Analyzing

Sitting in the car, Patricia leaned her head against the car window. “This could be our number one suspect. I don't think she's the most sane of all the people we've passed today. She owns all the clothes, and the theft could be a contrived alibi to confuse us. She was very nervous during our visit, especially about the questions we asked. This is one version. The other is that she told us the truth about the theft and we still have no idea who the killer is.”

Marek turned the steering wheel. "You are right! But every single one of them was behaving strangely and suspiciously. For example, the elderly hunter. He had enough knives and guns to commit any of those murders.”

Patricia just nodded slightly to Marek. "Despite the fact that he possesses them, he is still too weak. You were strong enough to open his door together with him pushing against you with just one hand. The girls would probably be able to protect themselves."

Marek smiled. “But maybe they could have been paralyzed by something that can get out of the system over time. The way I look at it from other angles, they also spent a lot of time with the killer, so yes, it could have faded away. Well, next Mrs. Schmitt and her weird son. What do you think of them?”

Patricia looked out the window. “I don't deny that they are both not really well in their heads and we shouldn't just leave them out of the investigation. Those earrings of hers are also proof. Each of our suspects is like a puzzle piece. About Mr. Hauer, he too could be a possible killer. You saw how he reacted to me today.
If the girls rejected him, he could act violently and aggressively. Then he might have killed them. He even looked like an old peddler, and that was clearly suspicious. With all his crime books, he could have committed the perfect crime. We have no clues right now that would lead us to the real killer.”

Marek ran his hand over his face. "Yes, you are right! We cannot accuse anyone without real evidence. This is what won't let us move forward.” Marek looked at her tired face, Patricia was much more fragile in that short time. All the stress began to affect her health. He made up his mind that he would make her work later after a break.

"I think we're both fed up with it and we should finally get to know each other better. We have been living and working together for some Saturday; and Sunday, but you're still like a stranger to me." He took her hand. Patricia didn't quite agree with that. She pulled her hand away from him and shook her head no.

“We have to find that poor girl first. I can't rest now that I know someone out there is in danger and suffering." Marek knew that she was stubborn and tried to explain it to her. "Even if we didn't take that day off, what would have happened? Nothing. We don't have any new leads right now.
I have ordered my colleagues from the police station to monitor our suspects and when something really starts to happen or something is to be figured out, they will inform us immediately. Now it's just a waiting game. So for now we can take it easy, don't you think?"

After thinking for a long time, Patricia looked at Marek and smiled. "You're probably right! We should probably give it a try. A day off is good for both of us. Since I came here, we have been doing nothing but working on this case every day from morning till late night.''

Marek took out his mobile phone and called the police station. He ordered his colleagues to do what he promised and to start shadowing the suspects for a while. After finishing the call, he started his car and drove them back home.

Patricia was very tired and just headed straight to the bathroom to remove her make-up, jump in the shower, and then straight to bed to sleep. In between, Marek prepared something to eat. Just simple sandwiches with ham, cheese, and tomato. He also prepared two for Patricia, but she was already in her bedroom.

This happened for the first time. Marek felt guilty that he had put such pressure on Patricia right from the start. He blamed himself that he was probably the reason for the decline in Patricia's health. He realized this in the car when she refused him and the day off, despite the fact that the whole thing was exhausting her beyond belief. He felt like the last human waste.

He wrapped the sandwiches nicely and put them in the fridge for breakfast for Patricia. He wrote a message on top. "Patricia, please eat me!" After a lonely dinner, which he was not even used to, he also jumped into the shower and fell asleep on the couch, freezing a little. In the middle of the night, Patricia wanted to go to the toilet.

She saw him lying on the couch sleeping and shaking. She took a blanket from his room and was going to cover him. As she bent down and covered him, he grabbed her wrist. Marek pulled Patricia towards him. She fell on him and was very surprised. He just held her in his arms without saying anything.

After a while, he broke the silence. "Forgive me for being a jerk to you. I know how much you have done for this case and how much you are trying your best to support me and solve it as soon as possible. I don't want you to feel pressured by me. Forgive me!”

Only now did she understand what the sudden affection meant. She returned the hug and finally got the grown-up behavior she expected. After this, they both went back to their rooms to sleep.