One Hundred and fifty

CHAPTER 150

Noel is initially confused by Nicholas' request, but Noel also believes that Nicholas must have thought about this seriously. This series of serial killings could be connected to each other, and they needed to find the common thread to put the missing pieces together.

"None of this started this year," Nicholas said thoughtfully. He pointed at the large white board in front of him and sighed. "It all started when we solved the death case at Golden High School a few years ago."

Hendrick and Peter, who were not handling the case, could only listen. They had heard about the case but weren't really involved as they were just regular cops. Meanwhile, Noel cocked his head when he saw Nicholas. Nicholas nodded reassuringly.

"Yes, that's right. Since all of this is related to Alicia, then everything should start from there. Golden High School!" Nicholas snapped his fingers in the air, then pointed at Peter. "Peter, please get the Golden High School serial killer file, it's on the case shelf. You'll have to look for it carefully."

"Yes, sir." Peter immediately got up from the chair, he left the meeting room as per Nicholas' request.

Nicholas then moved his body forward, he looked at Hendrick while rubbing his palms with confidence. Frowning, Nicholas continued. "You focus on the Ace case, but if you're free... you should also study that Golden High School case."

Noel suddenly spoke up, interrupting the conversation between Nicholas and Hendrick. "Is it because Alicia was involved in it, so you're thinking that this is a follow-up case that happened a few years ago? It happened about six or seven years ago, is it all still valid?"

"All those cases are related to Alicia and the first case that Alicia was involved in was when we were at Golden High. What was the name of the first victim, uhm, it was James, wasn't it? Then Elena, then Jake and finally... the attempted murder of Brittany."

A gasp of amazement was heard from Noel. He shook his head in amazement that Nicholas' memories were as neat as the books in the office library. "You even remember the exact order."

"After we solved the case at the high school, the murders continued at Alicia's college."

Hendrick gaped, staring at Nicholas in disbelief. "Why does death always surround your girlfriend, sir?"

"Is that sarcasm?" Nicholas chuckled, as Hendrick and Noel laughed softly. "Watch your language in front of Alicia, she'll take offense if you talk like that in front of her."

"I'm sorry, sir!" said Hendrick.

"Never mind, Nick. He's just joking around to loosen up our tense muscles, don't take it too seriously." Noel intervened. After all, he knew that Nicholas wasn't really angry, he was just giving Hendrick a warning. "On that campus... didn't you say that Alicia's favorite lecturer was also the victim of a stocking murder?"

"That's it!" Nicholas snapped his fingers in the air, then pointed at the whiteboard. "And it's all... Ace's doing!"

"Are you trying to say that the current murder was also Ace's doing? I mean, the masked man, Jill and her daughter?" Noel asked, and Nicholas immediately nodded his head.

"We're going to catch Ace."

Noel frowned deeply. "But you said Amanda could be involved because she had a grudge with Alicia in the past."

Nicholas sighed, then massaged his head. "You're right about that. But Amanda never surfaced. She probably did disappear after running away from rehab, running away is good for someone who's been in trouble with the law and the police."

As tension simmered in the room, Noel could feel the weight of the past weighing on their current investigation. Nicholas was stern, a mix of determination and concern etched on his face.

"We must uncover what connects all these events," Nicholas continued, his gaze fixed on the blackboard as if the answers were etched into its surface. "It's a network that started with Alicia."

Noel nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "So you suspect a pattern, a longstanding connection between these tragedies and Alicia's history?"

"Exactly," Nicholas confirmed. "The sequence of events, the victims-everything points to her involvement, however indirectly."

Peter returned with the file, and as Nicholas flipped through it, memories flooded his mind. "Golden High was just the beginning. Every event that followed, every life lost or injured, seemed to be closely linked to Alicia's path."

Hendrick, still confused, interrupted, "But why is Alicia at the center of all this? "Nicholas sighed, exhaustion coloring his voice. "I wish I had an easy answer. But it's obvious that these events orbit around her, almost like a recurring motif in a tragic story."

Noel's mind raced. "Could this be revenge? Someone fixated on her, seeking revenge?"

"Perhaps," Nicholas mused. "However, recent events... they seem more calculated, almost like a twisted game."

"Which brings us to Ace," Noel added, putting the puzzle together. "The orchestrator behind this terrible show. Ace and Alicia... they're like glue and paper that can't be separated."

Nicholas squinted, looking at Noel disapprovingly. "When I hear you say that, it makes me feel uncomfortable."

Noel rolled his eyes lazily. "You don't need to be jealous. Ace is a killer. You don't want their love story to end like Harley Quinn and the Joker, or Bonnie and Clyde, do you?"

"Did you just romanticize their past, um?"

Noel laughed, he looked at Hendrick. "You see, Nicholas is starting to look like an irritable old man."

"Enough, let's get on with this investigation." Nicholas interrupted. He then pointed at Noel, "We're going to check all the CCTV around the beach today. Jill's body could be a clue to all the cases that have happened in the past. We can't afford to miss it."

"Does this apply to Jill's daughter?" Hendrick asked.

Nicholas' face changed, and he sighed softly. "Let the police do the funeral for her. She's been sick for a long time, it would be better to let her sleep peacefully beside Jill's grave. We don't need to autopsy the little girl."

"Yes, Chief."