Chapter 1: The Case

Detective Peter Pux sat at his desk, staring at the stack of files that seemed to grow taller by the day. As the head of the Major Crimes Unit in the city's police department, Pux was no stranger to long hours and high-pressure cases, but this latest string of murders had him stumped.

Three people had been killed in the past week, all with the same MO: strangulation with a cord. There were no witnesses, no cameras, and no leads. Pux and his team were running out of options.

Just as Pux was about to call it a day, his partner, Detective Jenna Lee, burst into the room. "We got a break in the case," she said, panting. "There was another murder, just like the others. But this time, the killer left a message."

Pux's heart raced as he grabbed his coat and followed Lee out the door. This could be the break they needed to finally catch the killer. As they rushed to the scene, Pux couldn't help but wonder what kind of twisted message the killer had left for them this time.

As they arrived at the crime scene, Pux was greeted by a flurry of activity. Uniformed officers cordoned off the area, while forensic technicians scoured the area for evidence. Pux made his way over to the victim, a young woman who had been found strangled in her apartment.

He knelt down beside her, examining the cord that had been used to kill her. It was the same kind of cord as the others, which meant they were dealing with the same killer. Pux's mind raced as he tried to piece together the clues.

Suddenly, he noticed something strange on the victim's neck. It was a small tattoo, a symbol he had seen before. Pux's heart skipped a beat as he realized what it meant. This wasn't just any murder. It was a message, a warning.

The killer was taunting them, and Pux knew that he had to catch him before anyone else died. He stood up and turned to Lee, determination etched on his face. "We're going to get this son of a bitch," he said. "No matter what it takes."