"Do you find it a bit odd? This thing seems too out of place here," York said calmly, scanning the living room's layout.
Haley, who had also noticed this anomaly, glanced at the priest whose expression had remained unchanged, and started searching around it. Soon enough, she found a safe, but it required a password to open.
"Father, it looks like we need to wake that guy up and interrogate him harshly!"
Haley, looking at the man unconscious on the floor, still hadn't given up on the idea of interrogating the psychopathic murderer.
York didn't respond but glanced at the digital keypad on the safe.
"Since it's a numerical code, common logic suggests that the numbers are meaningful, especially for a psychopath like him…"
As the priest remained tight-lipped, Haley, a bit self-mockingly, said, "Okay, I'll use my top-student brain to figure out this five-digit code. I just want to express my thanks to the priest here."
Hearing her slightly resentful tone, York smiled, "Good luck, Haley. Think about any numbers you've seen, including this murderer's account number, his birthday, or someone else's birthday. Any numbers are worth a try."
As York glanced at the clock on the wall to check the time, he reassured her, "Don't worry, we still have some time. Take it slow, and if we really can't crack it, we'll try to break it open forcefully."
"Okay!"
Haley vigorously rubbed her face and sat cross-legged in front of the safe, starting to input the numbers she remembered.
[82623]
The sound of an error beeped.
[32184]
Beep, beep, beep!
[...]
As Haley kept trying, York, combining the murderer's identity as a photographer, began to examine the photos on the walls of the hallway and living room. Interestingly, among the photos, some of which were explicit, one in the living room stood out: a smiling woman, fully clothed and different from the rest.
Glancing at the unconscious murderer, York remembered videos he had seen about psychopaths. Their analysis often mentioned that murderers have certain psychological disorders, obsessions, and tend to leave behind something memorable...
He squinted his eyes, took the photo down, and found a date, 319, and the name Sally Loren. The number 319 seemed familiar.
"Haley, is 319 part of this guy's account number?"
Haley, still trying passwords, asked, "What's up?"
York, holding the photo, replied, "This unique photo has 319 on the back, and it's also the suffix of this guy's account. It must be a meaningful number, probably a birthday or some special date."
This information was crucial. Haley's eyes narrowed as she looked at the woman in the photo. Suddenly, she rapidly sifted through a pile of letters nearby, eventually finding a few with dates that could represent years.
"Father, I think this woman in the photo is the psychopath's first love..."
Haley, holding selected letters, showed disgust.
"This guy's twisted, but he really loved his first love. Disgusting."
York read the letters, full of expressions of love and memories, like dates and events with Sally Loren.
"Combine them and try."
Haley nodded, using 319 as the suffix and started trying combinations with the years.
[86319]
Beep, beep, beep!
"Not it," Haley tilted her head, continuing with other years.
[88319]
Beep, beep, beep!
Haley raised an eyebrow, entering the last year revealed in the letters.
[89319]
Click! The password was correct.
[...]
[Random Mission: Deal with the psychopath, help Haley find evidence (Completed)]
[Mission Reward: +1 Attribute Point (Issued)]
[...]
Haley instinctively looked up.
Listening to the mechanical sound in her ear, York gently said, "Open it and see."
Haley pursed her lips, opened the safe, and found several discs and numerous photos of different girls.
Unsurprisingly, these were likely photos of victims taken by the psychopathic murderer.
Haley's expression grew colder, especially when her gaze landed on a photo of her murdered friend.
Biting her lip, she picked up the evidence and stood up, walking towards the still unconscious murderer. Then, she kicked hard between his legs.
"F**k!!"
Her young face showed a hint of madness.
"Ow!!!!"
The murderer, resembling Ed Warren, woke up in pain, clutching himself and curling up like a cooked lobster, as if his eggs had exploded.
Hearing such a horrific scream and not stopping her, York involuntarily crossed his legs.
"F**k!!"
"..."
Seeing Haley about to kick again, York shook his head and walked towards the entrance to wait outside.
Outside, York gazed at the clear sky, pulled out his phone, and dialed Jeffrey's number, as this was also within Jeffrey's jurisdiction.
The phone was promptly answered.
"Hello, Father York?"
Hearing the voice from the phone, York said with a smile, "Officer Jeffrey, I've brought you some performance."
Jeffrey, working in the police station, blurted out in surprise.
"What performance?"
The screams and curses from inside the house formed a bizarre symphony. York, smiling, gave the address.
"Come over and you'll see."
After saying this, he hung up.
Meanwhile.
Jeffrey looked at his phone, thought for a moment, then stood up, signaling a few subordinates to follow him.
"..."
"Die, you psychopath!"
"Fk!! Fk!!"
"..."
Haley's hysterical voice didn't stop, and York, leaning against the car, waited for Jeffrey without any intention to intervene.
As a priest, he should advocate kindness and prevent evil acts, but as a person, he believed in an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
So, York waited outside while Haley vented her anger inside.
It didn't take long before a breathless Haley emerged with a pile of evidence.
Seeing this, York, looking at her somewhat silent expression, said gently, "We still have a bit of time."
Haley took a deep breath to calm herself and shook her head, her eyes reddening slightly.
"Father, can you take me somewhere else later?"
"Where to?"
"Nas Cemetery, I want to talk to Janice."
"I think I can do that, Haley."
"Father!"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"..."
___________________
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