Mhhh, how do you catch a serial killer? After several unsuccessful nights of just wandering around this creepy area trying to find out more about the serial killer and his habits, and of course finding him ourselves, we asked ourselves this question again and again.

We even watched videos, of famous cases and their arrests. But, that didn't get us one bit further. If the culprit was a werewolf or a vampire, it would be easy for us. If we knew what he looked like, it would be even easier. But we don't know anything.

As it turned out, the driver of the car that morning three days ago was simply a desperate father of one of the murdered women, who wanted to convict and catch the perpetrator on his own. And by catch him, he meant kill him.

Thanks to my informant at the police, his name and address could be determined from the license plate. We immediately went to the address, which was in a quiet suburb. The man, who is already 67 years old, lived alone in the house with his 43 year old daughter. His daughter was slightly mentally handicapped and had become blind in one eye after being hit by a car when she was a little girl. Her disability was not very bad. But she could not live alone either.

The man told us that for many years his daughter had longed for a man who would love her as she was. And therefore he allowed her to register in this online dating portal. After a few unsuccessful months, she finally met someone and had lively contact with him.

After a month, they wanted to meet for the first time. She told her father that she would meet him at a public place and that she wanted to go alone. She left in a cab on a Friday night and never came home. Three days later, her body was found. Her body had 21 stab wounds, severe defensive wounds and many bruises. She had bled to death, according to the coroner's report.

We already knew the coroner's report from the files we were allowed to see. Hearing it from the father's mouth, however, was much more gruesome than the pictures that were in the file. He cried, which was understandable, and told us that he had been searching for her killer since she was buried. He doesn't even know that there were 7 other victims besides his daughter. But we didn't tell him either because of confidentiality.

He showed us some of the chat histories he had printed out. The serial killer seems very charming, open and warm. He shows understanding for her disability and told her that he had an uncle who was also blind in one eye. In short, he manipulated her by telling her exactly what she wanted to hear. And so he gained her trust.

In these chat progressions it could also be seen how he acted more and more as if he couldn't wait to finally see her in person, to hold her in his arms and kiss her. Now it is clear that he had planned the murder of her long and thoroughly. But was that also the case with the other 7 victims?

After all, he killed 8 women in just two months. That doesn't leave much time for planning. Because the two officers from homicide told us that he took less and less time with the women he met online. The first murder must have excited him, he wanted to feel the sensation again and again. That's probably why he took less and less time.

Maybe he is sexually impotent and could only get an arousal this way. However, none of the victims showed signs of rape. Or his past could be playing a big role. Usually such serial killers have been victims of abuse and violence themselves, mostly by their own families. Either way, he is a killer and he enjoys killing.

His last murder was about 2 weeks ago now. That means he will strike again fairly soon. I'm sure he won't be able to take it much longer before he has to kill again. And we took it upon ourselves to stop him. But, unfortunately, we were too late. Yesterday morning another woman's body was found. Again dumped in the same place where he had dumped the others. And the body had probably been there for two days.

But how could he get there? We kept an eye on the street itself. And we installed several surveillance cameras around the night cafe and the streets around it. But they didn't record anything suspicious. So there was only one conclusion left! The serial killer had to be somewhere around there.

However, there is not much there. It's almost all just fallow land. Here and there a few bushes and trees. Half a mile away is a small forest. But we've looked around there too and haven't found anything. There are also no houses there where he could hide. And there was no smell of blood anywhere.

So Zhan and I went there again today. This time it was already noon. Luckily it rained the whole time and so I could move freely outside.

We walked the entire route from the night café, to where the body was found. Nothing, no traces, no smell of blood, nothing at all.

Then we walked in ever decreasing circles around the area. Also around the small forest. But there was just nothing! And then when Zhan said, "It's like he's disappeared into thin air." I finally understood what our mistake was.

"Zhan! We only looked forward and around us. But didn't look down!"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you remember that we saw that big heavy flap near where the body was found?"

"Sure. The access to an underground electronics facility owned by the power company."

"Right. What if our serial killer isn't driving around in a car or carrying the bodies around? What if he just has to bring them upstairs?"

"Oh now I get it. You mean he could be hiding down there?"

"Yes."

"Let's call the power company and see if they're still using the electronic system down there."

"Uh-huh." I immediately called the power company and learned that the electrical system had been decommissioned 5 years ago and replaced with a more modern one.

With our new suspicions, we also contacted Homicide. Even if this facility has been abandoned, it is still the property of the electric company and we cannot simply enter there. And also, if the serial killer is down there, or has killed down there, Zhan and I could destroy important evidence if we just go in there.

So we called the detectives, and they got a search warrant. Along with an electric company employee, the officers arrived there an hour later. The electric company employee went to unlock the door and was surprised to find that the lock had been changed.

The officers then used a special tool to open the lock. And when they opened the door, we were all met by a beastly stench. The electric worker had to throw up immediately. The officers held cloths over their mouths and noses and asked us to wait outside. I had little desire to go in there and preferred to press my nose against Zhan, who smelled so wonderful.

Shortly after the officers went down the steps, we heard shouting and scuffling. Two officers came upstairs with a man who was naked and whose body had been covered all over with blood. The smell almost drove me crazy, so Zhan took me aside and told me to drink from him. I did and quickly felt better.

The man was yelling and screaming. He tried to fight back against the officers. Several police cars came and two ambulances. One ambulance for the man because no one could tell if he was hurt anywhere. And one for a woman who was to be his next victim. She had been completely undressed by him and he inflicted several cuts on her. Apparently he then rubbed his body with her blood.

The stench came from all the blood that had come from his previous victims and had been stored by him in several tons. What a disgusting pig! And yet he looks more like an average guy. Anyway, when you look at him, you don't get scared. There you see it again. You can't judge a person by his appearance!

Zhan and I went back to the office and only slowly began to realize that thanks to our help, the serial killer was really caught! And that was only because Zhan brought a standard line and said he had disappeared into thin air. That's when it clicked for me. Mhhh, maybe I am a better private detective than I thought. Even though this was just my emergency solution to get back to work, I seem to be pretty good at it. Zhan, too, of course! I owe him a lot.

When we went home that evening, the two officers from Homicide were already waiting for us. Why didn't those assholes come to the office and wait outside my apartment door instead?

We went to the apartment and the officers handed me a cash check in the amount of 250,000 yuan! Which was even 100,000 yuan more than agreed. The higher amount is meant as a kind of reward. And then they asked us if it was okay for us to be mentioned by name in an article about the serial killings. Since it was thanks to us that the serial killer was caught.

"Um, yes of course." I said. Zhan and I then had to take our statements as to how we finally figured out where he was. I explained, saying how Zhan put me up to it with that standard line. The one officer whose face I wanted to punch when I first saw him suddenly started laughing hard and seemed much more sympathetic. He probably seemed so grim because he was so preoccupied with the case.

When the two of them had our statements and we had talked through everything else, Zhan and I walked them to the door. And as they were leaving, the Silent Officer looked at Zhan and handed him his business card. "If you ever feel like having dinner with me, just get in touch." He said and left.

Zhan closed the door, I held out my hand and he put the business card on my hand. "I wasn't planning to call him." Said Zhan.

I tore the business card into tiny pieces and kissed Zhan. "I know. You already have your cute little vampire, after all."

"Mmm. Which wasn't cute at all just now."

"Sorry."

"Oh, don't be, Yibo. I thought it was good. You're defending what's yours."

"Exactly. Nobody else can have my wolf but me."

"Is that so?"

"Sure. Um Zhan?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm hungry."

"Do you want me to heat up some blood for you?"

"No. Are you cooking that soup with lots of meat again today?"

"Do you like to eat it?"

"Yes please."

"But then you'll have to help me."

"Sure, I'd love to."

"It's really good for you, isn't it?"

"Yes. It warms my tummy from the inside and I feel full."

"I'm glad we found something you tolerate so well."

"And it's very tasty, too."

"Thank you. I made an extra effort with it, too."

"I know. And I'm really grateful to you for that. You do so many things for me and really make me all around happy."

"I'm happy to do that Yibo. Now let's start cooking. You cut the meat."

"Okay." I replied.

I followed Zhan into the kitchen and enjoyed another perfectly normal evening with him. An evening, as it is normal for couples. We're actually already a couple, aren't we?

As soon as Zhan's grandfather is back, I talk to him about my dreams. Which has gotten better in the last few days. But, I want to ask him if he knows if there is a way that Zhan and I can be a couple and I won't end up all alone later once Zhan is gone.

And, I made up my mind that after talking to Zhan's grandfather, I will talk to Zhan and finally confess my feelings to him. No matter what comes out of the conversation with Grandfather Xiao, I want to finally tell Zhan how I feel about him.

For now, I will spend the rest of my evening with Zhan and tomorrow night we will finally be able to pick up my brother from the airport. I am really looking forward to seeing him.