CHAPTER 455: CHAPTER 275 GAIA!_2

It only took a few repetitions to train a dog to use a designated spot for its business. Humans are much the same.

So, amidst Louise’s astonished, aggrieved, and bewildered gaze, Dean let go of her hair, stepped back, and, his voice softening, said, "Sorry, my reaction was too strong; I might have scared you. My duty is to travel between various regions of the United States, handling these troublesome cases. This keeps my emotions constantly on edge, leaving both my body and Spirit exhausted. Consequently, I usually lack patience and dislike being questioned or discussing irrelevant matters while I’m working on a case."

Louise was still very angry. But when she saw the weariness in the corners of Dean’s eyes as he spoke, her anger unconsciously dissipated, replaced by understanding, admiration, and a hint of shame. She seemed to have misunderstood this young FBI agent.

In some ways, Louise could relate to what Dean said.

She straightened her messy hair and pursed her lips. "I understand you. In fact, I often lose my temper with my husband for no reason, and then I feel much calmer afterward."

As Louise spoke, she didn’t notice the anger had vanished from her face; instead, an unconscious sense of closeness had emerged.

This time, Dean finally nodded in approval. "Yes, I feel much better now."

The case required Louise’s assistance. This woman was inherently strong-willed; forcing cooperation could easily backfire at times. This kind of push-and-pull dynamic—subverting first impressions, making the other person feel they understand you better—was ideal for quickly reducing the sense of unfamiliarity between two people. It would encourage the other person to identify with you and then willingly cooperate. However, this was a subconscious change. If her emotions stabilized and she wasn’t slow-witted, she might later realize that what had just happened felt too contrived.

So, Dean smoothly changed the topic. "Weren’t you puzzled about the hints from the clues earlier? This requires connecting them to previous clues! All five victims were discovered and reported by passing drivers very shortly after their deaths. This means we can rule out large trucks. Because if such vehicles drove into the wilderness, appearing near the body disposal sites, the tracks they left wouldn’t disappear quickly, even if the surrounding area was ravaged by wind and sand. Secondly, the most suitable type of vehicle... is actually a refrigerated truck!"

Refrigerated trucks are generally used to transport perishable goods like eggs and meat. These vehicles vary in size. The smaller models resemble 3.4-meter-long trucks. When empty, the overall vehicle isn’t excessively heavy, yet it features an enclosed, refrigerated cargo hold with good sound insulation. Even if a victim managed to break free from their restraints mid-journey, escaping the cargo hold would be impossible. This makes it the ideal choice for the killer.

Crucially, Las Vegas has a hot climate, so small refrigerated box trucks coming and going are incredibly common.

"By deducing the type of vehicle, we can have Cheston En focus on refrigerated trucks that appeared around the time each victim was found while he reviews the surveillance footage. Then, we can compile this information to pinpoint any vehicles present on all five occasions for a targeted investigation. Of course, this requires a lot of time and energy. That’s why I’d prefer to visit the locations where the five victims disappeared."

As mentioned, refrigerated trucks offer excellent sound insulation due to their cargo hold structure. It’s plausible the killer used a refrigerated truck to abduct the victims. This is also a line of investigation.

After listening to Dean’s explanation, Louise fell silent for a moment, then shrugged awkwardly, feigning indifference as she said, "Alright, you’re right. Compared to you, I really do lack some wisdom."

Dean responded better to soft approaches than hard ones. Faced with her concession, he offered a casual smile. "I’m just strong in logical reasoning, that’s all. Come on, take me to the places where the female victims disappeared. You can also have your colleagues make inquiries in the surrounding areas; some small roadside shops might have surveillance cameras installed."

"Mhm." Louise nodded.

...

The last known locations and times of the five female victims all differed.

Some disappeared on their way to work.

Others lost contact after work.

The most baffling case was the woman who vanished from a bus stop. She was with her boyfriend, passing near the bus station. He stepped away for a moment to use the restroom, and when he returned, his girlfriend was gone...

By the time Dean had accompanied Louise to visit all these locations, it was already past five in the afternoon.

Noticing Louise looked tired, Dean took her to a small roadside shop to get something to eat and drink and to rest their feet.

While Louise ate, Dean, using his handsome appearance to his advantage, asked the female shop owner for a pen and notebook. He then began to sketch, outlining the routes they had taken that day, the layout of the surrounding houses and buildings, and the pedestrian flow.

All this information was already clear in Dean’s mind. However, drawing it on paper was essential for communicating in a way Louise could understand and for directing her tasks more effectively.

...

Once Dean finished sketching, Louise, having regained some energy, leaned in curiously. "What’s this?"

"This is a map of the areas where the five victims disappeared!"

"Based on their disappearance times and locations, we can preliminarily deduce that the killer either lacks a fixed work schedule—perhaps a vagrant—or is employed in a profession akin to a delivery driver."