Page 2 of The Unbecoming

“When I call your name, come get your file,” Professor Green says.

The professor starts calling out names and students come up one by one to take their folders. Some people look absolutely terrified, while others are excited. A few look simply indifferent.

“And that leaves Nora,” Professor Green says. I stand and walk over to take the file, but he doesn’t release it immediately. “I need you to stay after and discuss yours with me, Ms. Bennett.”

“Okay?” I say, trying not to sound confused or annoyed. Why is he approaching this like I’m about to get skinned alive?

I sit back in my seat before opening the file.

Name: Gabriel Ashcroft

Age: 35

Birthday: November 12, 1991

Education: B.S. Psychology, M.S. Criminal Psychology, Ph.D. Criminal Psychology

Occupation: Former Professor of Criminal Psychology, St. Alder University

Charges: 9 counts of First-Degree Murder, 9 counts of Abuse of a Corpse, 9 counts of Tampering with Physical Evidence, 9 counts of Kidnapping

Behavioral Summary: Victimology revealed no consistent demographic pattern with respect to age, sex, occupation, or socioeconomic status.—Behavioral analysts were unable to determine whether the variation in offense characteristics reflected forensic countermeasures, behavioral experimentation, or an unidentified ritualistic motive.—Subject possesses advanced training in offender profiling and interview techniques. Multiple detectives documented the subject’s ability to rapidly develop accurate psychological profiles of investigators and interviewers during custodial interviews.

Notes: Interviewers should avoid disclosing unnecessary personal information. The subject has demonstrated an exceptional ability to identify behavioral vulnerabilities during conversation. The subject has consented to interviews but consistently refused formal psychological evaluation. The maximum interview duration recommended is 60 minutes.

Am I interviewing him… alone? What kind of fucking university is this? I won’t deny it, though. I’m curious.

I know who Professor Ashcroft is. I don’t really follow the media very much, but I have had other students talk about him, and he has never been framed in an outwardly negative way. Most of the time it’s just the “I can fix him” type of jokes because he is supposedly handsome.

What I find interesting is that serial killers are notorious for sticking to one type of victim. The victims are usually similar in age, sex, occupation, nationality, or whatever other variation. The fact that he has both male and female victims, and there is no consistent method of killing, is honestly wild.

I noticed right away that there aren’t any crime scene photos attached. Most everyone in the room has case details attached.

“Professor Green?” I say, still reading the file.

“Yes, Nora?” he asks.

“Why aren’t there any crime scene photos?” I look up at him, and he is obviously uncomfortable. “Most everyone has crime scene photos. If he is accused of nine murders, surely they have something.”

“They are sealed,” he says. “The subject agreed to release the documents for this interview, but the prosecution would not allow it due to its graphic nature and massive media presence.”

“Okay… Am I reading correctly that I am interviewing him alone?”

“When class lets out, we can go over some things,” he says.

“Alright,” I say.

I pull out my notebook and start writing down questions I want to ask. Because my goal is to develop a criminal profile, there are certain things that I need to ask about.

By the time the other students start leaving the room, I have already filled up three pages.

“Okay,” Professor Green says with a sigh as he pulls a chair over to my desk.

“May I ask why I was given Professor Ashcroft?” I ask.

“Because you are the only one who hasn’t taken a class of his and is psychologically equipped to handle an interview with Gabriel,” he says.

“Meaning… The others who qualify wouldn’t be able to handle him?”