Dark Illusion: A Psychological Thriller Novel Read Online Free

Sharon
reminded herself. Another profile, though less likely, suggested that the
killer was a woman who was making amends with her own sense of inferiority by
making other women, whom she deemed threatening, subordinate and uglier than
her. Since statistically only a small percentage of serial killers were women,
that lead did not seem very promising.
    In any case, thus far there had
been no evidence found which could confirm or refute any speculations, so they
remained completely theoretical – not good when you’re trying to solve a murder
case. Sharon sighed inwardly: she was in desperate need of a lead.
     
    The autopsy reports consistently showed that the injuries
sustained on the bodies had been made during the forty-eight hours prior to
their deaths, and that the joint damage indicated that they had been forcibly
tied. Residual Chloroform and GHB, also known as a date rape drug, had been
found in the victims’ systems, though Sharon knew there was no evidence for
sexual assault. It appeared that the killer wanted to make sure his victims
couldn’t fight back, which pointed out to a plausible physical disadvantage.
    But how did they end up in
this situation in the first place? Did the killer jump at them from behind? Or
perhaps he slipped the drug into their drinks? So that could mean they met him
willingly, and if so, then why? Different speculations came to Sharon’s
mind in an attempt to answer these questions. But she knew that there was no
point trying to take a stab at all of these vague conjectures. She should be
focused on actual facts. Only the problem was there weren’t any. Time was
breathing down her neck, and she definitely felt it.
    Suddenly she heard the voice of
her boss, Midtown South Precinct Captain, Rob Jackie.  
    “Davis, into my office, now.” His
icy voice dominated the room, imposing utter silence. A few officers, mostly Probies , glanced up in fear but then realized it wasn’t
their names being called.
    Sharon crossed the hall in a
speed that could have rivaled a marathoner, while gathering her long champagne
blonde hair into a round bun at the top of her head. She stepped into the
Captain’s office and closed the door behind her.
    “Is there something new?” she
asked, pushing strands of golden hair away from her ocean green eyes.
    “That’s exactly what I intended
to ask you, Davis, as the detective who is supposed to be in charge of this
case,” he answered rigidly.
    Supposed to be in charge? It looked like her situation was getting worse by the minute.
    He ignored her questioning
expression. “It’s been two months since the last murder. I would expect you to
have found something by now. Anything,” he sighed. “Do you have any leads?”
    “Well . . .” Sharon tried to
stall a little as she wondered what she could say that would distract her
commander from the fact that she had no news for him. “We’ve put together two
predominant profiles of the killer, and now I’m using them to find proof that
confirms one of the descriptions. I’m planning on going through the files
again; perhaps there’s something we missed.”
    “We already did that,” Rob
grumbled. “Goddammit, Davis, we need to show some kind of progress, and you’re
not delivering. Do you want us to wait until it’s too late and we have another
body on our hands? You don’t understand the kind of pressure I’m under. You
know this is one of the most covered events in the last two and half years,
which means if we don’t solve it soon our asses will be on the line. I can’t
continue covering for you anymore.” He stopped and took a deep breath. “If you
think you can’t handle it . . .”
    “Rob, we both know I can .
And you know nobody else could have gotten further with the slim evidence we
have,” she answered with confidence, though she didn’t feel it. In the last
year alone, four bodies had been found, and it was clear that the killer was
gaining more confidence and experience. Each