Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 06:57:33 -0700
From: Jamie and Bridget Wilde <wildeman@psn.net>
Reply-To: wildeman@psn.net
To: ffml@fanfic.com
Subject: [FFML] [Fanfic][R1/2][DARK] Stigma Part 4
Due to the fact that I would like to keep installments under 60K,
"Stigma" will probably expand to six parts. Sorry for inconvenience...
OK, here's my input on the guessing game this (fantastic) whodunnit has
created....
1) Psyche Profile:
Misogynist, possibly impotent (if male) or repressed lesbian (if
female). I'm willing to rule out Shampoo for this one--She would be far
more likely to just whack one of the other martial artist females in
order to appeal to her honor. Also, the killer's Japanese was too good.
~_*
Intelligent and cunning. Seems to have a realistic sense of
self-preservation. (Note change in m.o. in apparent response to
investigation.) I think this lets out Tatewaki, who I believe would
continue in the _exact_ same pattern until caught--He's just too damn
delusional to acknowledge the risk of the police figuring him out.
Either charming enough to seduce victims, or capable of immobilizing
them via poison/pressure points. Note that lab tests have yet to turn
up poisons in bloodstreams of victims, but the three most likely
poisoners (Kodachi, Cologne and Happousai) are all known to use exotic
toxins that aren't likely to turn up on "standard" tests. I do suspect
that this would rule out Soun and Genma--neither seems competent enough
to pull this off via seduction, and they have never displayed any
knowledge of pressure points or toxins, even when their lives were at
stake.
2) Opportunity: I think the Neko-ken business actually lets Ranma off
the hook. Besides the fact that someone's been spreading around
catnip(?), the fact that Ranma has been going cat so much lately would
mean that he'd be mentally incapable of many of the steps that have been
indicated in the reports.
Konatsu and Tsubasa are still vulnerable on this one. Note that
Ukyou can probably be ruled out. She went to bed around nine, and was
unaware that Konatsu was going out at night. I don't know about you,
but I'd be unlikely to try to sneak past a ninja who was obssessed with
me--If it was Ukyou, she'd most likely have found other living quarters
for Konatsu by now.
There's one major problem in using opportunity to eliminate many
characters: We still don't have a great picture of the Nerima Ward.
How far is the shopping center from the canal, for instance? And how
far are both of these from the various residences/businesses?
3) Ability/Means: The killer is almost definitely stronger than the
average person--Besides the maulings, carrying around a limp body is
hard work, especially when you need to exercise a lot of stealth, as
well. (Where do you think the phrase "dead weight" comes from?)
I think this point rules out most of the non-martial artists--Kasumi
(and she was my #1, too! ~_*), Nabiki, various support characters.
The killer also needs a safe locale to do the deed in. While I
suppose the old standby, "the abandoned warehouse", might work, it would
be _very_ risky. A more permanent hidey-hole is needed for a stationary
serial killer (the "crazed hitchhiker" variety, of course, has lots more
mobility, and so can afford to use one-shot places). Note that both
Dahmer and Gacey used their own homes.
The murders take time, and would be likely to generate considerable
noise--isolation is a problem in a crowded city, so soundproofing is a
more likely solution. This implies a certain level of wealth.
So who fits my criteria?
Tofu
Kodachi
Principal Kunou
Cologne
Of course, this is all so much pissing into the wind, but hey, it's fun.
<Rant Mode>
BTW, as a Chicago resident, I take a dim view of police who value
"justice" over the law, as you put it in your reply to one of the posts.
We have an ongoing embarrassment here--young girl murdered/raped. The
cops decided that two boys (7 and 8 years old) were the culprits, and
claimed to have a confession (neither parents nor defense attorneys were
present at the questioning).
Then it became known that details in the confessions didn't match
the scene. Then a lab report found semen on the girl's underwear (from
pre-pubescents, remember). Oh, and one of the key detectives is
currently being sued for his work in another, similar case which
resulted in a conviction, as there's now a strong case that they got the
wrong kid there, too. This same district has had cases overturned for
torturing victims and manufacturing evidence in the past.
</Rant Mode>
Sorry, had to let that out.
--Freemage
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