"Is there something wrong with this towel?" Lawrence looked puzzled, not understanding why Dean was staring at a towel in a daze.
"Pay attention to the logo on this towel."
Dean pointed at the pattern on one corner of the towel.
It was a Q-version of a bull that resembled the Red Bull logo, and beneath the bull, there was a line of text: Ross Gym.
This was a gym towel.
"So?" Lawrence still didn't grasp what Dean meant.
Dean had to explain, "Linda and Amanda's lockers both contained leggings. There are so many fitness enthusiasts that I didn't originally think in this direction. However, your criminal thinking gave me a hint. Do you think someone who enjoys breaking into homes to rape and kill, and who also repeatedly tortures their victims, might actually be an extremely boring person? Someone with no other outlet for their energy, possibly spending a lot of time at the gym just to burn it off?"
Since the murderer had interactions with both victims, why must their point of contact have been the supermarket, and not the gym?
"It's simple. We go to this gym, check the membership records, and we can confirm this," Lawrence was a man of action.
The two drove off and located Ross Gym.
The gym wasn't small. It was seven or eight kilometers away from the residences of the two victims, which made them both doubt if they were overthinking things. But since they were already there, they still went in. They passed the front desk without any change in expression and found the person in charge of the gym.
"I'm Laura, the manager here. Gentlemen detectives, how may I assist you?"
Laura was a curvaceous brunette with a stunning figure, dressed in yoga attire. Her large eyes lingered on Dean's face. She was evidently quite interested in him.
Lawrence felt a tinge of jealousy.
He stepped forward, took out two pieces of personal information, and said sternly, "Miss Laura, we would like to know if these two people are members of the gym."
Laura took the papers from Lawrence's hand. Upon seeing their contents, she instinctively covered her mouth. "I've seen reports about their unfortunate incidents. They were members here?"
Although the police had sealed the news, Laura's reaction made it clear that the recent string of home invasion rapes and murders targeting single women had still caused a stir among the public.
"We'll know if we check."
Lawrence didn't reveal too much information.
"All right."
Laura, holding Linda and Amanda's information, took Lawrence to the office.
Her computer contained all registered members' information. Dean, meanwhile, took the opportunity to wander around the gym.
His good looks matched the aesthetic preferred by the local clientele. Along the way, women exuding flirtatious energy boldly approached him, asking for his contact details.
Dean even overheard suppressed panting coming from inside some of the VIP-exclusive gym rooms.
This place was quite chaotic.
Ross Gym was indeed large. It occupied a six-story building that not only had a dedicated equipment area and changing/shower areas but also a combat training zone and VIP-exclusive rooms.
Dean even saw posters for Jeet Kune Do.
If the timing hadn't been off, he really would have wanted to inquire further. After all, his physical body was going to keep getting stronger. Not learning some fighting techniques would be a waste.
As he strolled, Dean noticed that almost everyone here had a towel provided for free by the gym.
He asked someone about it.
It turned out this was one of Ross Gym's perks. After members signed up, they received two towels for free and could even exchange them for new ones if they got damaged.
Dean whistled. "Not a bad perk," he remarked. His thoughts then turned to the towel fibers found at the scene of the second home invasion rape and murder.
The murderer had been very careful. The towel used to gag the victim was one he had brought with him, and he hadn't forgotten to take it away. Consequently, the fibers found in the victim's teeth were of no use.
And towels are common household items, making it difficult to find useful clues on them.
Now, things were different. With the gym distributing towels in such large quantities, they must have been custom-ordered from a single supplier. If they could confirm that the towel fibers from the victim's mouth matched the composition of these towels, the case would have a new direction. This could be a breakthrough!
Soon, Lawrence came back with a smile. "Dean, you guessed right. Linda and Amanda are indeed members here, although I don't understand why they would travel this far to work out."
"You don't think this place is just a gym, do you?"
Dean laughed.
Lawrence looked utterly baffled. A gym this big, and you're telling me it's not just for working out?
Laura, standing to the side, had a somewhat embarrassed look on her face.
This place was indeed not just a gym but also a "socializing" venue—a better spot for socializing than a bar.
People who love fitness tend to be more disciplined. Such people often find more success, so a significant number of successful individuals were members. Combined with the burst of hormones after a workout, the success rate for beautiful women looking to meet affluent men was also higher here.
That's why the membership of Ross Gym included many attractive women from the area.
It was one of their selling points.
Actually, many well-known large-scale gyms operated this way.
After getting the towel manufacturer's information from Laura, Dean and Lawrence took a new towel and rushed to the forensics department.
On the way, Lawrence kept asking, "Dean, what did you mean when you said the gym is more than just a gym?"
Dean hadn't expected Lawrence to be so "naive" and had to explain it to him simply.
"So, things like that happen..."
Lawrence muttered to himself.
Damn it! I forgot to ask how much an annual membership costs there!
...
At the forensics department, a chubby young white man greeted Dean and Lawrence. His name was Bill.
When Dean and Lawrence saw him, Bill was in front of a corpse, chowing down on a large, juicy hamburger, with a glass of tomato juice beside him.
"Bill, we've got something for you," Lawrence said, unfazed by the scene as he held out the towel. "Could you please analyze the fiber composition of this?"
"Hmph. I need a break right now." Bill glanced at Dean, the new face, then lowered his head again, completely snubbing Lawrence.
"One Giant Burger meal!"
Lawrence gritted his teeth and held up one finger.
The Giant Burger meal successfully hit Bill's weak spot.
After swallowing the mouthful of burger, Bill gave Lawrence an enthusiastic hug. "Oh! If it isn't my good buddy Lawrence! What can I do for you?"
After speaking, he surreptitiously wiped his greasy hands on Lawrence's back...
The towel fibers from the victim's mouth hadn't been kept at the forensics lab, but the component analysis record was on file.
The identification analysis would take some time.
They had no choice but to return for the results the next day.
「Leaving the forensics department.」
Lawrence kept glancing at Dean, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Dean felt uneasy from being watched and said helplessly, "What exactly do you want to say?"
"Can we go Dutch on the Giant Burger meal?"
"Damn it!" Dean gave Lawrence the middle finger.
Harry was right. He might have a rugged and imposing face, but damn, he was stingy!
「Back at the detective bureau.」
The office was deserted, with only Harry on duty, slacking off.
He told Dean and Lawrence a piece of good news and a piece of bad news—or rather, both were bad news.