The captain took in a deep breath, rising and picking up a few files from the box. The concern on his features highlighted the wrinkles on his aged skin.

“Shortly after providing us with this information, Mr. Hwang and his family were abducted; they became the sixth victim of the killer who had been calling himself 'Chio' since the fourth murdered family. By the time the killer had claimed his seventh victim, we discovered that Soo-hee Kang was residing in the Hampshire Hill mansion, and when we arrived at the mansion, we found the place engulfed in flames. By the time the firefighters managed to control the fire, there was nothing left but debris and three charred corpses. DNA extraction from the bodies wasn't possible due to the state they were in when recovered, but based on partially burnt photographs we found, we concluded that it must have been the Kang family. The fire was reported nationwide, giving the case significant attention, and the crimes ceased.”

“But why Chio?” Gina furrowed her brows. She was the only one who wasn't in town when Longino witnessed its first serial killer. “And what do you mean the family suspected of committing the murders lived in the same mansion where we found our first case, three weeks ago?”

“Chio is an anagram formed with the letters of the word 'Choices'”. Na-moo replied. “The murderer was wise even in choosing his code-name. And yes… the first case, of the Harrison family, happened at the place where the Kang family lived and died twelve years ago.”

“Another piece of evidence that the poem is important to the killer”, Amélie stated, pressing the pen against her cheek, her expression thoughtful.

The fact that the first recent case occurred in the mansion that once belonged to the prime suspect of the murders, it couldn't be a coincidence, could it?

“Did Soo-hee Kang's students make it onto the suspect list?” she asked.

“Yes. They were around thirty years old at the time. It was a lengthy list, after all, Soo-hee taught six classes of twenty-five students for a while. From a hundred and fifty names, our list was narrowed down to sixty; a good portion of the suspects had left Longino after high school. Out of the sixty suspects, only fifteen lacked solid alibis, and only eight fit the characteristics provided by the survivors. However, we didn't find anything that could prove any of them were truly Chio. We were forced to release them in the end.

“And currently, we've been checking these same suspects from the past, after the factory case. Those who still live in Longino and are alive have convincing alibis this time. I think we're treading on thin ice again.” Hector huffed, drumming his hands on the table.

Amélie bit her lip, putting her elbows on the table.

According to the files she had read that morning on her way to the hospital, the family who had been the victim of the murderer in the Hampshire hill house (the Harrison) had just moved to Longino: a forty-five-year-old man, a wife in her thirties, and a ten-year-old son. The three had just bought the manor and were going to reform it. Hector had met the family in the only real estate company in town a few days before they were found dead… Something that only came to the attention of the police after one of the couple's co-workers had reported them missing. The bodies were found three days after the murder.

The real estate cameras captured the victims, the real estate employees, some town residents, Detective Jung, who, according to the testimony, was there to renew the lease of the apartment he lives in, as well as one of the city's medical examiners and another friend of the two detectives. Everyone present had been investigated. They all had alibis that supported their position as innocent, and none of them had any connection to the list of suspects compiled in the past.

Amélie didn't believe it was a copycat, even though there was no concrete evidence to refute that possibility. Still, something was gnawing at her mind… If Chio was back, why after such a long silence? What could have triggered the switch in the killer's mind to resume his crimes? And above all, what were the criteria they used to choose who should decide which family member would live?

“I understand how you feel, Miss Zhou.” The captain smiled complacently. “This case is, in so many ways, complicated. Can we be dealing with a copycat? Yes, we can be dealing with a copycat. We can't rule out any possibility, since there are differences in some cases, such as the shed, which was a totally different location from the pattern chosen by the original killer, although the modus operandi and signature were the same. So, I want you both to be honest with me. The cases may revisit painful memories for you”, Denyel's loving eyes wandered between Na-moo and Amélie as he spoke, reminding her of her own father.

What would Mr. Zhou say if he knew his daughter was working on a serial murder case, not in a clinic dealing with victims of criminal cases as she had said she would?

“If you don't want to continue investigating this case, Detective Hwang, don't worry” the captain continued, giving Na-moo's cheek two gentle pats. “I will assign another detective to take over for you, to assist Hector. Take a few days off and go visit your brother with Yvone.”

Amélie looked at Na-moo in astonishment:

“Wait a minute… You're the son of the man who testified about Mrs. Kang?”

“Yes. My parents and my brother were victims of that bastard twelve years ago.” Her brown eyes were so wide that, for the thousandth time that day, Na-moo feared they might pop out of her face. “And as for that, Denyel, don't worry. I swore on my father's grave that I would live my life catching criminals like the one who destroyed our family. This time, that scumbag won't get away unscathed. Whether they’re a copycat or not, they'll pay for the lives they took.”

Despite his racing heartbeat and a twisted stomach, Na-moo poured out the words without showing how apprehensive the situation was making him. His dark eyes remained steady as they fixed on the captain, his clenched fists were anchored in the jacket pocket, and the clenched jaw went unnoticed by the gentleman, who nodded, shifting his gaze to Amélie.

“You'll be fine too, Miss Zhou? Yan is my golf partner; I'm not sure he'll be pleased to find out you're working at a police station instead of a clinic like your friend. He thinks you'll be treating trauma victims from cases like this.”

“You know my father?” Amélie stared at the man, blinking, because not only did Denyel know her father, but he also knew the lie she had told to cover up the decision to work directly with criminals. Even if she shouldn't have been so surprised. She didn't know her father's friends, although she knew he was part of the senior golf club since he retired.

Maybe Mayumi and Winnie were right, the two of them didn't talk enough. They weren't as close confidantes as they once had been.

However, hardly anyone knew she was Yan Zhou's daughter. Not since she changed her first name.

“Wait…” Na-moo squinted. “Amélie, you're from the Zhou family, the family of the seventh and final kidnapping and murder case that happened twelve years ago?”

Amélie nodded.

“Wow! This is more dramatic than a Mexican soap opera!” Hector put his hands on his hips, incredulous.

“I…” Amélie swallowed hard. “I was one of the victims.”

Na-moo turned his neck toward her twice, as if he had seen her for the first time and then wanted to confirm that he saw right — with a wrinkled forehead, prominent eyes on the face, and a slack jaw. The detective ruffled the papers covering the table in search of a specific file. He read and reread the testimonies of the last two victims to survive Chio's cruelty — a week after her father was murdered — and knew them by heart: Hannah and Mahalina Zhou were cousins, both raised by Yan Zhou, Mahalina's father. Mahalina had been the young girl to survive after her father's choice, just as Seung had survived after Yvone's choice. Hannah had no father or mother, so she lived with her uncle from early childhood.

At no point was the name Amélie mentioned…

Na-moo had even met Mahalina at the time, at the memorial organized by the inhabitants of Longino in honor of the victims—after the police department officially closed the case. He remembered it vividly because Mahalina stood in front of Hannah's photo, the young blonde girl with small eyes similar to those of the cousin who stared at her. Choon-sub's photo was beside them.

Na-moo had thought the tearful figure was a boy, as they were wearing a hood covering their face, and the long sleeves of the coat concealed clenched fists. Until he struck up a conversation and heard her speak with a faltering, feminine voice: “I would rather die…”

“But… your name… you…”

“I changed my name when I turned eighteen” Amélie explained, shifting her gaze from Na-moo's puzzled face to look at the captain. “I confess I'm surprised that you know so much about me, Captain Denyel.” She took a sip from the coffee on the table; the bitter black liquid souring her tongue even more as it was already cold.

“Yan talked to you on the phone during one of our matches. I heard him call you Mahalina, and on another occasion, I met his partner, Mrs. Mayumi, who referred to you as Amélie. Then he told me about the name change and your profession.”

“Wow!” Hector exclaimed. “Gina, please tell me I don't look like a dork, just like Moo does right now.”

“You're certainly finding this more amusing than he is.”

Denyel pretended to cough when he saw Na-moo fix his eyes on Brown with the same intensity as a lion choosing its prey.

“Weren't you going out to welcome Miss Zhou ?” The captain checked the time on the clock attached to the gray wall. “Now that we have resolved this, with both of you staying on the case, you are free to socialize with your colleagues”, Denyel announced.

Na-moo cleared his throat, regaining his composure. He was still shocked by what he had just discovered about Zhou, but he couldn't keep his jaw hanging open.

“We have a lot to do, we can't go out to party on Thursday.”

“Come on, my friend, it's just for a day. These cases aren't going anywhere. And these papers will still be here when we come back tomorrow, right?” Hector spoke, eager for some fun.

“And I've already reserved a section of Minho's bar for the precinct team!” Gina informed.

Na-moo took a deep breath, pressing his temples as Hector poked him in the belly, humming “please, pretty please”. The partial reservation of a section at the bar seemed to be Hector's idea to prevent him from backing out at the last minute, as he wanted to. He couldn't disappoint the bar owner, as he was also his friend.

“All right, fine. Let's go” he agreed taciturn.

Hector celebrated by doing samba steps before tossing the scattered files on the table back into the box. Amélie organized the recent cases on her own desk, nodding with a friendly smile when Hector asked if she intended to invite any friends to join them — her response made him even more excited.

Hwang observed as the old cases were carried away by Denyel to the basement. Archived cases resulted from a failed criminal investigation. Something that wouldn't happen with the cases he had in hand.

Na-moo Hwang would go to hell to catch that murderer if necessary.