Night.

The Forensics Section in Los Angeles is brightly lit.

Under the lure of money.

A well-known miniature master in Los Angeles appeared outside the forensic department's exhibit room.

The master of miniatures, named Lophael, is a little old man of a white one-eyed dragon in his fifties.

In his youth, he was a prop master in a circus.

After the circus broke up, Lofeel specialized in helping some niche enthusiasts make various models for a living, and has been deeply involved in this industry for more than 20 years, which can be regarded as a well-informed.

But at the first glance of Lofael, Harry felt that this guy was a little unreliable.

Because the other party looks too down.

Lofael was wearing a tattered and patched cardigan, a scruffy beard, a deep pickle smell unique to his body because he had not bathed for a long time, his eyes were blank, and the whole person looked a little senile.

In response, Harry whispered to Daisy: "Daisy, are you sure this guy is well-known in the miniature industry?" ”

Daisy raised an eyebrow, "Harry, are you questioning my ability to do things?" ”

"No, no, no!" , Harry shrank his head and said with a smile: "Daisy, don't get me wrong, I just think that everyone who plays with models has money, but this old man looks more like a bum." ”

When the two of them were dripping.

Dean had already led Lofael to the miniature found in the victim's home, Jonny Dennison: "Mr. Lofael, may I ask how much time does it take to make such a miniature under normal circumstances?" ”

The first time Lophael saw this model, only the remaining right eye, from a sluggish state, bloomed with the kind of light that only an old color batch can have when he sees a peerless beauty.

He rushed to the model excitedly, like an idiot, wanting to get his hands on it directly, but he didn't seem to be able to bear to defile the model, so he could only shake his head greedily, looking at the model from all over the place, and wanted to stuff the whole model into his eyes.

Although Dean doesn't know why Raphael, seeing this somewhat delicate model, the reaction will be so excited, but it is better to have a reaction than not to see anything.

So he stood by and silently waited for the other party to come back to his senses.

Until more than ten minutes later.

Raphael reluctantly withdrew his gaze and let out a long sigh of satisfaction: "I didn't expect that before I went to the Holy Kingdom, I actually had the opportunity to see this kind of masterpiece again. ”

"I'm sorry, Mr. Raphael, I feel that this model just looks exquisite, but on the market, it can only be regarded as very ordinary, is it special?"

Seeing that he was back to normal, Dean hurriedly stepped forward and said deliberately with a guided stimulus.

In this way, whether Raphael recognizes the person who made the model or not, he will subconsciously confide in the truth to refute and correct his own 'turtle'.

Really.

Hear 'very average'!

Raphael was furious.

He glared at Dean with the only one eye left, and spat flew with anger:

"Imp, you're an insult to the artwork, you actually think this model is very ordinary?

Look at the proportions!

Whether it's the structure of the house, or the furniture and tools, I'm sure that all of them are in perfect proportions, replicating the proportions in reality, and using special joining techniques, otherwise they would not have been perfectly fitted together! ”

"Perfectly fitted?"

Dean captures the point of Raphael's words.

Raphael nodded, pointing to the junction between the templates in the model:

"It's like a house needs to be connected by steel bars!

If the model wants to be stable, it needs to use glue and some exquisite buckle design to keep the whole intact, but if you look at this model, are there traces of glue and buckles? ”

That's when Dean reacted.

The model left by the murderer in the house of the victim Jonny Dennison, except for the texture of the material at a glance, the overall look does have a surprising coordination.

Ordinary people may not be sensitive to this.

But as an insider, Raphael saw at a glance what was special about this model.

Raphael looked at Dean with disdain, and then sighed: "Nine years ago, I once saw such a model in a second-hand store, but unfortunately the store forgot where the thing came from, otherwise I really hope to find the owner of this model and ask for advice." ”

"Mr. Raphael, you mean that there are very few people who can do this?"

"Very little!"

Raphael's tone is sure!

He explains:

"Actually, miniatures have been around for a long time.

But at that time, it was some big aristocratic families who would cultivate such people.

One is for entertainment and the other is to make some physical topographic maps in preparation for war.

But the really powerful people are the former masters of oriental architecture!

They have a special skill to reproduce what they want to build without the help of adhesives and snaps on the surface, and after making sure that it is okay, they can build it in reality.

It's been a long time.

They have developed this special miniature-making technique!

I have traveled to several countries in the East to study.

It's a pity that these people, whose minds are too stubborn, would rather lose it than pass it on. ”

Dean was slightly stunned after listening.

This thing, how does it sound, it looks like a carpenter's craft in China.

Seeing that Raphael fell back into that dull and mindless appearance, immersed in his own world.

Dean walked back over to the model and took a closer look.

The material of this model has been identified by the specialist of the Identification Department as some common materials on the market.

But listen to Raphael.

The darkness of the model is the essence of this model, and there are not many people with this kind of craftsmanship in reality.

This can narrow down the suspicion of the murderer's identity.

But here's the thing.

People with this kind of craft are either well-known in the circle, or they are unknown and not visible to outsiders.

Dean didn't think that this eucalyptus was made by some master of miniatures on the surface.

The FBI is not stupid.

If this is the case, the murderer is estimated to have been arrested when he was in New York before.

It seems that if you want to detect this eucalyptus, you still have to consider other aspects!

...

Just as Dean was thinking about other directions for the break.

Raphael, who was immersed in his own world, came back to his senses and said apologetically: "Inspector Dean, I'm sorry, because I've been alone for a long time, so I often unconsciously immerse myself in my own world, you called me over, it should be so that I can see the special features of this model, right?" ”

Although Dean had no expectations for finding out the identity of the murderer through the model, the money had already been out, so he nodded: "Yes, this involves a serial murder, the murderer has a great antisocial personality, and poses a great threat to the lives of Los Angeles citizens." ”

"That's what I guessed."

Raphael sighed slightly in Dean's surprised gaze:

"Actually, I heard that the police detective department wanted me to identify the miniature, and I guessed if it was a miniature murderer who committed eucalyptus in New York a few years ago and came to Los Angeles!"

"Mr. Raphael, you are also concerned about this matter?"

Raphael nodded: "Although I am very slow to the outside news, this matter, in the model circle, has made a big fuss, so I heard them say it in the mouths of customers, and then I also collected the news that was left in the model of the eucalyptus field, and conducted some research." ”

"Is there a catch?"

To Dean's surprise, Raphael nodded directly.

His one-eyed expression of regret: "I guess that the murderer wants to attract a lot of attention and show off his works by using the serial murder eucalyptus!" ”

"Showing off your work?"

"Yes!" , Raphael nodded affirmatively:

"Any craftsman wants his work to be appreciated by an audience.

But in our industry, the real money is actually those of us who are of average level, but are willing to compromise with customers for the sake of money.

Rather, it's those who have a very high standard.

Because of their pride, most of them don't make a lot of money.

Only a few people who have found their own customer groups can get honors and let their works be appreciated by people who know the goods.

I suspect that the previous New York model murderer was such a person.

He relied on his own craftsmanship and could not get the feedback due from the market, so he chose to use the means of killing people to reflect the value and power of his craftsmanship. ”

It seems that he is afraid that Dean will not understand.

Raphael added: "It's like those painters who like to have exhibitions, but we are the same. ”

This old guy said something very logically, which made people half-understandable.

Fortunately, Dean has a good brain.

Raphael's words, summed up, probably mean that the murderer has the skill of slaying dragons, but he has no chance to show it, so he chooses such an extreme way to please himself.

...

Hear this statement.

A flash of inspiration crossed Dean's mind.

Before him, he felt that the murderer was treating his crime as if it were a commercial movie, and performing his own crime.

If it is said.

Raphael's speculation was correct.

The murderer really regarded the crime as an exhibition of his craft.

Then everything makes sense!

If so...

The murderer will definitely leave a hint for those who know how to do it!

Otherwise, wouldn't the 'exhibition' without a confidant audience be too boring?

Come to think of it.

Dean hurriedly looked at Raphael: "Mr. Raphael, what else is different about this miniature?" ”

"Different?"

Raphael touched his beard and hesitated:

"This model, for the sake of secrecy, once assembled, is basically impossible to disassemble unless it is the original owner.

And after disassembly, outsiders will definitely not be able to reassemble.

In the past, my colleagues in New York were also asked to disassemble the model, but with the help of high-tech tools, the parts were disassembled with great difficulty, but in the end they found that they could not be reassembled.

Obviously, the parts are all in good condition, but I don't know how the other party connects and fits, and it can't be reassembled if it's removed! ”

Dean was stunned.

No wonder you look at the report yourself, there is no analysis of the model on it.

Now it seems that it is because in the eyes of police detectives and FBI agents in New York, this is useless, so the report only briefly records the situation of the model.

Raphael paused for a moment, thought of something again, and continued: "

One more point!

This kind of model, because it does not need to use foreign objects such as adhesives, is similar to building blocks, as long as there are parts, it can be easily built without long-term polishing.

In the past, parts needed to be polished by hand.

It is a test of the craftsman's skills.

But now it's an industrial society.

As long as you can provide the parameters of the part.

In a short time, you can stamp out the parts you want, and the accuracy is very high!

Except for some fools who have money and have nowhere to use.

No one wants to spend more than a dozen times the price for a model that outsiders can't see the difference.

This is also the main reason why this model is not worth a high price in the eyes of laymen. ”

"So this kind of model, it looks like there are a lot of parts, but in fact, it doesn't take as long to make as long as we think?"

"Long?"

Raphael carefully touched the parts of the model and shook his head: "These parts are stamped out by a small workshop, which is not unusual, and it is difficult to trace, it is estimated that the murderer took only one day to make it." ”

Get this reply.

Dean finally smiled.

It's worth the money!

He knows what the information the murderer left on the model!

...

Send Raphael away.

Dean took Harry and the others to temporarily borrow the forensic section's conference room.

"Dean, is there a catch?"

Daisy looked happy.

Because of Raphael, she found it.

Dean nodded, tapping on the clipboard, "Guys, there isn't much information left for us at the moment, you should have read the report from New York, right?" ”

The three Harry nodded.

Although they were assigned things by Dean to do, reading the report was a basic literacy.

As for whether you can get inspiration from above, that's another story.

"This eucalyptus, it can basically be concluded, it was done by a model murderer in New York a few years ago, and my previous thinking of breaking eucalyptus has three points!"

Dean took out his pen and wrote one, two, three, on the clipboard.

"The first point, in addition to the model left at each life scene, the most critical information is actually the same note, so how did the murderer choose the deceased?"

Among the deceased, in addition to being famous.

Before they became famous, there must have been similarities.

Finding their similarities may lead to important clues.

This is why Dean is basically sure that Jonny Dennison did not die at the hands of people around him, and still asks Harry to investigate the victim Jonny Dennison's life and the people around him!

"The second point, every time the murderer makes a eucalyptus, the model left behind is perfectly suitable for the environment of the life scene, there is no mistake, but some eucalyptus, from the deceased was killed, to being discovered, the whole process is only ten minutes!

How did the murderer do it? ”

This is also what Dean can't figure out the most.

It is really difficult to find a suitable reason other than the cooperation of the deceased himself.

But this reason, according to the situation on the spot, is completely inconsistent.

Dean is certain that the victim was completely stunned and defenseless about what was happening to him.

"The third point is the model, how did the murderer get it!"

This, through Raphael, Dean has figured out.

...

Offstage.

Harry raised his hand: "Dean, is there a third point of thought, and now there is a breakthrough?" ”

Dean nodded: "I was inspired by Raphael's words, the murderer actually left us a hint on the note, and he longed for someone to read his work!" ”

Daisy listened to it in a daze.

She wondered, "What hint?" ”

Dean didn't reply, but looked at Carlo first: "Harry, how is your investigation?" ”

Harry shrugged: "Time is limited, I only got some information about the victim Jonny Dennison, as for the situation of Jonny Denison's ex-wife and current one, I haven't had time to investigate." ”

"Tell me!"

After Harry sorted out the language, he spoke: "Jonny Dennison actually wrote some stories about the love between men and women before writing about lace and other themes, although there are also some readers, but the fame is far less than now, and even that fame is run out of his own money!" ”

Daisy immediately retorted: "Harry, how is this possible, Mr. Jonny Dennison, before writing about lace, many readers bought the book he wrote!" ”

"That's operation~", Harry rolled his eyes: "I also asked a friend to find out that Jonny Dennison's family is actually very rich, and in order to satisfy his dream of being a writer, he often finds people to hire fake readers to participate in his autograph sales party, creating a very popular illusion, but think about it carefully, before he wrote about lace, have you heard his name?" ”

Daisy was stunned.

It seems that I got into the pit from Jonny Dennison's first lace book!

What is false is what is fake.

If a product is not genuine, even if it is marketed, most of the products will be self-satisfied in the end and will not be bought by the public.

Dean snapped his fingers!

Very good.

Here's the key!

Dean immediately said:

"Harry, go get Jonny Dennison's ex-wife and son, I want you to figure out the exact timing and timing of Jonny Dennison's change of direction in writing!

It's better to have an answer tomorrow! ”

"Dean, it's a little hard..."

Dean glanced at him and said coldly: "Jonny Dennison's ex-wife is a divorced rich woman, and she looks good!" ”

Syllable~

Harry's eyes lit up, and his chest snapped, "No problem, Dean, you'll get the answer you want tomorrow!" ”

Everyone: "..."

Dean understands Harry.

Dean continued to look at Daisy: "Daisy, I need you to make sure that the victims of the seven model killings in New York have all had a similar transformation!" ”

Daisy nodded.

"As for Caro... You follow Harry. ”

Before Carlo could speak, Harry was anxious: "Dean, I can do it alone!" ”

"What if Jonny Dennison's ex-wife doesn't like black people, or maybe she doesn't like two people?" , Dean asked rhetorically.

Harry spread his hands and had nothing to say.

Carlo looked up at the lights above her head silently, speechless.

I thought I was following a good boss, but the boss asked him to sell his body to break the eucalyptus...

...

Arrange the division of labor among the people.

Dean walked back outside the exhibit room, looked at the model through the glass, and silently lit a cigarette.

Through Raphael, he read for the first time the information left on those models: I am awesome, I am also very high, and my methods are very powerful, so I look down on people who choose to compromise for the sake of money and fame, so they became one of my works.

The contract is completed~

Hehe.

You yourself are just a puppet who can only satisfy your desire to show through serial murder, why do you think that others will become a foil to your work if they give up their principles for the sake of their dreams?