The cold hum of the forensic lab in England filled the background as Kiaan's call connected. The screen flickered to life, showing Mia Hartley, the forensic lead—a sharp, no-nonsense woman with eyes that missed nothing. The sterile environment behind her was littered with microscopes, evidence bags, and charts of anatomical diagrams.
Kiaan's voice was steady but laced with urgency.
"Mia, thanks for taking my call on short notice. I've got a question about the victims."
Mia nodded, already pulling up files on her screen.
"Go ahead, Kiaan. What do you need?"
Kiaan took a breath. "You said the girl was not raped, right?"
"Yes, no signs of sexual assault on the female victim, Maya Bishop," Mia confirmed, eyes scanning the data rapidly.
Kiaan's gaze hardened. "No, not the girl. I mean the boys—the cadets found dead. I want a detailed report: was there any sexual assault—before death or postmortem? Any internal injuries, trauma, anything unnatural? I have a strong instinct telling me there's more to this."
Mia's face grew serious, fingers flying over her keyboard."Give me a moment, I'm pulling up their toxicology and pathology reports now."Minutes stretched. Kiaan's eyes locked onto the screen, waiting.
Mia finally spoke, her voice grim.
"Kiaan, all three male victims show signs of blunt trauma inconsistent with defensive wounds. There are indications of assault—yes, sexual in nature. The trauma occurred ante-mortem, meaning before death. The injuries were systematic, controlled. No signs of violent struggle though, suggesting the victims were incapacitated or compliant."
Kiaan's heartbeat quickened.
"So, the killer had control—physical or psychological—over them before killing them."
Mia nodded.
"Yes. The pattern matches a predator using manipulation, not brute force. Possibly exploiting their trust or fear. There's also evidence of strangulation marks consistent with a method to induce unconsciousness."
Kiaan's mind raced.
"This confirms my theory—this is not random. The killer has a twisted hold on these boys. It's about domination, control. The killer's signature is psychological manipulation first, then physical dominance."Mia added, "One more thing—there are trace amounts of a rare sedative in their bloodstreams, not commonly used in hospitals. It's likely administered to keep them compliant before the assaults."
Kiaan's eyes narrowed.
"Perfect cover to avoid resistance and witnesses. This guy planned everything meticulously."Mia's tone softened. "Kiaan, this is dark. Whoever's behind this is beyond cruel—using fear, sedation, and control to torture and kill."Kiaan clenched his fists. "We'll stop him. Thank you, Mia. Keep me updated immediately if you find anything else."Mia nodded, determination sparking in her eyes."Will do. Stay safe out there."
Kiaan ended the call and leaned back, mind working at full throttle. This wasn't just a killer—it was a sadistic puppeteer with precision, power, and control. And now, he was closer than ever to their prey.