, he's good there." Rachele took a sip of coffee but her eyes encouraged Christina to continue.

"He has a long educational history, most of his latter studies are in forensic science and criminal justice. He is interested in law enforcement but hasn't pursued a career in it, why?" Christina waited again.

"Didn't he? He became a private investigator. Just means he has a problem saying yes sir. Doesn't want a boss." Rachele let Christina explain her theory before she offered up her own.

"Against the grain. His whole personality is against the grain. I think he's got some family history that deserves checking into...further." Christina's eyes followed the suits as they made their way into Ramano's office.

"He has no surviving family. Makes it easy to follow a killer around the country." Rachele's voice pulled Christina's attention back to her. "It is what it is, remember that. You know the drill, only answer what they ask, don't elaborate."

Christina shook her head. "I still think there is family history, maybe off the record that deserves looking into. His date of birth is ten years prior to the filed copy of his birth certificate."

"Regan!" Ramano's deep voice carried throughout the squad room and Rachele noticed the way Christina jumped.

Rachele let her pen tap against her desk as she watched Regan mentally prepare herself. She watched as Ramano exited his own office leaving Christina to fend for herself. She then smiled when she noticed

Regan intentionally sit down in a different chair than the one she was offered. Such a small display of control that maybe only she noticed. Rachele wished they had just a little more time before IAB arrived. She could tell Christina had presented a lead that was on the same path as her own. Mr. Aiden Reed was born Thomas Campbell and adopted at age ten. His name was legally changed and his previous birth cerificate pulled from any existing registry. Rachele had been able to put a rush on the search results concerning Aiden Reed's birth and she had mixed feelings about her original gut feeling. Aiden Reed was involved in a way he refused to admit to and she had waited long enough for him to come clean. She had been right to question his perfect record and honest answers. Mr. Thomas Campbell was who they needed to be looking at and she intended to let Reed tell her all about him as soon as he arrived.

There was no doubt the heat was broken and Rachele rubbed her hands together as she stole glances into Ramano's office. She figured given her findings and Randy's statement, Regan's actions would be justified. Should be an easy in and out so long as Regan played the game properly. She eyed the clock before looking back into where Christina was. One more quick glance before the blinds were pulled close and she was left to wait. She really wanted Regan to sit in on her meeting with Reed and for once hoped he would show late. No such luck.

"Okay, Russo. If we're going to do this again, I want to be wined and dined." Reed just couldn't help himself.

"We got cold coffee and stale donuts. Help yourself." Russo really wanted to stall until Regan was finished but she doubted Reed would play along.

"It's cold in here, is that a strategy of sorts? You know, like icing the kicker? I thought you and I were beyond all that." Reed passed on the coffee, yet helped himself to a donut. "What can I do for you today, Detective?"

Rachele forced a smile, no matter what Reed did or said he managed to get under her skin. She leaned back in her chair and offered Reed to sit at Vince's desk. "Why didn't you chose a more conventional position in law enforcement?"

"I actually prefer journalism, can be just as exciting without all the danger." Reed glanced around the squad room. "Surely you have a soda machine here somewhere."

"Trailing a serial killer around the country is dangerous, wouldn't you agree, Mr. Reed?" Rachele watched as Reed realized she was leading him.

"Dangerous for you, Detective, not me."

"And that's what I want to know. Why, Reed? Why not you?" Rachele sat up straight in her chair pulling it in closer to her desk and her actions caused Reed to straighten his posture as well. "You studied extensively for what would be a position in law enforcement, yet you choose to write about it instead. I want to know why and I want to know why are you so interested in not only serial killers, but this one."

"Am I under arrest?" Reed leaned in so that he grabbed Rachele's eyes with his own, seemingly pleased when she refused to look away.

"No, you're free to go when you choose." Rachele's voice was flat and the defeat in it confused Reed. "Take me to school, Reed. Tell me about this serial killer that you seem to know well enough to write about but not well enough to find."

"You know, I am surprised you haven't forced my hand and taken my manuscripts. All your answers could be in there." Reed smiled in a way that caused Rachele to look away, back towards Ramano's office.

"How do you know I'm not in the process of that?" Rachele's raised eyebrow only caused Reed to laugh. "Besides we both know there's nothing I need in there, not yet."

"You're stalling, Detective. Why?" Reed glanced towards Ramano's office after noticing that Russo was interested in what was going on in there. "Waiting for your partner? Most likely going to be awhile."

"Talk to me, Reed." Russo glared at Reed then before leaning back in her chair. She was stalling and what better way than to let Reed showboat.

"Pay attention, Detective. You may learn something here today." Reed made himself comfortable in Vince's chair, kicking his feet up onto the desk. He waited until Rachele had given him her undivided attention before speaking to her as if it were important to him that she hear him out.

Rachele could hear the low hum of a busy squad room and the ringing of telephones did little to distract her from staring at Reed. He was a good-looking man, tall and solid. He took care of himself as far as she could tell, and she wondered what kind of routine he followed to stay in good physical shape. He definitely had a cop's build and she wondered if he ever regretted his decision to not go into law enforcement. He was certainly capable of assisting in finding this Cayden Kyle if he was so inclined, but instead seemed to be enjoying the game as much as the killer himself. This irritated Rachele as she had to ride the fence between keeping him tied up on obstruction charges or use him the best way she could to help find their Boston Killer.

"A serial killer's psychology lies far beyond the grasp of normal human understanding. A serial killer is defined as a person who murders three or more people, in a particular fashion, in a gap of a few days. The pattern of killing or the modus operandi is what gives serial killers their name. There is always something in common in the murders- the use of a particular weapon, the race of the people killed, the age or gender, the profession, and at times, even the symbols on the body of the victim. The motive for killing nearly always consists of an element of hatred and fear, which may have its roots in the killer's childhood." Reed paused, taking a few seconds to stare at Russo who was staring hard at him.

"Go on, Reed."

"Power has always been the center of a serial killer's thinking. These people are obsessed with being in a position of power, sexually and in general life as well. They thrive on the feeling of being in charge and they will go to any extent to make sure they are. This may branch from a background of child abuse, neglect and low self-esteem. Children who grow up with a feeling of being unwanted and unloved, tend to become very violent and assertive in their adult life. This low self-esteem and rejection usually finds a vent in brutally murdering innocent people. Serial killers have a vivid imagination that tends to be on the violent side and when they can, they obsess with living out their imagination. As the murdering spree continues, it becomes like a 'fix' that drug addicts require, and they get restless and violent if they are unable to kill."

Rachele shook her head as she kept her eyes trained on Reed. "Textbook, Reed. All textbook. I want to know who this killer is. Who is your Cayden Kyle?"

"I don't know, Detective. I've told you this several times." Reed sighed out loud before beginning again. "In most cases, the victims of serial killers are physically weaker than them. Serial killers usually target children and women. There have been a few serial killers who targeted old and middle-aged men, but for the most part, they concentrate on young women. And some focus on female detectives. The challenge and then the reward for dominating such women is the ultimate high for this particular killer and the fact that he has yet to succeed only ups the ante. Be careful, Detective Russo, I fear you may be no match for this type of killer."

Rachele only smiled at Reed's prediction, refusing to give her thoughts away. "Go on, Reed."

"There have been cases where a person lived with dead bodies and treated them as family. This shows a serious problem of low self-esteem caused due to rejection. This sense of rejection can be so profound that serial killers prefer to live with dead bodies to overcome the fear of being rejected. It has to be kept in mind that a serial killer has such a demented mind, that he actually finds pleasure in doing all this, and according to his rationale, he is doing nothing wrong. This unbalanced sense of knowing right from wrong is what makes serial killers so dangerous and unpredictable." Reed narrowed his eyes at the lack of response from Russo. "In almost all cases, there lies a common background of abuse - mental, physical, or sexual. In childhood this may lead to misplaced morals which makes them introverts and inculcates a deep loathing for the society around them. They grow up believing that the world is out to get them, and they need to 'cleanse' the world of 'bad' people, by doing whatever is necessary. Many times serial killers claim it was divine intervention that forced them to kill, and blame the murders on either God or the Devil, or voices in their head. Serial killers come from all walks of life. They are not killing for gain, they kill to satisfy the urge within, or because they believe that they are doing the right thing."

"So, Professor Reed. Is your Cayden Kyle a psychopath?" Russo smiled at the way Reed reacted to her question. She was now getting under his skin and the way he quickly sat up straight made it clear that the way she was responding to his lesson was unnerving him.

"Are serial killers psychopaths? Yes most of them are. A psychopath is a person who doesn't believe in social norms, and ethical principles and is generally antisocial. These people seem to have a strange set of morals and logic in life. It has been ascertained that they are very shallow, charming, impulsive, have criminal ways of thinking, are violent and abusive and show these traits from a very early age. Serial killers are known to gain satisfaction through their behavior. You know this, Detective. Such an unnecessary question, wouldn't you say?"

Rachele got to her feet then and sat down on Vince's desk so that she was in a higher position than Reed. The gesture did not go unnoticed by Reed as he quickly resorted to his arrogant ways of letting his eyes take her in. "The records of hundreds of serial killers indicate child abuse. Most serial killers are known to have suffered both mental and sexual abuse in their childhood with their own parents being the perpetrators. Absence of family morals, and at times, a dysfunctional family, leads to severely low-esteemed children, who grow up to be mentally sick. Of all the abuses that a serial killer suffers from, rejection tops the chart."

Reed worked to keep his eyes on Rachele's as she paused for effect only.

"All in all, serial killers have a background of abusive parents, ignored childhood on account of a dysfunctional family, totally displaced moral values, extremely low self-esteem, and a seriously wrong concept of life and the working of society. Many psychologists have observed that being part of a proper family would have saved these killers. Most serial killers have an IQ of a genius but lack direction and morality." Rachele got to her feet, pacing a bit before continuing. She could tell Reed knew she was on her way to making a very relevant point with her demonstration. "The adult life of a serial killer is mostly filled with failures. A serial killer is always planning and plotting for his next victim, and as such has very little time for the niceties of life. They are so preoccupied with their killing that they fail to be a part of what surrounds them. The most successful serial killers usually have an alter life, with one life portraying a semblance of normalcy, in which they pretend to be like everyone else. The other life is where they are obsessed with killing and planning a kill. Due to this they suffer from failures at a personal level. The history of all known serial killers is filled with failed marriages and love affairs. They even fail at pursuing a career. Their minds are just not made to work hard and make a career. They can't work under someone because they want power, they are known to generally misbehave at their workplace, leading to being fired. Their short temper follows them everywhere, leading to general misbehavior and violence with coworkers. These people also get bored very easily. A monotonous nine to five job can never satisfy them. They need thrill in their life, which they will go to any extent to find."

"Are you finished, Detective?" Reed was growing impatient with Russo's antics and the tone in his voice did little to hide his irritation.

"No, not yet." Russo returned to her desk where she took a seat, carefully shuffling the papers in front of her. "Serial killers can be either prepared, unprepared, or a mix of both. Organized serial killers work out a crime in a methodical manner, like luring with ploys, abducting, killing and getting rid of the body or bodies in a secluded place, all being a plot of a thought of plan. They also have sound knowledge of forensic science because of which they don't leave any evidence while leaving the crime scene. Such wrongdoers have an above average IQ and are the most dangerous serial killers, because it is the hardest to catch them."

"Well, this has been fun. You have proven that you are as smart as you are beautiful, Detective." Reed got to his feet then nodding at Russo who was doing the same. Reed handed Russo a small card which she immediately flipped over to read the address Reed had written. "This is where I'm staying if you need me. It'll be warmer there, so feel free to come with less clothing. I won't mind."

Rachele wanted to respond, but her attention was immediately on the suits as they made their way out of Ramano's office. She glanced at her watch, hoping that the short meeting meant Regan was free to help find Cayden Kyle. Rachele pointed at Reed as she walked toward Regan who was last to file out of the office. "Goodbye, Reed."

Christina's expression held more answers than she maybe wanted as she waited until the last member of IAB had left their immediate area. "Ready?"

"For?" Rachele searched Christina's eyes, hoping for a little more. She watched as Regan tracked Reed as he made his way toward them.

"To catch a killer." Christina's answer would be enough for Rachele for now and they both knew now was not the time for details. She focused on Reed as he stood in front of her. "You're here to tell us who Cayden Kyle is?"

"Good to see you too, Detective Regan. I'll tell you again as well, I do not know who your Boston Killer is or who Cayden Kyle is." Reed stared at Christina in a way that had Russo begin to move closer to them both. He reached out to touch Regan's arm, but the sudden movement proved too much for the already on edge detective.

Christina's quick reaction to Reed's movement had Reed on his knees, begging the small woman to release her hold on his hand. It took little effort on Regan's part to subdue Reed, and the way the bigger man hollered gained attention but no assistance. "Don't ever touch me, Reed. Are we clear?"

Russo forced herself to take a step back despite the way Reed pleaded with her to help him. A little more force and it was obvious that Regan would snap Reed's wrist. Russo was unsure at this point if Regan reacted out of fear or opportunity, either way the result was working for them all.

"If you can't tell me who Cayden Kyle is, how about telling us who you are." Christina's accent was thick and Russo smiled at her tactics.

Reed tapped out as if this was a game but in reality he too knew Detective Regan had every right to break his wrist for his mistake. It wasn't until Russo tapped Regan's arm did she let go, taking a few steps back when Reed was free to stand. "Was that really necessary, Detective?"

"Who is Thomas Campbell?" Russo immediately gained Reed's attention.

Reed held his wounded hand as he looked back and forth from Russo to Regan and then back to Russo."It took you long enough, Detectives."