"Thank you..." Perkins didn't even look up from his steepled fingers as he heard it. He was leaning back in his chair with his elbows on the armrests, fingertips pressed together as he stared blankly at the surface of his desk. The papers he'd been working on earlier were set aside in a neat pile, signed and ready to be handed off to his superiors. Now was the time for brooding. The gentle tap on his coaster was enough to alert him to Colin's arrival with another coffee. It was late. Well beyond the end of his usual shift. Colin had remained with him, as he often did. He'd become a confidant of sorts over the past two years, a constant, loyal support.

"What are you thinking?" Something was eating at him. It didn't take a genius to see that. Perkins sighed as he lowered his arms and reached for the steaming mug. It was an old one. One of those Father's Day mugs that were common back in the 2020s. Back when he had regular contact with his children and a healthy marriage. The thought made his coffee taste more bitter than usual. He pursed his lips, still holding the mug as he sat back in his chair. His tie was loosened, the top button of his shirt popped, and his sleeves were rolled to the elbows. It was about as casual as he got at work, and only at night once most people had left. Colin was as put together as always, not a hair out of place.

"Just trying to figure it out..." Colin tilted his head in what he assumed was a programmed quirk. He'd seen Detective Anderson do it, too. "Sergeant Reed...What's the plan with him? At first, I thought we might find his body within the first few weeks, but now...He's kept him alive all this time, and it seems like he's making him do his dirty work now. Why? Getting off on the kill is his primary motivation, but he's giving that away at this point." That clarified things a little, but Colin was still confused. They had evidence that Sergeant Reed was involved, and that he may have landed the killing blow on multiple victims, but there wasn't a hundred percent certainty in that. Despite the thought, he humoured Agent Perkins.

"Perhaps he gains a certain level of power and satisfaction from forcing him to take part." Perkins nodded thoughtfully. It was possible. They knew he'd gained some level of pleasure from torturing him from afar, breathing his suffering like a wraith. Seeing it up close undoubtedly made him feel powerful, but was that all?

"You may not be far off...I just get the feeling there's more to it. It's almost like he's making him an active participant. An accomplice, of sorts." He didn't think Reed was willing, despite Detective Yates being their latest victim. The injuries on the other bodies they'd found, along with the blood, suggested it had been a life or death situation. Reed had fought for survival multiple times and come out on top. But the killing style has changed. He's not fighting anymore, he's executing. He still didn't believe he was taking part willingly, but it wasn't impossible.

"Is it possible that the Hickory Killer is training him? Creating his own successor?" Perkins breathed out slowly. He hadn't considered that. It wouldn't be unheard of, but cases like that were rare. So rare that he couldn't think of one off the top of his head. Serial killers were often solitary creatures, living for the thrill of the kill, unwilling to share the spoils. Why would it be important to the Hickory Killer to create a successor? He was already the most famous killer of his time. Would he really want to shine the spotlight on another? Then again, he didn't seem overly concerned during the early days of the copycat murders.

"It's extremely rare for that to happen, and I'm not sure the Hickory Killer is the type...His first series of murders were well thought out and methodical. Playing with Sergeant Reed was almost an afterthought the first time. He was completely focused on the murders, painting the perfect canvas, and leaving structured messages behind. The shift of focus to Reed was gradual...It's almost like there was a slowly building overlap in the pleasure he got from killing and the pleasure he got from leading Reed in circles." Colin could agree with that much. Until the fourth murder, there had been no express contact with law enforcement at all. Then he'd laid eyes on Reed. It was almost love at first sight. A very twisted version of the phenomenon. From there, a marked shift had occurred with the addition of letters and recordings alongside the wooden blocks. The wording had become more personal over time, shifting from Detective Reed to Gavin. Reviewing the letters, he found the tone became more and more possessive, especially after his extended break.

"The Hickory Killer completed his primary mission four years ago. The cycle was complete. Why did he return?" Colin asked, resting his hip on the edge of Perkin's desk and facing his chair. His arms were folded, leaving creases in his suit jacket, which was still buttoned.

"Everything we know points to Sergeant Reed. He came back specifically for him this time."

"But why?" Perkins hummed thoughtfully. It was a good question. They could rule out love right away. People like the Hickory Killer didn't understand the concept of things like love. There could be some underlying sexual connection, but from what they could tell, the Hickory Killer got his kicks from his kills. Could it be some form of dependency? A need for recognition? That also seemed unlikely. The Hickory Killer wasn't a child seeking approval. But he does want something...The problem was, he didn't know what. "From the previous twelve kills, it seems his business had concluded, but he came back."

"He returned around the same time as the Edward Morgan's first kill." That was true, but there was no sign he'd been concerned about that.

"Sergeant Reed mentioned getting his life back on track at around the same time." It seemed unlikely he'd come back just to knock Reed down again. If anything, he should have waited longer to make the fall even worse. Unless Edward Morgan forced his hand...Regardless, that didn't help them now. He must have taken Reed for something. What was it?

"He killed twelve people, traumatised Sergeant Reed, and disappeared. Then, he came back to play with him some more, targeting only androids."

"Sergeant Reed was exclusively working android homicides at that time. It made sense that would get his attention." Perkins was pleased to find they were on the same wavelength. It made bouncing theories a lot easier. "There has been a pattern of jealousy. Those he targeted were all close to Sergeant Reed or attempted to harm him." Edward Morgan had been slowly tortured to death and VB had been shot from a distance for daring to lay a finger on him. The androids he'd targeted had been close to Reed, and the level of closeness had increased over time.

"But now he's back to humans, and forcing Sergeant Reed to participate." Perkins wasn't sure he wanted to know how he was making him do it. The kidnapping of Kitty Dawson gave them some idea, but he had the feeling there was more to it. "There has to be a reason for that..." They were back to square one again.

"Perhaps it is less emotional than one might expect, a simple curiosity." Perkins turned his chair, looking at him to continue as he sipped his coffee. "An experiment of sorts to see if it's possible...To turn a celebrated officer into a serial killer." The idea sent a chill down Perkin's spine. Maybe it was that simple, but he still got the feeling there was something more to it. Something carnal. Perhaps it was a cross between the two. An experiment with vaguely emotional undertones. The desire to be seen and understood. To have a willing partner. That requires a level of emotional competency though...

"That is possible..." Even if that were the case, how did it help them track him down? "We need to figure out his next target. We know he started off with criminals, possibly to make the idea of killing them more palatable, but now he's swapped to people Reed knows." Colin's LED blinked yellow in thought. That wasn't entirely correct.

"Although he was an officer of the law, Detective Yates' record is far from clean. He has a history of corruption, including bribery and planting evidence." Maybe that made him even more appealing. "Perhaps that pattern might continue...Is there anyone else within Sergeant Reed's social circle that might align with that?" It was hard to say. The majority of Sergeant Reed's circle had already been targeted. He's switched to humans now, so who does that leave? He couldn't think of anyone who could be considered corrupt, per se. Although...taking recent history into consideration, perhaps an argument can be made..."Nines is calling." Perkins fell silent and watched as Colin's hazel eyes dimmed to gaze at nothing and his LED span yellow, a common occurrence when he was idling.

"Anything?" Perkins asked as he finished.

"Nothing concrete...The car that was spotted with the android earlier was seen at various intervals heading out to the Ferndale area, however there are few androids around there, and even fewer cameras." Wealthier areas were like that. Homes had private cameras, but CCTV footage was limited. Perish the thought the government might spy on the rich. Less travelled and less troubled areas tended to have less public security. It was unfortunate, but not unexpected. "Nines has some contacts who are scouring the area." It made sense he wouldn't be doing it himself. The Hickory Killer and his android would be on the lookout for him, along with any other law enforcement. Making use of the AHL's network was a smart move. How did he even manage it, considering his poor relationship with its members?

"Tell him to keep us apprised." He would, of course. Nines wanted the Hickory Killer caught as much as they did. More importantly, he wanted to save Sergeant Reed. The more resources he had available to complete that mission, the better. Perkins sighed, sitting forward to continue their earlier line of thought. The majority of people Reed knew and regularly socialised with were in law enforcement. They'd already agreed the Hickory Killer wouldn't go for them right now. Not so soon after Yates' death. The DPD would be on high alert. It seems he's targeting people with questionable pasts and morals, too..."Do we know anything about Sergeant Reed's past friendships? Does he have any friends who are still involved in criminal activity?"

"None that we're aware of." By we he assumed he meant he and his brothers. They knew he'd had questionable friendships in the past. His friendly relationship with Ashton confirmed that much. He hadn't spoken to Ashton in years, though...Would the Hickory Killer know about his old friends? They couldn't rule it out. He'd researched Sergeant Reed extensively. Something was still bothering him. It wouldn't make sense to swap to old acquaintances after taking someone he knew in the present. Knew and disliked...The dislike felt important. It certainly would have made the killing more palatable. "P-perhaps...It might be prudent to shelf this line of thought until tomorrow." Perkins huffed softly, setting aside the empty cup. It was almost sweet, the way Colin fussed over him. None of his other subordinates would dare. None of the others felt he needed it.

"Oh?"

"Research has shown that human cognitive abilities deteriorate with fatigue. With ample rest, we may get clearer results." Colin was tired, too. He knew androids didn't feel physical fatigue, but even they needed to enter stasis, recharge, and arrange whatever information they gained throughout the day. The occasional yellow blink of his LED was enough to tell Perkins that Colin was feeling it. He'd only stayed so long to make sure he wasn't overworking himself. Even his tone of voice was hopeful, hazel eyes wide and soft. Manipulative little fucker. "I could remain here and continue our investigation while you sleep."

"No, you're right. Everyone needs rest, and that includes you...I'll catch a few hours on the couch." It wasn't ideal, but at this time of night, he'd barely get two hours of sleep if he drove all the way home. Colin seemed to agree as he didn't argue. "Do you need to recharge?" There was a charging station next door in Colin's office that he used on nights like this. He almost seemed grateful for the suggestion, a clear sign his reserves were running low.

"Not urgently, however my systems would benefit from the additional power." Perkins huffed fondly as he pushed out of his chair, laying a hand on Colin's shoulder on the way by. The sofa in his office was a two-seater, which would be uncomfortable for someone as tall as Colin, but it was almost the perfect size for Perkins as he slipped off his shoes and curled up on his side. He used a small cushion as a pillow, protecting his neck from the stiff arm rest. This was a common occurrence, so it didn't take long for the fatigue to take hold and force him to close his eyes. He barely felt the whisper of his jacket as Colin draped it over his body.

"I will be in my office if you need me," Colin murmured as he shut off the main light. Perkins barely hummed an agreement, rapidly falling asleep already.