Page 87 of Her Wild Coast Promise

“That’s the connection,” Brian says. “Whoever is luring these girls is utilizing the foster care system as a starting point. He or she knows they are vulnerable, and often lacking support.”

“What if it’s Stoll?” I say. “He notices her at the OCS facility, while visiting Zach and William with Vera. He may have interacted with her outside the facility too, because she and Zach were friends.”

Agent Snow pauses typing to peer at Brian. “His DNA matches what was collected from both female victims, but matching the trace DNA on Jane Doe—Alisha’s—neck will take some time. If it’s a match, he could be our killer.”

While this is wait is expected, I can’t help but ball my fists in frustration. From this DNA link, we know that Stoll had sex with both Terrilynn and Alisha. Likely when they were working for him as prostitutes. My empty stomach arches into my diaphragm, and I tap my fist on my sternum to keep from puking bile onto the table.

I want Stoll behind bars now. Not tomorrow. Not after a fair and just trial six months from today. Now.

“We got employment records from Stoll and Walsh,” Brian says, adding their names to the board. “They overlapped through the summer months a little over a year ago. Neither crew boss remembers seeing Walsh and Stoll together, but I bet with more time and resources, we can find a witness who did.”

“So if Stoll is recruiting girls into the sex trade, how does Walsh fit into it?” Homeland Security Agent Everett Madison asks with a frustrated huff. “He could have set fire to the vet clinic as part of an insurance scam, but what does the survey camp fire have to do with the rest of this? It’s not like Stoll was trying to lure Lexie McCabe.”

Next to me, Hunter stirs in his chair. I know he’s still grappling with his sister’s narrow escape.

And people question my decision to not have a family of my own. I shake my head. How does Hunter sleep at night?

“They’re both working for someone, something bigger,” Brian says, drawing my attention back to the room. On the board, Brian’s drawn a rough chain of command flow chart. There’s an empty box at the top. Below it, an arrow points to Kristov Stoll. Below him, arrows point to boxes in a line. One has “Van der Hoff” written inside it. The other has Walsh. The others have question marks inside them.

Below Vander’s box, an arrow points to another box with Hayden Cole’s name in it. Adjacent, Brian scratches out Terrilynn and Alisha’s names.

“What about Katovich?” I ask. “We have his print on the gas can, then nothing?”

Brian gives me a thoughtful glance. “What if he handles Stoll?”

“That would put him above those three,” Hunter says, pointing at the middle row.

“How high?” Brian asks, gazing at the whiteboard.

“He’s a lieutenant,” I say. “Think of his history. It’s a role he’s already served. He wouldn’t have the connections to be the organization’s lead.”

Brian writes “Katovich” in the box above Vander, Stoll, and Walsh.

“Is that blank box next to Walsh’s for transportation?” I ask because that’s definitely missing. Somehow these girls are getting shuttled around.

“That’s what I was thinking, yeah.” Brian steps back from the board.

“So whoispulling the strings?” Hunter asks.

“Someone powerful,” Brian replies with a grimace.

I stare at the whiteboard and the frightening image it presents. This is organized crime. And the deaths of Terrilynn, Vander, Alisha, and Hayden Cole are all a sign of expansion. Whoever’s at the top is eliminating those who stepped out of line or knew too much in order to accelerate growth.

“Do we think Stoll or Walsh could give that person up?” Special Agent in Charge Gunderson asks.

“Walsh acted pretty nervous,” Hunter says, casting a quick glance in my direction. “I think he’s over his head. Did he gift us his DNA?”

“Yep,” Brian says. “From the soda can.” He glances at Agent Snow, but she shakes her head. “No results yet.”

The room goes quiet for a second. I’m not a mind reader, but I’m pretty sure we’re all thinking about the DNA-matching technology working while we wait. That we got a hit on Stoll’s already but not Walsh’s could mean Walsh is clean, but we likely won’t know for another day.

“Let’s have another crack at Walsh,” I say. “See if he’s ready to make a deal.”

“I’ll go at Stoll again,” Brian says, leaning back against the wall and crossing his arms. “We have pretty impressive leverage now that his DNA is matched to both our female victims.”

“First, a recap,” Mal Gunderson says, sweeping the room with his serious gaze. “Make sure we’re on the same page.”

“Walsh is the arsonist,” Brian says. “Both the vet clinic and the survey camp. He’s a hired guy, probably recruited by Stoll. They met at the train yard. Maybe they have similar interests, like anti-government ideology.”

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