"...and after nearly a month of relentless terror, the serial killer who gripped the world in fear has finally been captured," announced the news reporter on the television. "Thanks to the combined efforts of the law enforcement and Mr. Damien Lane, this horrific chapter has come to a close. The city can now begin to heal from the nightmare that held it in its grip."

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. As you are all aware, Dr. Blake Chapman, the man responsible for the brutal murders of six women throughout November, has finally been brought to justice. Diana Woodford was confirmed as his first victim," stated Detective Inspector Aldridge on a forum with the press, a night after the incident. "I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Federal Bureau for dispatching one of their finest agents here in London, to my esteemed colleague and lawyer Damien Lane, to my dedicated partner Sergeant Adelaide Lawtrenchard, and to my entire team for their unwavering support in bringing this nightmare to an end."

The air was thick with the flash of cameras and the murmur of the crowd as the detective sat at the front of the room alongside his partner.

"Detective Inspector, can you share how Dr. Chapman managed to carry out these crimes without raising suspicion sooner?" asked one reporter.

"Is it true that he is the twin of Bryant Chapman?" another asked.

"Dr. Chapman has been confirmed as Bryant's twin," Benedict revealed. "He exploited his brother's secret bomb resources, after being imprisoned, and medical expertise to orchestrate each murder. He targeted vulnerable women, whom he deemed 'tainted,' using his medical knowledge to drug them before the dissection. According to him, he intended to preserve their hearts in seven jars, which my team uncovered this very morning at his concealed hideout in the province."

"If you hadn't encountered him last night, how long would it have taken to identify the true killer?" one asked.

"Our forensic team identified rare toxins in the system of the first victim—a substance likely accessible only to medical professionals," Benedict explained. "It might have taken time, but we would not rest until we found the truth."

"What motivated Dr. Chapman to commit these crimes? Was there any psychological assessment conducted?" the first reporter asked once more.

"He was confirmed by his twin brother as having psychopathic tendencies," he stated. "He believed he had the right to decide who lived and who died, often rationalizing his actions as 'mercy killings.' But let me be clear—there was nothing merciful about what he did."

He carefully avoided revealing any details about Christine's identity, ensuring that no further information leaked.

"What measures are being taken to ensure this doesn't happen again?" they asked.

"The Metropolitan Police Service, particularly the H division, are working closely with medical institutions to review and tighten their protocols, especially concerning staff hiring practices," he stated. "Additionally, we've established a task force dedicated to identifying any other potential victims. Our priority is to ensure that such a tragedy does not repeat itself."

After the exhausting interview, the Detective Inspector returned to his car and slid into the seat, where he was greeted by a message from Christine.

"Come, my dear. Here I am at something called Damien's lovely soothing place of mischief," he read, realizing it was another code.

"You really are quite fond of these skip codes, aren't you?" he remarked with a smile, scrolling through Christine's texts. He then lowered the phone as he noticed Adelaide waiting for a taxi in front of him.

He stepped out of the vehicle and approached her. "I'm heading to Damien's," he said. "I suppose there'll be a celebration. Will you join us?"

"How would you know there will be one?" she asked, struggling to hide a smile. "I received a text from your friend as well. I'm curious how she got my number."

They returned to the car and began the journey towards the town of Westershire.

"You've never actually met Christine since you became my new partner, have you?" he asked, glancing at the person sitting beside him.

"Nope," Adelaide replied.

Benedict sighed as he stopped for a moment at the red traffic light. "It's... It's just sad that you'll be on your own now, moving to another division near your hometown," he said with a sigh. "What was your new partner's name again?"

"She's half American, and she's Black. Her name's Amelia," she replied. "I can't wait to meet her soon."

"She'll probably be a great person," he said, once again pressing the gas after the amber light which was replaced by the green one. "I hope you two make some wonderful memories together and that your friendship lasts."

Adelaide couldn't control her emotions any longer and hugged Benedict, causing his eyes to widen in surprise. "We're driving," he noticed.

"Oh, sorry!" Adelaide replied, followed by a moment of awkward silence.

"Will you miss me?" Benedict asked.

"Of course... sir," she answered. "You've been the best friend I could ever have. Even though I'll be in another division, I can still visit or call you."

Benedict smiled and nodded, pouting playfully. "You sure?" he teased.

"Yeah," she replied. "Anyway, how do you know about the celebration at Damien's?"

"I don't know, I noticed," he replied. "I usually follow my intuition, and this time, it's telling me there will be one. Besides, the guy always wants those things."

As they arrived at Damien's house, they were met with an unsettling silence. Adelaide glanced at Benedict, her expression suggesting she was questioning his deductions.

As they opened the door, Adelaide was about to burst into laughter when they were greeted by a loud explosion of confetti that flew towards them.

Inside, they found a crowd of familiar faces: some of Damien's clients, their colleagues, and, at the forefront, holding the confetti, were Christine and Damien.

Instead of showing surprise, Benedict glanced at Adelaide and raised an eyebrow as if to say, "What were you saying?"

"Congratulations, everyone!" Damien beamed. "We've all achieved so much, especially this month!"

"What for?" Benedict asked.

"Well, for starters, Damien won the next case he handled and decided not to accept any more requests from that partner who lied to him," Christine said. "He's been promoted to Partner Lawyer and has changed for the better."

"Christine was promoted as well," Damien continued. "She'll be heading to her hometown in America this January but will return here for potential future missions. And let's not forget Sergeant Lawtrenchard's achievements. We're all rooting for you to become the next Benedict in your new division."

Adelaide, who had known all along, turned to Benedict and his friends. "And to Benedict, who finally solved the serial killer case and will be receiving an honorary medal from the Prime Minister this December," she said.

The day was filled with celebration. At last, they could return to their usual lives.

Damien gazed at his mother's painting in his room, where she seemed to smile at him with pride.

"Go on, kiddo. I'm so proud of you," he heard his mother's voice whisper.

He retrieved something from his drawer and returned to the crowd, kneeling before the woman he truly loved. "Christine Elyssia Wilson, will you make me the happiest man in the world by saying 'I do'?" he asked, causing everyone's eyes to widen in surprise.

Christine's heart raced as she softly replied with a sweet "Yes." Everything seemed to fall into place, though they remained unaware of the dark presence still lurking in the shadows outside.

"Benedict Aldridge, is it?" said a man, staring intently at a camera. "Let's see how long you can last against me."