Adrian spent the entire day reading books in the library. At night, after a meal consisting of pasta cooked by Hwang Nam (with a touch of Ireland, as she’d called it), he found himself in his room. He was sitting on the chair, staring at the textbook and the pen on the table. He contemplated writing for a while before deciding not to do so. Instead, he changed to his pyjamas he’d found in the locker downstairs and lay down on the bed.
He started making a mental list of everyone in the mansions; it was the same thing he had been considering putting on paper before deciding he could do it just as well mentally.
Akiko Akiyama
Antoine Gustavo
Eun-Kyung Im
Hwang Nam
John Hunter
Kel Brady
Raj Tripathee
Richard Finn
Raven Bertelsen
Shanice Miller
Tharonby had been killed because she had correctly identified him as the detective. At first, he had toyed with the thought of either Hunter or Raven being the killer as both of them had been in the adjoining room when he was confronted by Tharonby. But, he later surmised, since the mansion was full of hidden speakers from where their murderer made the announcements, it wasn’t far-fetched to think that it was also completely rigged. Anyone on that list could have eavesdropped on them if that was the case.
He listed the names again. Would the murders be alphabetical?
Too predictable.
He made another list.
Akiko Akiyama - Air Hostess
Antoine Gustavo - Actor (Theater)
Eun-Kyung Im - Restaurant Owner
Hwang Nam - Cleaner
John Hunter - Teacher (Science)
Kel Brady - Auditor
Raj Tripathee - Assistant Professor (Biologist)
Richard Finn - Banker
Raven Bertelsen - Customer service (retail)
Shanice Miller - Shopkeeper (Shop owner)
The highest paying job would be Eun-Kyung’s? The lowest paid would probably be Raven. They could be killed in that order, Adrian thought. Or the reverse.
He shook his head.
There were too many variables in this method for the killer to determine whom to kill next unless the killer knew the exact salary of each. Even then, it would be unfair to Adrian, the detective, and he was sure the killer wouldn’t want that. It wouldn’t make the game ‘fun’ as the killer had said. No, the killer would surely go for a more straightforward method. A method the killer would be sure that Adrian could figure out without such personal details about the individuals.
Another list.
Akiyama, Akiko
Bertelsen, Raven
Brady, Kel
Finn, Richard
Gustavo, Antoine
Hunter, John
Im, Eun-Kyung
Miller, Shanice
Nam, Hwang
Tripathee, Raj
Would they be killed in order of their last names? The first victim would either be Akiko or Raj, depending on whether the killer preferred ascending or descending order.
Adrian took a deep breath and cleared his mind.
He knew he would not be able to save the next victim.
Or the next few ones after that.
He made a mental note not to feel guilty for failing to save them, whoever they may end up being. That was something that was completely out of his hands. But he would have to make sure that their deaths would not be meaningless. He would have to catch the killer.
He had nine more days. It would be more than enough.
ns 15.158.61.5da2
