Snow had stopped falling by the time the police wrapped up the crime scene.
But the cold had grown sharper.
The alley where Officer Mark Dalton had died was now empty except for the faint yellow outline left by forensic markers and the lingering glow of streetlights reflecting off frozen snow.
Across the street, a temporary investigation room had been set up inside a small municipal building.
Maps, photographs, and evidence boards now covered the walls.
Detective Laura Hayes stood at the center table, staring at the large city map spread before her.
Two red markers had been placed on it.
The first marked the police station explosion.
The second marked the alley where Dalton was killed.
Detective Rudra Sen leaned over the table, rubbing his tired eyes.
"Two attacks in less than twenty-four hours," he muttered.
"This guy isn't slowing down."
Laura remained silent.
Her eyes shifted toward the far corner of the room.Mr. Endless sat alone in a chair beside the window.The faint glow of the streetlight outside illuminated half of his face.
He hadn't spoken for nearly twenty minutes.
His eyes were closed.But Laura knew he wasn't resting.He was thinking.
Rudra noticed her gaze.
"Is he sleeping?"
Laura shook her head.
"No."
As if hearing them, Mr. Endless opened his eyes.They were calm.Sharp.Focused.
"Show me the map," he said quietly.
Rudra slid it toward him.
Mr. Endless stood and walked to the table.He studied the two markers carefully.Then he picked up a pen.
"Something is wrong," he said.
Laura frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Mr. Endless tapped the first marker.
"The explosion was dramatic."
He tapped the second.
"But the second murder was quiet."
Rudra shrugged.
"So?"
Mr. Endless looked at him.
"Why change methods?"
Neither detective answered.
Mr. Endless continued calmly.
"Criminals who enjoy chaos repeat chaos."
"Criminals who enjoy violence repeat violence."
He paused.
"But this killer changed the scale."
Laura crossed her arms.
"You think that means something?"
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
He drew a small circle around both crime locations.
"Both attacks are within walking distance."
Rudra leaned closer.
"About two kilometers."
Mr. Endless nodded.
"The killer operates within a small territory."
Laura said slowly,
"His hunting ground."
"Yes."
Mr. Endless then drew a straight line connecting the two crime scenes.
"However…"
He paused.
"…the pattern is incomplete."
Rudra frowned.
"Incomplete?"
Mr. Endless pointed at the line he drew.
"If this were random, the next crime could happen anywhere."
"But it won't."
Laura tilted her head.
"You're certain?"
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
He rotated the map slightly.Then he placed a third dot on the opposite side of the circle.
Laura's eyes narrowed.
"You think the third crime will happen there?"
Rudra looked confused.
"Why there?"
Mr. Endless spoke calmly.
"Balance."
Rudra blinked.
"Balance?"
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
He tapped the map again.
"The killer is intelligent."
"Possibly obsessive."
"Obsessive criminals prefer symmetry."
Laura studied the map carefully.
The three points now formed the beginning of a triangle.
"You're predicting the third crime scene."
Mr. Endless gave a faint smile.
"I'm predicting the killer's preference."
Rudra scratched his head.
"That's still a guess."
Mr. Endless looked at him.
"All investigation begins with guesses."
Then he turned toward Laura.
"But good guesses save lives."
Laura took a deep breath.
"If you're wrong, we waste resources."
"If I'm right," Mr. Endless replied calmly, "we stop the third murder."
The room became silent.
Finally Laura nodded.
"Rudra."
"Yes?"
"Send patrol units to the predicted area."
Rudra raised an eyebrow.
"You're trusting him?"
Laura glanced at Mr. Endless.
"For now."
Rudra grabbed his radio.
Within minutes several police units were dispatched to the marked location.The building in question was a small police archive office.It stored old case files and administrative records.
Not exactly an important location.But still connected to the police department.
Mr. Endless walked toward the window again.
Snow-covered streets stretched into the distance.Laura joined him.
"You seem confident," she said.
Mr. Endless didn't answer immediately.
Instead he asked a question.
"Do you believe in coincidence?"
Laura shrugged.
"Sometimes."
Mr. Endless shook his head slightly.
"Coincidence is usually just a pattern we haven't understood yet."
Laura watched him carefully.
"You talk like you've studied criminals your entire life."
Mr. Endless replied quietly,
"I study people."
Rudra returned to the table.
"Patrol units are moving."
Then he looked at Mr. Endless.
"You really think the killer will attack tonight?"
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Mr. Endless looked at the clock on the wall.
11:42 PM.
"Because he wants momentum."
Rudra frowned.
"Momentum?"
Mr. Endless spoke calmly.
"If the killings are daily…"
"Breaking the schedule ruins the psychological effect."
Laura understood immediately.
"The countdown."
Mr. Endless nodded.
"Yes."
Rudra sighed.
"This guy is insane."
Mr. Endless tilted his head slightly.
"No."
"Insane killers are unpredictable."
He looked toward the map again.
"This one is organized."
Suddenly—
Rudra's radio crackled loudly.
All three investigators turned toward it.
"Unit Four to command!"
Rudra grabbed the radio.
"This is Detective Sen."
The officer's voice sounded tense.
"We found something."
Laura stepped closer.
"What is it?"
The officer answered quickly.
"There's a body inside the archive building."
The room went silent.
Laura whispered,
"…damn."
Mr. Endless's eyes remained calm.
Rudra looked at him slowly.
"You predicted it."
Mr. Endless walked toward the door.
"Let's confirm it."
—
Ten minutes later.
The police archive building was surrounded by flashing patrol cars.Officers moved in and out of the entrance.Laura, Rudra, and Mr. Endless stepped inside.The building smelled of old paper and dust.
Shelves filled with decades of police records lined the walls.At the center of the room—
Another body lay on the floor.
A middle-aged police administrator.A thin cut across his throat.Blood had stained the tile beneath him.
Laura approached carefully.
"Victim?"
An officer replied,
"Harold Bennett. Records department."
Rudra exhaled slowly.
"Third victim."
Mr. Endless looked around the room quietly.His eyes stopped on the desk nearby.
Something shiny rested on top of it.
A silver Christmas ornament.Inside the ornament was another folded note.
Laura picked it up with gloves.She opened the paper.Inside were two simple words.
Day Three
Rudra shook his head.
"This guy really loves decorations."
Mr. Endless looked around the room again.
Then his gaze dropped to the floor near the body.
Footprints.Fresh.Leading toward the back door.
He walked over and crouched down.
Laura followed.
"What do you see?"
Mr. Endless pointed to the footprints.
"The killer left in a hurry."
Rudra laughed.
"Maybe he saw the patrol cars."
Mr. Endless shook his head.
"No."
He stood slowly.
"He expected them."
Laura frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Mr. Endless's voice remained calm.
"He wanted us to arrive."
Rudra blinked.
"Why?"
Mr. Endless looked at the ornament again.
"Because this…"
He pointed at the note.
"…is only the beginning."
Laura felt a chill run through her spine.
Mr. Endless walked toward the back door.
Snow-covered streets stretched behind the building.Empty.Silent.
The killer was already gone.But somewhere in the city—He was watching.And smiling.
Mr. Endless whispered softly to himself.
"Interesting."
Then he looked toward the dark skyline of the city.
"Your move… Day Four."
End of chapter....