Mind Hunters (Michael Jackson)

prologue

"Sir, I would like to request a moment of your time."

The room burns bright with artificial light, bulbs flickering occasionally as rain patters lightly, coating the window outside. This is the moment that you have been waiting for. Your palms sweat as the stifling air floods your senses, a wave of nausea rushing over you like waves crashing in the ocean; drowning. Knowing that this is your only chance to speak, lest you regret it, you take a slight step forward.

Deputy Director Don James, your superior, huffs begrudgingly, barely meeting your gaze as he lazes behind his desk. This is nothing new; he is a man of few words and little heart. Whenever he does bother to speak to you more than is required, it is always with an air of reluctance that has your blood boiling.

What you are asking for is new. It's a new topic, and the FBI doesn't usually delve too far outside of the known universe, but you know there's something there. They think that the methods they have are effective, and, to an extent, they are. But there is a whole world of unexplored possibilities that you know can be instrumental in not only capturing child killers, but also preventing future loss of innocence.

"Sir, I've been researching for some time now into the psychology behind child killers. I believe I've come up with a way to not only predict their behavioural patterns, but a way to study them and to prevent others from repeating these behaviours."

His eyes peak over the manila folder, brow raising slightly. This catches his attention. He nods briefly in encouragement, tilting his head to the side, reluctant curiosity evident in the way he catches your eye. "Go on."

"You see, I've been contacting some of the prisons that house people like Robert Black, Anthony Kirkland, and Ian Brady, and they would be willing to cooperate." Your face flushes as the words rush out. "Don't you understand? This is ground breaking. We would be allowed to interview these guys, see what makes them tick." Your heartbeat reverberates loudly in your ears as you allow yourself a brief pause to collect your thoughts. "I've been developing this method of psychology for years and I finally think I have it. With this method I believe that we can not only predict, but prevent this behaviour."

You pause again, leaning forward slightly to gage his reaction. His eyes haven't left you yet, like a lion assessing his next meal. He lets out a slow breath and folds his hands in front of him, entirely disregarding the caseload on his desk.

Your pause lingers as you appraise him. His face is a blank mask; his form covered in an expensive suit that completes the look. Strict, professional, and non-nonsense.

"And how would you prevent the behaviour?" He probes, opinion obscured. Your heart is a drum in your chest; the heat creeps into your ears.

"Well, Sir, with this method we can study past behaviours, we can actually talk to the prisoners and see why they did it, see their thought pattern and compare their behaviour with other offenders.

"Take sex offenders for example. They have already committed crimes, right? So who's to say that they wouldn't take it one step further? Who's to say that next time they commit these crimes they won't also kill? With my new psychology we can determine patterns with these notorious criminals, their sexual and killing patterns, compare it to other offenders, and prevent them from reaching their full potential."

"Well why do we need your new psychology for that? We've been doing this for years and we're fine, we-"

"With all due respect Sir, we are only scratching the surface. We've never actually delved so far into their minds after they've been arrested. I've contacted these guys and they're willing to talk! They want to talk. And when they're talking, we can analyse things we've never had chances to before."