SrCuervo

28

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 28 - Choice

After hearing the answer he feared, Jack shook his head and looked at Larry once more. In his eyes, he could only see great determination and a desire he had never seen in him before.

"Even if you had refused, it would be impossible for me to let you stay in this place forever." Jack felt that Larry's skills were being wasted here, where at most there were one or two interesting cases.

“Well, this month I’ve handled two cases. Do you know about that?” La...

27

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 27 - The Meeting

After that meeting with Dexter, night slowly fell, and the time came to meet with Jack.

Rgh!

The sound of the Suzuki GSX-R1000 motorcycle engine roared pleasantly as Larry sped down the road. About half an hour later, he parked outside a building. At the entrance, two soldiers were waiting to guide him.

Larry turned off the engine and removed his helmet.

“Larry Luk?” Two men in black suits approached him and questioned him while eyeing the...

26

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 26 - An Unexpected Visit

“Ah, damn it, it looks like I’ll never get used to this…”

A few minutes later, Larry had managed to calm down, but his expression showed how furious he was. Somehow, he had to channel all that hatred, guilt, and fury into something, or he couldn’t even imagine what he might do.
 Ever since he became a criminal profiler and a pathologist studying how countless murderers committed their crimes, he had discovered a bottomless iceberg of c...

25

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 25 - Trying to Be Someone Normal

Larry had always tried to be someone normal, a solitary young man who adapted to the circumstances of his life. He was independent, rarely placing himself in the hands of strangers.

But truth be told, his life was truly difficult.

When his family was murdered by that man, he lost everything. A part of him died that night, and for a time, he felt guilty for not having died alongside them.

If only he had died, would it really have been...

24

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 24 - Returning to Normal

Blood Analysis Office

Dexter was silent, lost in thought about the events of the past few days.

"This is very bad..."

Larry always seemed like a meticulous guy to me, but now I see him differently—he’s a predator in his own game. A profiler who doesn’t just analyze but dissects the minds of criminals with terrifying precision. And the worst part is, he’s too close to me. His intuition is dangerous, his ability to connect patterns alm...

23

Anatomy of a Killer

 Chapter 23 - The Girl in the Woods, Part 12

Captain Matthews burst into the interrogation room.

Larry, on the other hand, opened his backpack, found the first aid kit, took out an adrenaline injection, and rushed into the room.

As the officers unlocked Valeria’s handcuffs, Larry lifted the adrenaline injection and precisely inserted the needle into the girl's leg.

"You won’t die, not after staining your hands with the blood of two innocent lives. You’ll live through everything you...

22

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 22 - The Girl in the Woods, Part 11

Captain Matthews nodded at Ángel's observation and explained, "You asked the right question, but we previously analyzed the students' group chats, and the content is interpreted in a much simpler way."

Larry looked at the color-printed screenshots that the captain handed him. At first glance, the messages didn’t seem to reveal anything significant:

Valeria: "Aren’t you coming to the gathering?"

Greta: "Yes, I think so."

21

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 21 - The Girl in the Woods, Part 10

"Let’s pray the killer wore a skirt or pants!" Ángel said as he watched Larry nearly finish his work.

The comment, though sarcastic, reflected the team's uncertainty. They had no idea to whom the collected sample belonged. They couldn't even determine if it came from a man or a woman.

The beam was immediately sent for analysis.

Max grabbed a vial containing a cotton swab and hurried to inspect it meticulously.

Meanwhile, ...

169

Wind in the Smoke

Chapter 169 - Getting to Work

Life on the ranch goes on, and there’s always plenty of work to do—even if you’re the owner of the largest ranch in the country.

Right now, the warming weather wasn’t too noticeable, but Dante, who had spent a lot of time in the mountains, felt that every day away from them was growing hotter.

That could only mean one thing: spring was approaching.

On the ranch, Lee and the others were also working in an orderly manner. They had begun t...

168

Wind in the Smoke

Chapter 168 - Spending Time with Family

Everyone closest to Dante had gathered at his house, leaving behind any obligations. No one worried about their commitments at the ranch or managing businesses.

This day was special for the Dutton family; no one wanted to ruin it.

“I thought you wouldn’t come, old friend. Is that a gift you’re holding?” John questioned Emmett Walsh as he arrived with his wife, carrying a large present in his arms.

Emmett set the gift aside wit...

167

Wind in the Smoke

Chapter 167 - Returning to the Ranch

Dante returned to his family's ranch grounds and immediately felt the cold lessen compared to the snowy mountains. Although many were used to the cold, it was still considered a harsh environment for the workers.

Fortunately, Dante was very familiar with the cold—quite well, in fact. If he weren’t, he wouldn't have survived these past few days in the Montana mountains hunting wild beasts.

Looking at Susie, who was waiting for him at the first spot where he...

20

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 20 - The Girl in the Woods, Part 9

Lieutenant LaGuerta’s Office, Homicide Division

LaGuerta reviewed the report with a stern expression. After reading Larry’s statements, she looked up and asked firmly:

“Forensic Doctor Luk, are you completely sure about this?”

“Yes, we all are,” Larry replied without a shred of doubt in his investigation.

The evidence on the table spoke for itself. Camila had died clutching a small piece of white leather in the sh...

19

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 19 - The Girl in the Woods, Part 8

After completing the necessary paperwork and informing Lieutenant LaGuerta of what they needed, Ángel quickly returned to find out what they were dealing with in this case.

Recently, Larry had influenced their way of investigating, and Ángel had developed a great interest in anatomy. The way a criminal profiler like Larry viewed things taught him a lot about improving his own approach to work.

Masuka, who had arrived early and was the ...

18

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 18 - The Girl in the Woods, Part 7

"I wasn’t expecting this..." Ángel had thought that Camila was the best candidate to be the prime suspect in the murder. Not only had she lied about being Nicolás' girlfriend, but her relationship with the victim was uncertain.

I knew we had to insist on interrogating those students one by one. Larry was irritated by cases where children were involved, whether as victims or criminals. There were far more restrictions compared to cases invo...

17

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 17 - The Girl in the Woods, Part 6

Larry looked at the information in his personal notebook and sighed with some fatigue; he had found little from his first interview.

Alejandro was a boy who maintained a close friendship with Greta Mayer, the victim of a violent murder. During the interview, he presented himself as reserved and reluctant to share details about his relationship with Greta, though he did not display signs of extreme anxiety or the evasive behavior typical of som...

16

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 16 - The Girl in the Woods, Part 5

Alejandro finally stopped shaking his legs and looked at the two people sitting in front of him. "Of course I know her."

"That girl's mother told us you were good friends. Is that true?"

Alejandro nodded, not wanting to say much, and replied, "Yes, we've been going to the same school since first grade, and we've even shared classes. I could even say we were in preschool together."

"Is it the same for them?" Sergeant Doakes looked a...

166

Wind in the Smoke

Chapter 166 - The Quiet Road

In the open space before Dante, a large wolf—almost as big as a leopard—staggered toward him, baring its sharp fangs and revealing its long, blood-red tongue.

This was an old wolf, as indicated by the silver fur beneath its ears. At least, that’s what Dante had learned from his family over the years.

But he didn’t underestimate this old wolf, as his sharp instincts told him that it concealed a fierce nature.

Throughout the time he had tr...

165

Wind in the Smoke

Chapter 165 - Hunt

Montana Wildlife Area, Centennial Mountains, United States, 2018.

The mountains and plains were covered in white snow, and the constant mountain wind lifted gusts of snow that struck the face of a bearded man.

This man stood over six feet tall, had a burly physique, robust limbs, and was, without a doubt, everything a man could grow to be in adulthood.

At the moment, it seemed that the only benefit of hunting was that it distracted his mind from all the p...

15

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 15 - The Girl in the Woods, Part 4

In no time, the group of detectives, followed by Larry, arrived at the Mayer family home.

The Mayer family lived in a grand mansion in an exclusive neighborhood, covering nearly three thousand square meters.

For this couple working in a government office, the price of such a house was obviously beyond their financial means.

“We're looking for items most closely related to the victim. Remember not to touch anything with your hands b...

14

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 14 - The Girl in the Woods, Part 3

Larry crouched so the woman, sitting on a sofa outside the waiting room, could look him in the eyes. Trying to soften his voice, he said, “Ma’am, don’t cry just yet. Sit here and wait for the comparison results. Maybe it’s not time to worry yet!”

Mistakes were common, even more so in desperate situations like this. When trying to determine the identity of a minor victim, errors could be made very easily.

Ángel, on the other ha...

13

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 13 - The Girl in the Woods, Part 2

Max opened the door and stepped out. At the same time, Masuka, who looked quite aggravated, was pushed forward by Ángel.

As the head of the pathology division, Masuka had made it clear that he wouldn’t work on the cases Larry studied to avoid conflicts of opinion.

It was well known that Larry despised forensic experts who overlooked small details, which had caused some dissatisfaction in the pathology division.

"Ángel, you've see...

12

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 12 - The Girl in the Woods, Part 1

Larry felt the anger and tension building in his head, making his pulse race. There was nothing to study here—this crime was pure, unchecked brutality, nothing that a smart person would do.

A murderer this ruthless couldn't be left free for long.

"It looks like you need help, brother." Masuka approached, followed by Dexter, to analyze the crime scene.

"Ask us for anything. We'll help you."

Larry looked at Dexter, who said, ...

11

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 11 - A New Case

January 2, 2006, 6:30 AM

At Oleta River State Park, west of the city, near Miami-Dade County, Florida, a slender leg appeared in the grass near a spot where runners passed daily.

At first glance, it showed a knife wound, dense purple-black bloodstains, white bones, and pale skin, creating a shocking visual impact for whoever stumbled upon the body.

Judging by the shape of the legs, the deceased was a young woman.

“Establish a...

10

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 10 - Medusa

The next morning, Captain Thomas Matthews rushed to the homicide department.

When he opened the door, he only found Masuka talking with Ángel while they sipped coffee, but Larry was nowhere to be seen.

"Has the forensic doctor Luk not arrived yet?"

Ángel quickly stood up from his desk and said, "Dr. Luk is here. He just stepped outside for a smoke. Do you need me to leave him a message?"

"No, just remind Luk not to act recklessly in his investiga...

9

Anatomy of a Killer

Chapter 09 - More About Larry Luk

Late at night, Miami Metropolitan Police Department.

Lieutenant María LaGuerta’s Office.

Sergeant Doakes entered her office and asked, "Are you really going to tell me who Larry Luk is and why we have him in our department?"

"Originally, he was just a forensic specialist assigned directly to the pathology department, but his skills as a criminal profiler shouldn’t be wasted. He has already proven what ...