Zipperface

A sadomasochistic serial killer wearing a bondage suit begins murdering stage actresses who moonlight as BDSM prostitutes, throwing the city into fear. Detectives Lisa Ryder and Harry Shine are assigned to the case, under intense pressure from Mayor Angela Harris to bring the killer to heel.

Ryder and Shine take command of the investigation, coordinating patrols and forensics to detect patterns in the killings. The case becomes a political headache for Mayor Harris, who demands swift results to protect her administration.

As the inquiry widens, the detectives identify several potential suspects: misogynist officer Willy Scalia, cross-dressing aide Devon McClain, Reverend Dimsdale, and photographer Michael Walker. Each suspect carries a plausible link to the victims or the sex-work world surrounding the case.

Lisa begins dating Michael Walker in secret, a personal entanglement that complicates the investigation. The romance strains professional judgment and raises questions about how much personal life can influence a high-stakes case.

Mounting circumstantial evidence against Michael leads to Ryder's suspension from the force, and a warrant is issued for his arrest. He and Ryder push forward, determined to prove Michael's innocence and uncover the killer's true identity.

Following clues tied to Reverend Dimsdale, Michael and Lisa confront the preacher in an attempt to expose a possible network behind the victims. They suspect a darker link between his charity work and criminal activity.

The investigators discover Reverend Dimsdale slain by a slit throat, a brutal clue pointing toward Zipperface. They question one of Dimsdale's prostitutes, who reveals that Dimsdale had begged her not to miss an appointment with a new ‘John’.

The prostitute's account links Dimsdale to a larger pimping network connected to the killer and the sex-work scene around the victims. The case expands beyond a single rogue killer to a broader, more dangerous operation.

Following the clues, Ryder and Michael locate an abandoned warehouse that houses Zipperface's sex dungeon. Shine tails them, adding tension as the pursuit moves closer to the killer's lair.

Inside the warehouse, Zipperface ambushes Michael and attempts to strangle Lisa, pushing the investigators to their limits. Michael fights back, buying time for backup to arrive.

Michael recovers and uses Zipperface's own machete to stab him, temporarily incapacitating the killer. Shine arrives with reinforcements and Mayor Harris to secure the scene.

Zipperface is unmasked as Brewster, Mayor Harris's husband, whose motive stems from emasculation and a need to dominate sex workers. The revelation ties the killer to the mayor's personal and political circle.

Overwhelmed by the truth, Mayor Harris pulls a gun and shoots Brewster, ending the killer's rampage and triggering the political downfall that follows. The case closes as the city mourns the victims and faces the fallout for its leaders.