Han smiled. "So feisty, this is why I like you."

He Xiao Yi slammed his hand on the table. "Can you be serious for a moment. If you have time for jokes, then you must be lying to us about this case."

Han shook his head. "No jokes, no jokes." He spread out his notes. "Look at the timeline, each murder happens exactly on the day the book was published. Same month, same date. The year is different of course. This killer is disciplined, ritualistic and highly educated. And the victims they choose are from high society. You have a new actress, a judge, a professor, a journalist, a city clerk....people who make headlines but don’t spark national outrage to command a big investigation. It’s a deliberately calculated move."

Liwu scanned the list. "So the next victim will be...."

Han tapped a page. "Other than knowing that it is a business man, I can’t begin guessing the identity. That is your job to figure out detectives. I have given you puzzle pieces hoping that you will give me a finished puzzle. This city has thousands of business men, find the ones with ties to smuggling. If the killer follows the script, the crime will be committed in eight days."

Liwu crumpled a paper. That was like asking them to find a needle in a stack of needles. Most business men were crooked in different ways. If they were looking for a prominent business man, it would be a bit easy. But, they were looking for someone whose success had not made waves.

70% of the businesses in the city fell under that category. Not to forget that they would also have to consider investors that were not necessarily involved in the day to day running of the companies they invested in.

It seemed like she would have to use her bad luck to solve this case. At least, if they identified the target, they would keep an eye on him and catch the killer in the act.

Xuanji frowned. "I don’t get it. Why would a system host choose novels as a blue print? It seems cliche."

Han’s eyes gleamed. "Because they are telling a story. Maybe each reenactment gives the host strength. Or maybe the host’s system levels up each time the police fail to catch them. I don’t know."

The room was quiet for a moment. Nobody liked cases that were not well put together. Any case that started with a blank slate was likely to end up in a box and shipped off to cold cases.

Liwu took a sip of her coffee and frowned. It was already cold. Besides, Han’s presence had killed all of its deliciousness for her already. She stood, commanding the room. "Here is what we are going to do. We will reach out to the authors of the novels on this list and ask for anything that includes fan mail or any prop like gifts they could have received from a fan."

The others scribbled or recorded her instructions

"We will disperse officers to cross reference novel material with landmarks in the city. Every murder in the book should be considered, not just the fish gutting one.

Every place that has been identified will be patrolled vigilantly for the next eight days. If anyone asks, we claim that there has been an increase in theft cases in those areas so we are increasing patrols and searching fro thieves."

"Nice." Han said with a chuckle. "Lie to the public. Standard policing."

Liwu glared at him and continued. "We should look into other crime novels based on this city or written in this city. It is better to be safe than sorry." She looked at the chief. "I think the details of this case should be passed on to every branch of the bureau all over the country. Maybe even outside the country....at this point we don’t know how deep this goes."

Chief Abby rose. "I will cover that part. Your mother and I are already texting about it. She wants me to brief her in person so I will be taking Sleazy Han along when this briefing is done."

Liwu quickly distributed the assignments and returned her attention to the reporter. "All that is left is you. How do we know that you are not the killer?"

Han laughed. "I am flattered Liwu, but my passion is digging and blowing up the next big story. Murder is for idiots that hate freedom. If I get locked up, I can’t hit on you anymore and that would break my heart."

She rolled her eyes. "Since you like blowing up big stories, why didn’t you publish this directly and bask in the spotlight?"

All eyes turned on Han.

The reporter’s grin faltered. "Because I don’t want to be the next victim. Some stories are better told after the criminal is caught or under the label of ’a source from the police.’" He grinned. "When the killer is dead or permanently behind bars, then I will released a book on my investigation and how I worked hard with you all to unmask this sadistic monster."

Liwu studied him.

Linlin scoffed. "So you are using us for protection and information."

Han shrugged. "Call it mutual benefit. You catch the killer and I live to write the story. Everybody wins and crime novels can go back to being fiction."

Liwu sighed. "I really dislike you. But if you are right, we will need everything you know. Including the things that you are leaving out. I know you Han, you never reveal the whole picture because you want to be the only one with the most shocking detail of the story.

Every news source will release the news when we catch the killer. The SOB will have a press conference and the media will be briefed. The only way your story will stand out is if you have a special detail nobody knows. So out with it. What are you hiding from us?"