Silent: A serial killer story

Hensley is at home eating dinner with his wife Linda. They were eating nothing special just egg fried rice with some wine. Hensley looked a little more disheveled than he used to, in the eyes of Linda.

"How is the case going Hensley?" Linda asked, her tone curious with the slightest hint of concern.

Hensley glanced at Linda. "Not good you can see on the News yesterday the f***ker killed a tenth grader."

Linda set her fork down, her face etched with worry. "I saw that. Ridgewood High, right? It's awful. Those poor parents... How are you holding up?"

Hensley leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his already tousled hair. "Barely. This case—it's like chasing a ghost. Every time we think we've got something solid, the bastard's already ten steps ahead. And the damn owl figure he leaves behind? It's like he's mocking us."

Linda reached across the table, resting her hand gently on his. "You'll get him, Hensley. You always do. But you need to take care of yourself too. You can't let this case eat you alive."

Hensley gave her a faint smile, though it didn't reach his tired eyes. "I know. It's just...this one's different. It's personal. He's not just killing; he's playing a game, and he knows we're watching. That Ridgewood kid? That was a move to throw us off. He knew we'd have to divert resources."

Linda frowned. "What do you mean, personal? Do you think he's targeting you or the department?"

Hensley shook his head. "Not me specifically, but he's enjoying the chase. He knows we're desperate to catch him, and he's using that against us. The bastard's smart, Linda. Too smart."

Linda squeezed his hand. "You're smart too, Hensley. And you have Collins. You two make a great team."

Hensley chuckled softly, the first real laugh he'd managed in days. "Collins keeps me sane, I'll give him that. But even he's starting to feel the pressure. We've got nothing—no solid leads, just one suspect that most likely didn't do sh*t"

Linda leaned back, picking up her wine glass. "You'll figure it out. You always do. Just...don't lose yourself in the process, okay?"

Hensley raised his glass in a mock toast. "To not losing myself."

Linda clinked her glass against his. "To catching that bastard."

******

Ethan is eating dinner with his family. His dad Keith a plumber that barely makes it through because of 'Nerss Pipelines' after that no self employed plumber made more then a few hundred dollars a week. 

Next to his dad was his mom Ellias. She was old and worked as a maid in in the Nerss Manor she usually just cleaned the floor and at times she'd get tipped by the staff or guests who visited the lavish estate. At times Sarah or Daniel himself.

She tries a lot to get shifts during times when Sarah is around or when Daniel is not hanging out with his friends or in his basement that probably costs more than their entire house because when Sarah is around, she's kinder, often leaving generous tips or even giving Elias leftover food or clothes.

But when Daniel is around, it's a different story. The boy has a way of watching people, quiet and unsettling, like he's sizing them up for something. Elias always felt uneasy in his presence, though she'd never admit it. It was just a job, after all and he gave generous tips a few hundred at times.

Her hands were rough and calloused from years of scrubbing, and her face carried the lines of someone who had worked tirelessly to provide for her family.

Ethan's sister, Olivia, sat beside him. At seventeen, she was doing her best to juggle school, part-time work, and endless college applications in the hope of escaping the cycle of poverty their family was stuck in.

Her dream was to become a nurse, a goal she clung to desperately, but every time she looked at the stack of rejection letters or unresponsive scholarship applications, her hope dimmed a little more. 

"How was work today, Dad?" Olivia asked, breaking the heavy silence. 

Keith sighed, setting his fork down. "Same as always. Barely made enough to cover gas. 'Nerss Pipelines' got the big contracts locked down. Nobody calls us unless it's something they can't get done cheap with one of their guys." 

"Maybe things will pick up," Elias said softly, though her voice carried no conviction. She glanced at Ethan. "How was you're day today, Ethan? Anything interesting happen?" 

Ethan shrugged, twirling his fork in the watery sauce. "Not really. Just the usual saturday." 

He kept his face neutral, his tone normal, but inside, his mind was racing. He thought about the discussion with Jamie and Oliver earlier. The plan to rob the Nerss Manor. The plan was full-proof in his mind he had thought through everything the security, the cameras and the staff.

"You've been quiet lately," Olivia said, eyeing him suspiciously. "What's going on with you?" 

"Nothing," Ethan replied quickly, a little too quickly. He shoved a forkful of spaghetti into his mouth to avoid further questions. 

Keith grunted, picking up his glass of water. "Probably just bored. Kids these days don't know what to do with themselves. You don't know how easy you've got it, Ethan. When I was your age, I was already working summers with my old man just to keep food on the table." 

"Keith," Elias said softly, her tone chiding. 

Keith sighed and waved her off. "I know, I know. Just...times are tough. I just want you kids to understand that nothing comes easy. You have to work for what you want." 

Ethan clenched his jaw, his dad's words striking a nerve. He wanted to yell, to tell his dad that no matter how hard they worked, it wasn't enough—not with the system stacked against them.

But he stayed silent, swallowing his frustration along with another bite of bland spaghetti. 

"Maybe we'll catch a break soon," Elias said, trying to sound hopeful. She forced a smile. "Sarah Nerss gave me some leftovers yesterday it's steak and sourdough toast. There's enough for lunch tomorrow. At least we don't have to worry about that." 

As the conversation drifted into small talk, Ethan tuned it out. His mind was already elsewhere, thinking about the Nerss Manor, about the wealth hidden behind its pristine walls, and about how he was going to make sure his family got their share—even if it meant breaking the law.

******

Daniel sat in the back seat of the sleek black town car, his eyes fixed on the cityscape passing by. The chauffeur, an older man with silver hair and a stoic demeanor, drove silently, the faint hum of the engine the only sound in the luxurious interior.

Daniel had just returned from the airport after seeing off, Sarah, who was on her way to Paris. As the plane took off, he had felt a twinge of something—relief, perhaps, or freedom. He loved Sarah but he didn't want her getting in the way of his... hobbies.

Now, seated comfortably in the car, that feeling simmered into something darker, something that brought a faint smile to his lips as he scrolled through his phone.

The streets of the city were alive with activity, the bustle of people oblivious to the predator in their midst. Daniel leaned back against the leather seat, his thoughts drifting.

The Owl killings were making headlines, and the panic they caused was palpable. Yet here he was, unnoticed, unsuspected, a tiger hiding in plain sight. 

The car pulled into the driveway of the Nerss Manor, its towering presence a stark contrast to the modest homes in the neighborhood. The gates opened smoothly, the sensors recognizing the vehicle. As they approached the house, the lights along the pathway flickered on, illuminating the meticulously maintained garden and the grand facade of the mansion.

The car came to a halt, and the chauffeur stepped out to open Daniel's door. "Welcome back, Mr Daniel," the man said with a polite nod.

"Thanks, Robert," Daniel replied, stepping out and adjusting his jacket. He made his way to the front door. 

Inside, the house was quiet, almost too quiet. The absence of his mother's presence was immediately noticeable, but Daniel didn't mind. In fact, he relished it. The solitude offered him the perfect opportunity to focus on his real interests.

He went to his room and just started to read his favourite novels, it was as if he didn't kill three people in less than a month. He was already planning for his next kill and his next trick.