Chapter 64: The Seventh Case (11)

The room is silent as we gather around the television, all eyes fixed on the screen where Inspector Han stands at a podium, facing a sea of reporters. The atmosphere is tense, everyone keenly aware of the gravity of the situation we've uncovered.

Han clears his throat and begins to speak, his voice steady and authoritative.

"Good morning. I'm here to brief you on the recent case that has shocked our community. After extensive investigation, we can now confirm the following details:

"Firstly, the culprits we apprehended are part of a newly formed criminal organization calling themselves 'Zen'. The group consists of seven individuals, all in their twenties or thirties.

"The leader of this group is believed to be a convicted serial killer who has been serving a 12-year sentence. From within the prison walls, he orchestrated the formation of this gang and dictated their twisted mission.

"All members of 'Zen' met their leader while serving time in prison. Through manipulation and gaslighting techniques, the leader convinced these individuals that his warped worldview was correct, effectively brainwashing them into following his commands.

"The group initially began their criminal activities as an online scam operation, with the goal of accumulating funds to establish a headquarters. Once they felt sufficiently settled, they moved on to more violent crimes to fulfill what they referred to as their 'missions'.

"The first of these so-called missions was to, in their words, 'get rid of rich people'. They targeted individuals based on superficial indicators of wealth, such as the cars they drove or the clothes and accessories they wore. Without any real verification of their victims' financial status, they kidnapped and murdered multiple individuals."

The room falls silent as Han opens the floor for questions. Immediately, a forest of hands shoots up, reporters clamoring for attention.

Han points to a woman in the front row. "Yes, go ahead."

"Inspector, can you elaborate on the reports of frozen body parts and the use of an incinerator at the crime scene?"

Han's expression grows grim. "What we've uncovered is disturbing, to say the least. Evidence suggests that the gang members engaged in cannibalism as a way of 'solidifying' their beliefs. They would dissect the bodies of their victims, consuming certain parts and burning what they deemed 'unnecessary' in the incinerator."

A collective gasp ripples through the crowd. Han waits for the murmurs to die down before calling on another reporter.

"Inspector, there are rumors about a woman who escaped. Can you tell us more about that?"

Han nods, his face a mask of professionalism despite the horrific details he's sharing. "Yes, that's correct. A young woman managed to escape from the gang, which ultimately led to our investigation. It appears that one of the gang members had developed romantic feelings for this victim. When he was injured, he took her to the hospital, ostensibly to prevent the others from raping or killing her."

He pauses, letting the information sink in. "The victim showed remarkable courage, seizing the opportunity to escape. Her bravery was crucial in bringing this case to light."

"What happened to the gang member who helped her?" someone calls out.

Han's expression darkens further. "He paid for his actions with his life. The other members viewed his act as a betrayal of their twisted ideology. He was later stabbed to death by his fellow gang members." S~eaʀᴄh the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The room erupts into a flurry of questions and exclamations.

Another reporter raises his hand, his face etched with concern. Han nods, granting him permission to speak.

"Inspector, what about the alleged leader who's still in prison? What can you tell us about his involvement and current status?"

Han takes a deep breath before responding, his tone measured and careful. "The investigation regarding the leader's involvement is ongoing. At this time, he is denying any connection to the gang or its activities."

He pauses, choosing his words deliberately. "I want to assure the public that we are pursuing every lead and examining all evidence thoroughly. We expect to have more updates on this aspect of the case in the near future."

A reporter from the back of the room stands up, his face set in a determined expression. "Inspector Han," he calls out, his voice carrying a challenging tone, "there's been significant public criticism regarding the police force's handling of this case. Many are questioning how such a large-scale operation could go unnoticed for so long."

The room falls silent, tension palpable in the air. The reporter continues, "There were obviously several murders before this breakthrough. The gang was involved in online scams, built an underground fortress using dynamite, and possessed illegal firearms. How did all of this slip past police surveillance? Doesn't this point to a serious lapse in law enforcement?"

Han's expression tightens almost imperceptibly. He takes a moment before responding, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of regret.

"First and foremost, I want to offer my sincere apologies to the victims and their families, as well as to the public," Han begins. "The loss of life in this case is tragic, and we understand the frustration and anger many are feeling."

He pauses, his gaze sweeping across the room. "As for the specific details you've mentioned regarding our investigation and procedures, I'm not at liberty to comment on those at this time. What I can say is that we are conducting a thorough internal review of our processes and will be implementing necessary changes to prevent such oversights in the future."

Han's refusal to directly address the criticisms is met with a burst of follow-up questions from the assembled journalists. However, he raises a hand to quiet the room.

"I understand your concerns and the public's right to answers. However, as I mentioned earlier, there are aspects of this case that we cannot discuss at this stage due to the ongoing investigation. We are committed to transparency, but we must also ensure that we do not compromise our efforts to bring all responsible parties to justice."

As I watch Han navigate this difficult line of questioning, I can see the toll it's taking on him. The criticism isn't unfounded, and I know that everyone in the department is feeling the weight of what we missed. But I also know that hindsight is 20/20, and the intricacy of this case goes beyond anything we've encountered before.

Just as Han is about to wrap up the briefing, he adds, "I'd like to emphasize that the police force is committed to getting to the bottom of this case. There are still some elements of the investigation that we cannot disclose at this time due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing inquiry."

Han's eyes scan the room, his gaze intense. "I want to be clear: more details will be released when the time is deemed appropriate and when doing so will not compromise our investigation or any potential future legal proceedings."

As the press conference concludes, the room erupts into a cacophony of frustrated voices. My colleagues, their faces flushed with indignation, begin venting their anger at the reporter's challenging questions.

"Can you believe that journalist?" Detective Yoon exclaims, gesturing angrily at the TV. "We're out here busting our asses every day, putting our lives on the line, and this is the thanks we get?"

Detective Tak chimes in, her voice tight with frustration. "Exactly! They have no idea what it's like on the ground. We're doing our best with limited resources, and all they can do is criticize."

"It's always the same," another detective grumbles. "Something goes wrong, and suddenly it's all the police's fault. Never mind all the cases we solve, all the people we protect. One slip-up and we're incompetent."

Similar sentiments echo around the office. The air is thick with resentment and defensiveness. I hear phrases like "armchair critics" and "Monday morning quarterbacks" being thrown around.

I remain silent, letting their words wash over me. While I understand their frustration, I can't bring myself to join in. Instead, my mind is racing, grappling with uncomfortable questions.

Did we really try our best? How did we miss so many red flags? The online scams, the dynamite, the guns - each of these should have raised alarms. And yet, somehow, they all slipped through the cracks.

I think back to the horror we uncovered in that underground complex. How many lives could have been saved if we had connected the dots sooner? The weight of those lost lives sits heavy on my conscience.

***

I sit on the edge of my bed, the events of the day weighing heavily on my mind. The room is quiet, save for the soft ticking of the clock on my nightstand.

Suddenly, Aileen's voice pipes up in my head, her tone petulant. "You know, it wouldn't kill you to have a little fun with me once in a while. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy... or should I say, makes our dear detective a dull boy?"

I sigh internally. "Not now, Aileen. I'm not in the mood for games."

"You're never in the mood," she pouts. "What's a girl gotta do to get a little attention around here?"

Ignoring her complaints, I decide to pursue a different line of questioning. "Aileen, why do you think I hear voices of serial killers? First Bundy, now you. Does it mean anything?"

Aileen's tone shifts, becoming more serious. "I've told you before, detective. I was sent by some power I don't understand. My job is to help you, to purify my sins. That's all I know."

I press further, hoping for more insight. "But surely you must have some idea? Some theory?"

There's a long pause, and for a moment, I think she might have gone silent on me. Then, hesitantly, she speaks again.

"I'm not sure if this will be helpful, but... I think I might have been in someone else's head before. I can't tell if it was a dream or if it actually happened, though."

My interest piques. "Really? Can you tell me more about that?"

"That's all I know," she replies, her voice uncharacteristically uncertain. "It's just a vague feeling, nothing concrete."

If she was in someone else's head before, what was her purpose there? Was she there to help, like she claims to be doing with me? Or was she there to encourage darker impulses, to aid in committing murders?

And when did this happen? Was it recent, or long ago? The timeline could be crucial in understanding the nature of these voices in my head.

Then another thought strikes me - if Aileen was in someone else's head, does that mean Bundy might be in another person's mind right now?