Kane (20 page)

I shook my head.  “Just peripherally.”

“Has anyone here?”

Silence.

“Unfortunately, I’ve been intimately involved in two such cases,” said Berns.  “One years back in Seattle, and another more recently in San Diego.  I say unfortunately because on both occasions the killer was never caught.”

“Not much of a track record,” Barrello remarked.

“No.  But I learned some things.  One is that it can take years to apprehend a repeat killer, if he’s captured at all.  And then—no offense, Detective Kane—when he
is
caught, it’s often pure dumb luck.  You’re up against a murderer who’s smart, organized, and killing strangers with no motive other than sexual gratification.  Do you think you’ll find him with what you’ve got so far?”

“No,” I admitted.  “We’ll probably need to see him do it again.  Maybe more than once.”

“You’ll get your chance, of that I’m certain,” promised Berns.  “So if
anything
I have to say—even one small
thing—can help in your investigation, isn’t it worth a listen?”

“You’ve made your point,” I conceded.  “Go ahead.”

“Good.  I’ll try to make it quick,” said Berns dryly.  “And not mention any brick houses.”

I smiled.  “Fair enough.”

Berns lit another Marlboro.  “First, I want to cover some background on the type of man for whom you’re searching, then move on to particulars.  To begin, what you’re up against isn’t new.  There have been more than 150 documented cases of serial killers since the eighteen hundreds, and the FBI currently estimates there are thirty to fifty serial killers now active in the United States.  The number may actually be even higher than that.  Of the twenty thousand homicides reported yearly, over five thousand go unsolved—more than enough for a host of serial killers to slip through the cracks.

“With few exceptions, FBI statistics show that most serial killers are white males in their late twenties to early forties.  Typically they act alone and rarely cross racial boundaries in their choice of victims.  Despite what you see in the movies, sexual gratification is almost always their motive, and because they usually prey on low-profile, forgotten segments of the population like runaway kids, drug addicts, and prostitutes, few are ever caught.  These men typically come from abusive family backgrounds.  Usually there’s one dominant and one passive parent, with incidents of cruel discipline, either substantive or perceived, along with physical and sexual abuse, rejection, and isolation.”

Noting my look of impatience, Berns added, “Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not trying to excuse your killer’s actions.  Many in my field would disagree, but in my opinion these types of monsters are born, not made—with environmental factors simply bringing out traits already present.”

Berns stopped to knock ash from his cigarette, then pushed ahead.  “Childhood excitement caused by blood and violence is common, as is playing with fire, bedwetting, and the preadolescent torture of animals—the so-called homicidal triad.  Early on, sadistic and sexual pleasure are fused in the killer’s psyche, with his first human killing usually taking place in his late adolescence or early twenties.  For him, this initial murder is like a great meal, a wonderful piece of music, a first love.  Subsequent killings are often an attempt to recapture that moment—to relive the smell, the taste, the thrill of that first experience.  Ritual is typically important, as are rigorous rules and disciplines for his killings.”

“Why’s that?” asked Deluca.

“Good question.  A lot’s been written on the subject.  Suffice it to say that your killer’s ritual probably centers on some twisted and possibly unconscious embodiment of his own psychotic universe, thereby enhancing the pleasure of his acts.”

“He gets off on it,” Huff said.

“Correct, but perhaps in ways you or I couldn’t comprehend.”  Berns glanced briefly at his notes and continued.  “Operating on the premise that behavior reflects personality, FBI forensic analysts have divided serial killers into two broad categories:  organized and disorganized.  Our man clearly falls in the organized classification, exhibiting methodical preparation in his pre- and postkilling activities.  Any psychological profile—or psychological autopsy, as most in the field are now calling them—of the killer for whom you’re searching will undoubtedly mention the following:  He’s a true psychopath, acting without compassion or remorse.  He’s a loner and probably incapable of normal sexual relationships, but he could be married and even have kids.  In this case I don’t think so,” Berns added.  “I’ll explain why later.  Another thing.  Although he dislikes people, your killer can mix well when necessary.  He’s able to compartmentalize his actions, leading a normal life in one area but being a heartless monster in another.  He feels justified in his killings and has elaborate rationales to excuse his crimes.”

“Like he thinks he’s doing the world a favor?” interjected Barrello.

“Right.  Along those lines, he’s undoubtedly also a pathological liar, changing versions of any event to suit his purpose.  Usually quite credibly, too.  If you catch him, neighbors will shake their heads and say they simply can’t believe it.  He seemed like such a nice fellow.”

Berns stubbed out his cigarette and continued.  “Last of all, despite his psychological abnormalities, your killer has a strong sense of self-preservation and is fully cognizant of the crimes he’s committing.  For this reason, within the boundaries of a comfort zone, he probably operates at a distance from his home, cruising for victims.  Often there’s a ‘stressor’ or ‘trigger’ event that pushes him over the edge—losing his job, a fight with a girlfriend or someone he knows, something like that.  In addition, most repeat killers feel superior to the police and others, and hold an arrogant conviction of their own giftedness and farsightedness.”

“Maybe we can use that,” I mused.

“Possibly,” said Berns.  “Anyway, to sum up your man’s attributes:  He’s a loner who’s probably incapable of normal sexual relationships, a man for whom the suffering of his victims creates a feeling of intense sexual arousal, and who likes to control whatever situation he finds himself in,
especially
when killing.  He plans and savors his murders, and creates meticulous rules to govern them.  He wears a mask, seeming calm and well adjusted outwardly, but inside he’s raging.”

“You said you didn’t think he was married,” I noted.  “Why?”

“The late hour of the murders and the lack of a discernible daily pattern—your man killed one family on a weekday and the other on a weekend.  Both suggest that he lives alone and doesn’t have to account to anyone for his presence.”

I nodded.  “You went over the crime reports.  Any thoughts on those you want to share?”

“A few,” said Berns.  “I suppose this is as good a time as any to delve into particulars, again with the caveat that what I’m about to say is educated speculation.  First, because serial killers rarely cross races, our man’s choice of victims indicates he’s white.  He knows the area, so he’s probably living in Southern California, most probably working at a job that doesn’t bring him in close contact with the public.  His ritual is advanced and highly developed, suggesting he’s killed before and is well along in his killing cycle.  Age is one of the hardest things to nail down, but I’d say he’s in his mid- to late thirties, although he could be older.  The complexity of his murder protocol, his suspected reconnoitering prior to killing, and the variations exhibited between the scenes—using a gun instead of a plastic bag to kill the Larson child, for instance, or disabling the garage lights in different manners, or varying the eyelid cuts—reveal our man to be highly intelligent.  I suspect, however, that this particular killing cycle is new to him.  He’s still improvising—perfecting his ritual, fantasy, whatever you want to call it.”

“I thought you said he had killed before,” objected Barrello.

“Not like this.  In the past he’s probably hidden his murders.  I suspect he’s entering a new phase, which in itself is extremely unusual.  Most repeat killers pick a routine and stick with it.”

“So why’s he changing?”

“The guy’s going public,” I answered.

“Exactly,” said Berns.  “His choice of high-profile targets, his symbolic act of leaving the victims’ front doors open, and his failure to conceal the bodies indicate a desire for recognition.  It’s something killers of his ilk often crave.  Along those lines, it’s common for them to save newspaper clippings and the like.  Some even try to assist in the investigation.”

“Offering their invaluable services as a witness,” said Barrello.

“Right.”

“Those of you manning the hotlines be on the lookout for anyone seeming overly helpful,” said Snead.

“Especially after the next murders,” added Berns.

“So we can expect him to kill again?” asked Snead.

“Without doubt.  The time interval between the first and second killings was twenty-five days.  Typically, we look for a decrease in the cooling-off period.”

“It’s been four days since the Palisades murders,” noted Huff.  “By your reckoning, if we don’t nail this guy in the next three weeks, he’s going to strike again.”

Berns nodded.  “Probably sooner than that.  In all likelihood, the brutality of the attacks will also escalate.  Another thing to look for—repeat killers routinely save trophies and souvenirs.  Your man is probably taking something from each of his victims.  A ring, an article of clothing, possibly even the missing body parts from the women.”

“I thought you said he was smart,” someone in the back noted.  “Keeping incriminating evidence doesn’t make sense.”

“True,” agreed Berns.  “It isn’t logical, but in this case our man can’t help it.  More than any other type of killer, serial murderers are driven by a desire to recapture the pleasure of their acts, often returning to the scene to gloat, savor the murders, even toy with the police.”

“Maybe that’s something we can use, too,” I said.  Then, to Snead, “How about putting some surveillance on the scenes?” I suggested, deciding not to mention that I had already requested a stakeout on the Larson residence.

“I’ll run it by Metro,” Snead said reluctantly.

“I’ll do the same on our end,” said Huff.  Then, turning back to Berns.  “Any religious significance to the candles found at the scenes?”

Berns shrugged.  “Possibly.”

“Or he could’ve brought them ’cause he knew he would be turning off the lights,” reasoned Barrello.

“What’s with the cut eyelids?” asked someone else.

Berns considered carefully.  “I don’t know.  If Kane’s supposition is accurate, the killer’s forcing the husbands to watch might indicate he needs a witness to whom he can prove himself.  He’s undoubtedly not only a sadist, but also a necrosadist—he has to see his victims die in order to achieve sexual satisfaction.  As his rage seems directed not only at women but toward entire families, mutilating the husbands and having them watch could play a part.”

I spoke up.  “What about what he did to the women?”

“When it comes to the wives, the mutilations and torture are the killer’s signature, the ‘why’ of his act,” answered Berns.  “For him, savaging the women is analogous to sexual intercourse, with the knife representing the penis.  The shallow cuts around the face and neck are made first, symbolizing foreplay.  The final deep thrusts represent orgasm, with the killer probably masturbating at that point, or possibly even having a spontaneous orgasm.”

“Sick bastard,” growled Barrello.

“The spermicidal gel and tissue tears in the vagina and anus attest to some type of penetration,” Berns went on, referring to one of the forensic findings covered earlier.  “Possibly penile.  But if so, it was most likely postmortem, with repeated episodes possible.  The absence of sperm can be explained by the use of a prophylactic.  Given the planning evident in other aspects of the crimes, I feel that if your man used a rubber, it was motivated by a desire to avoid leaving evidence and isn’t indicative of any squeamishness on his part.  Once again, it’s a sign of the premeditation typical in the work of an organized killer, differing from the spontaneous markers usually left by a spree-type murderer.  Placing the husbands’ bodies back in their beds and then covering his victims with a blanket might ordinarily suggest some sort of regret on the killer’s part.  In our case, I think it’s simply another part of his ritual.”

“Any significance to his murdering the children first?” asked Huff.

“I’m not certain,” Berns answered.  “We’ll know more when we’ve seen him kill again.  For now, we have a predatory, sexually motivated killer who’s presumably choosing his victims based on common physical or psychological characteristics.  Both women were attractive brunettes, married, and had children.  He finds them, stalks them, personalizes them, and plans the act.  Then, at a time of his choosing, he kills them.”

Again, the room fell silent.

“As Detective Kane observed earlier,” Berns concluded somberly, “the man for whom you’re searching enjoys watching people die.  He enjoys it a lot, and he will definitely do it again.”

14

M
om!  Brian’s looking at me!”

Julie Welsh found her daughter’s eyes in the rearview mirror.  “Heather,” she sighed, “if all he’s doing is
looking
at you …”