Page 107 of Don't Shoot Me Santa

A few students shifted uneasily. Someone whispered, “That’s messed up.”

“It is,” Kenny agreed. “But from a forensic psychology lens, it makes sense. Delusional killers, especially those with messianic or saviour complexes, often fuse personal trauma with grand symbolic narratives. Christmas offers them a stage: lights, costumes, stories of salvation and judgment. It’s the perfect setting for someone who thinks they’re correcting the world.”

He witnessed the weight of it land on the room.

“And staging a body by a nativity scene? That’s not coincidence. That’s deliberate placement. Symbolic rebirth. A warped re-enactment of innocence. Purity. Sacrifice.” He looked around the class. Assessing each face. “These victims weren’t chosen for who they were. But for what they represent. To the killer… they were offerings.”

A hand went up. Kenny nodded.

“So who is it?”

Kenny clicked the pen shut.

“Offender profiling isn’t about naming someone. It’s not guesswork or crystal ball reading. It’s a structured process based on behavioural analysis. We build psychological frameworks. Not accusations. Our role is to help investigators ask better questions, focus their resources, and understand what kind of person could commit this kind of crime, under what psychological conditions.”

He clicked the pen open again and returned to the board. With steady strokes, he wrote:

UNSUB PROFILE

Likely mid-to-late 30s.

High-functioning; appears socially competent. Although won’t have a large friendship group. If any. Could be considered odd. Strange.

Educated; may have access to academic, caregiving, or outreach settings.

Emotionally repressed; history of control over vulnerability.

Possibly single or socially isolated; few close relationships.

Local, or with longstanding emotional ties to this community.

Likely raised under strict moral, religious, or ideological conditions.

Evidence of ritualised thinking; symbolic logic; moral rigidity.

He underlinedsymbolic logic.

“We’re probably looking at someone who isn’t acting out of rage or thrill. Their behaviour suggests structure, ritual, and delusion. In their mind, this isn’t crime. It’s correction. They believe they’re doing something necessary.” He turned back to the class. “That’s what makes this type of killer dangerous. They’re not trying to hide in darkness. They’re trying tojustifyit. To themselves. Maybe even to someone else.”

The bell rang.

Its shrill echo cut the tension but didn’t clear it.

Kenny cleared his throat, and the only thing he could think to say then was, “Merry Christmas.”

The irony hung heavy in the air.

Chairs scraped. Coats pulled on. The students murmured their goodbyes and shuffled out in groups. Quiet, thoughtful, a few glancing over their shoulders at the whiteboard one last time. At least they wouldn’t be taking sweets from any mallSantas this year. If they dreamt of him, it would be in shadows, not sleigh bells. But they’d be alert. Aware. Safe.

He turned to pack up, shutting the whiteboard, sliding his laptop into its case.

“Dr Lyons?” Principal Harrow approached from the back of the room, arms folded, eyes downcast as if walking into church.

“Ms Harrow.” Kenny nodded. “Administrative observation, was it? Or interested in offender profiling?”

“Ah, yes. A little observation. I didn’t want to interrupt.” She smiled. “Very insightful. What you said.”

Kenny slung his bag over one shoulder. “I realise it veered a little off-curriculum. But let’s be honest, better than forcing them to analyseFrozenagain. Although Elsa’s saviour complex is always tempting.”