[ WP ] A genius serial killer who has been killing successfully for a decade . With one weakness . He can never ever lie . He 's finally gets caught and is facing trial for a murder in court . Yet , he walks , acquitted of all charges .

Brian Mantle. 31 years old Caucasian male. 
 
 I pick up the file, knowing the interview I was about to step in to was likely going to be the most important of my 25 year career with the Metropolitan police force. 
 
 “ Which room? ” I say to Beth. 
 
 “ 20. ” She looks up from the reception computer, and we share a look, hers the gentle smile of a proud mother figure, mine quiet triumph. We finally got him. She pushes her glasses up her nose in to her greying hair. “ Well done Ted. ” 
 
 Brian Mantle was an ugly man. Tall and slightly balding. Dark brown hair. Sharp blue eyes that tracked my steps in to the interview room entirely emotionless. Unlike most murder suspects, he seemed unafraid of me. I clicked the recorder in to the on position. 
 
 “ Are you sure you do n't want to speak to a lawyer? ” I asked, definitely hoping he continued his flat out refusal to seek legal guidance. I had to ask. Everything needed to be above board. 
 
 “ I do not need legal guidance. ” 
 
 “ On the 22nd of January, yesterday, we arrested you on suspicion of the murder of 8 individuals. In your possession was a laptop that points to you as the sole owner of GreyMarket.com, an online market place with a multi billion pound yearly turnover. Grey Market has been a thorn in the side of the police force worldwide, supplying 80 % of nationwide drug dealings, huge quantities of stolen personal data... ” 
 
 A smirk was growing on Mantles face as I was talking. I took a moment to swallow down my disbelief. In a case this straight forward and serious, a man with any sense would fail to see the funny side. His comfortable life in his London apartment was over. He was going to spend the rest of his days locked in a cell. 
 
 “ So I have a few questions, Mr. Mantle. This laptop, it's yours, am I correct? ” 
 
 “ You are. ” 
 
 I looked at him as I flipped over 3 pages of questions intended to link him to his laptop. He was clearly mad as a hatter. 
 
 “ And where were you on Tuesday 15th November 2014? ” 
 
 The criminal cleared his throat. 
 
 “ On Saturday 15 November I was in my house, working on an encryption project. I answered 215 emails. I cleaned my kitchen and cooked pasta and tomato sauce for dinner. ” 
 
 “ We have evidence to link you to a hotel booking in Manchester. ” 
 
 “ I stayed at the Marriot Hotel Manchester on Tuesday 18th November. ” 
 
 “ Why did you book that hotel? ” 
 
 “ I booked it because I intended to kill Mr. Smithton-White, and I completed that task at 3pm the same day. ” 
 
 I fought to keep my jaw off the floor, then in the same instant had to fight the smile off my face. This man, the one I had hunted obsessively for years. The one my team was calling genius and an enigma was sitting in front of me and I was n't even going to need to cross question him. From here, it was an easy ride. He would get several life sentences. I would get a raise. I collected my notes from the table and switched off the recorder. I turned back to him. 
 
 “ I have just one more thing to ask. My team questioned you at the station this time last year. You were knew we were getting closer to catching you. Why did n't you pack up, go to Russia, or somewhere overseas and live like a king in the lap of luxury? ” 
 
 His face twitched. 
 
 “ Because humans are really stupid. I am going to walk from this jail a free man. You'll sign the release form yourself. ” 
 
 He paused. 
 
 “ You're still too dumb to see it. ” 
 
 - 
 
 I got to the station early the next day. The news had broken and the station was surrounded by the press. I had n't really slept, a cocktail of caffeine and nerves keeping me alert. 
 
 The chief of police met me in the lobby. 
 
 “ Ted! ” He greeted me with a smile. “ A word please? ” 
 
 We settled in to his office. 
 
 “ How are you finding the case? ” 
 
 “ It's the biggest thing I've ever been a part of. ” I smiled at him. “ I'm extremely pleased with my team. It seems the rest is going to be very simple too. He's not even hiding the fact he's a criminal. ” 
 
 My boss took a sip off coffee from the desk. 
 
 “ It's not your standard case. He'll stand trial of course, and he will be found guilty. But that's the beginning. ” 
 
 He looked at his desk. There was more to this than met the eye. I waited patiently for him to speak. 
 
 “ I received a telephone call from the CIA this morning. They're going to be taking Mr. Mantle off our hands once the press hype has calmed down. ” 
 
 “ They're going to interrogate him? ” 
 
 “ No. They're making him a job offer. ” 
 
 My mouth spoke before my brain caught up. 
 
 “ You're fucking with me. ” 
 
 “ Ted. ” My boss looked at my coldly “ Brian Mantle is a killer, but he is also a genius. What he knows about the criminal underworld, names, places, addresses, that's valuable. The password to his digital wallet would make a real dent in the US national debt. But his work on encryption is of unimaginable importance to the CIA. They've made an offer we'd be unwise to refuse. ” 
 
 I looked at my coffee. 
 
 “ You'll get your moment Ted. You are still a hero. The press will want to know your name, and of course, we'll need to talk about your pay in due course. ” 
 
 “ But Brian wo n't go to prison. He'll walk free of his charges? ” 
 
 The police chief straightened his tie. 
 
 “ I trust we do n't have an issue, Mr. Manderson? ” 
 
 In a moment, my anger, my sense of justice, the sound of Dave's voice when I took the call from the murder scene, a family cut to bits in cold blood, the emotion boiled under my skin. The horror in his voice as his professionalism went to war with the fact he was just a man, and they were just a family. And then just as quickly, the feeling died. 
 
 I reached to shake my bosses hand. 
 
 “ I hope the CIA know what they're buying. ”
