Relatively Rainey by R. E. Bradshaw

only goal is to add to your investigative toolbox. I will define the characteristics of this type of offender. Please feel free to stop me and ask questions at any time.”
    Rainey paused to sweep her eyes around the room. Her gaze fell on a late entrant. Officer Wendy King slipped into an empty chair near the back. She was out of uniform and looked like a college kid among the veterans. Rainey was sure young Wendy had to charm her way into the room filled with case-hardened investigators and experienced patrol officers. Wendy reminded Rainey of her own, impervious spirit at the beginning of her FBI career. She smiled at her little sister and received a youthful grin and thumbs-up in return. She then continued with the presentation.
    “First, I’d like to address some comments I heard on the way in.”
    The Chatham County deputy who commented on Katie’s looks shifted uneasily in his chair. Rainey surmised a little levity in advance of the somber process that lay ahead couldn’t hurt. She peered at his nametag.
    “To answer your question, Officer Tweed, yes, the rumor is true. My wife is smokin’ hot.”
    The embarrassed officer turned beet red while the room filled with laughter.
    Rainey eased Officer Tweed’s discomfort with a smile. “Thank you for noticing.”
    Taking the ribbing well, he answered, “No problem.”
    Rainey refocused on the room at large.
    “Some of you believe this UNSUB to be psychotic, crazy, nuts, a freak. You are ascribing to this perpetrator a mental state marked by illogical thinking patterns and behavior. That would be a mistake. The foresight and planning exhibited in these crimes indicates a rational and functioning individual. Although he may suffer from various personality disorders, he knows what he’s doing, knows it’s wrong and frankly does not care. He is sane in the legal sense. The fact he has been extremely active for two years and escalating rapidly without drawing attention to himself is an indication of his lucidity. Do not underestimate the intelligence and cunning at work here. His ability to blend into the norm and live above suspicion indicates an apex predator at work. In this way, he is a freak of nature. He seems quite successful at living a double life most of us could not maintain.”
    She drove the point home with her next statement.
    “More than likely, the UNSUB has already spoken to law enforcement about this case and never blinked. He gave no sign of anxiousness or guilt and showed the appropriate response of a concerned citizen.”
    The rustle of shifting bodies into defensive postures told Rainey she needed to let them know she wasn't accusing them of incompetence.
    “I am a trained criminal behavioral analyst. I’ve let people who wanted to kill me get very close to doing just that. I never saw them coming. But when that flicker of truth became evident, my training helped me identify the situation as dangerous and kept me alive. Nothing can take the place of sound investigation tactics, which your departments have exhibited. Despite how some of you may feel about “profiling mumbo-jumbo,” you do need the tools to recognize the offender when he peeks out of his veil of normalcy. UNSUBs like this are consummate human predators hiding in plain sight.”
    Clenched crossed arms relaxed. Bodies leaned forward, as the room collectively opened to her message. They were ready to hear what she had to say. Rainey moved away from the podium to a map with the crime scenes indicated with colorful pushpins.
    “Let’s begin with how we know these crimes are attributable to one UNSUB.” She pointed at a yellow pushpin. “The first reported fetish burglary occurred on Labor Day weekend, 2013, here on Chancery Court in Durham County. The rest of these yellow pins represent the other incidents of stolen undergarments, the last of which took place just a few weeks ago on February twentieth in the Brookhaven Subdivision in Chatham County, here. I believe you were all