The Killer is Back by Valeria Lob

Part 1. “The Killer is Back” -

a headline of the newspaper lying on the bar table. Monday morning means a busy workday when almost everyone is working and shabby bars are empty. But it doesn't matter to the middle-aged man sitting in such a place and drinking whiskey with ice. He doesn't look like a workless person who spends all his time drinking alcohol. The neat suit fits him as if it had been tailored for him, and he has an expensive watch on his hand. He slouches, resting his head on his hand. His gaze is focused on the newspaper. Frowning, he finishes the amber liquid in the glass in one gulp. He calls the bartender with a wave of his hand:

—Same again, please. 

Pouring whiskey, a bartender gazes at the newspaper:

—It's such a horrific murder, isn't it? Doesn't it mean that the police were wrong ten years ago? 

Biting his lip, the man tries to brush aside the bartender's words, who continues to speak anyway:

—By the way, it happened just after the investigator who solved this crime got the position of chief of police. He didn't stay in this position for a long time, heh.

Pawing a hand through the hair, the man finally breaks the silence: 

—Every person has the right to make mistakes. 

—But in this case, his mistake led to an innocent person's death! He killed the so-called serial killer during detention. 

The man shudders after these words. His mistakes follow him even in this godforsaken bar. The bartender still continues to talk, but he stares straight ahead and thinks about what he did wrong. Was there any chance not to shoot or conduct the investigation more carefully? The ringing of the phone breaks him from his thoughts:

 - A chief of police Jaxon Ross is listening. Press conference? Of course, I am ready to give answers to all questions. I am aware of the seriousness of the situation. I`ll be there in 30 minutes. 

Putting the money on the table, he leaves the bar, avoiding the questions from the bartender. Riding to the police department he remembers changing from civilian clothes to uniform. Albeit for a short time, he is still the chief of police. The case, thanks to which his career went up, returns ten years later and totally destroys him, both morally and physically. He is not ready to listen to the journalists` accusations and the word “murder” to his side. He knows it without their stupid remarks. Even solving a crime won't bring a person's life back. But that is the only thing he can do now. An ideal life can be ruined in one moment and the mark of the murderer can be on the law-abiding citizen. 

Part 2

The picture shows a woman's body in a silk red dress with a blood puddle spread beneath her. Jaxon is looking at this picture and thinking that it accurately repeats the serial murders ten years ago. At that time he was only a police sergeant and it was the first time when he was entrusted to investigate a serious case. He and his partner Aaron thoroughly inspected these murders. Every time the killer's victim was the same: a lonely young woman who lives near the university campus. They weren't raped, just murdered in their flats. 

The door of his office opens, letting in the cool breeze he needs. 

—Have you already looked over this case? - Aaron sits down in the chair opposite him. 

—Certainly. - Jaxon sighs, looking through the papers. 

—What do you think? Might it be just the imitator?

—I don't think so. Everyone knew that the killer dressed them in silk dresses before killing them, but the information about the murder weapon was hidden. This woman is also killed with a stiletto knife. Abdominal stab wounds were fatal to her. Anyhow, I`m going to the archive to look through the papers of that murders. Maybe, we missed some details. 

Jaxon gets up from his chair, letting Aaron know the conversation is over. He has to focus on this murder and find out the truth. 

The police archive is situated on the first floor of the police department. It's an old room that is littered with stacks of papers. An old woman greets the chief of police and gives him the necessary papers. Looking through them, Jaxon doesn`t notice any contradictions. The serial killer was a student who lived on the university campus. His psychological portrait fully corresponds to this. His mother was cruel to him and because of his background, he committed these brutal murders. He was a sociopath who hated women. The one thing that seems strange to him is that some papers in this report are missed. He asks the archive worker to give him a full report. 

—But that is all we have. By the way, it is hard to work when people take the reports and then put them in another place. I barely found this one, - the woman spreads her hands. 

—Do you want to say that someone has already taken them before me? - he frowns.

—Everything points to it. 

Such a remark alarmed him. Who needs ten-year-old papers? 

In an attempt to find out, he requests video from surveillance cameras. Jaxon also tries to check the video footage from cameras on the street where the murder took place, but is told that the police have already removed the footage. It would be a normal thing if the police had this footage. But no one knows where it is now. 

Jaxon calls Aaron to his office to share his guess:

—Maybe someone else had access to the archive, who is not from the police, and he committed this murder. After all, why does this killer return only after ten years? It's pointless to wait so long. 

 - Your guess is probably correct. Let me check it. 

At that time, the assistant comes to the office to give the recent reports about the murder. 

 - Sorry for so long. Good afternoon Aaron! You must have already told the chief all the information. 

Jaxon wants to clarify:

—What do you mean? Aaron doesn't have the access to this case. He only gives me advice as he`s my old friend.

His assistant looks up in surprise:

 - But he told me that he also investigated this murder and asked for all materials connected with it.

Aaron is blushing to try to justify himself. However, Jaxon has already realised the full picture of the crime. Everything comes together. Only a policeman has access to the archive, and Aaron knows better than anyone else how these murders were committed. But the one thing is unknown to him: Aaron's motive. 

—You didn't have any cases to investigate recently, but you also came to the archive, didn't you? For what reason?

Aaron is averting his gaze from him, but answers the question:

—It was necessary to clarify some details from the previous case. Jaxon, are you kidding me? Do you suspect me? We have been working together for over ten years!

Jaxon starts screaming:

—That's why I can't understand you! You are my friend and I always trust you. 

—A friend? Come on, do you believe in this bullshit? I was the one you owe your career to. We investigated that crime together, but only you were rewarded and promoted. Now you have been appointed chief of police. This position should have gone to me, but I will always remain in the shadow of your glory. Because of this murder, you should have been removed from the post of police chief.

Jaxon can`t believe what Aaron is saying. He always believed that they were friends and that he was happy about his successes. But this man committed murder out of jealousy. At least, he knows the killer's motive, and this is the most important thing for a policeman.