Page 29 of Girl, Accused

‘Only found three names so far. A war vet, bored housewife and a bird watcher.’

‘Any red flags?’

‘Not unless you count Summers herself. The woman never met a twelve-letter word she didn’t want to marry. It’s never anxiety, it’stextbook manifestations of generalized apprehension with comorbid attachment dysfunction.’

‘Like rolling a turd in glitter.’

‘Yup.’

'Well, keep digging, and keep your grubby fingerprints away from thepaper. That's still evidence.'

‘That’s why I’ve got gloves on, genius.’

Ripley sat at her laptop and started chewing a pen. ‘This is the part I haven’t missed the most,’ she said.

‘The brick walls?’

‘Yeah. You figured out what the P on Summers’ head means yet?’

‘Still working on it. All I’ve got’s a professor who couldn’t keep it in his pants.’

‘I was thinking about that. It could belibido.’

Ella went back to the last few notes in front of her. ‘Historical branding doesn’t work like that. The letter represents what the criminal was convicted of.’

‘So, wouldn’t that be adultery?’ Ripley asked. ‘Means that Summers was guilty of a similar sin.’

Sin. Ellasnagged on the word. She repeated it in her head. Adultery, cheating, affair, betrayal. ‘Maybe, but adultery doesn’t begin with L.’

Before she could mentally dig any deeper, she glanced at the next piece of plastic-wrapped paper on the pile in front of her.

Another name appeared.

PATIENT: Jeremy Caldwell.

SESSION NOTES: Patient continues to exhibit increased religious fervor following his incarceration period (Mansfield Correctional, 2018-2023). While maintaining abstinence from chemical dependencies, he has transferred his addictive personality traits to fundamentalist theology. His self-appointed role as ‘religious speaker’ lacks official ordination but provides structure to his psychological framework. Has developed significant following through online ministry despite (or perhaps because of) his criminal record.Recommended continued anti-psychotic medication, though patient shows resistance to current dosage.

Ella’s pulse kicked into higher gear. ‘Mia, check this.’

‘What?’

‘Summers was treating a psychotic.’

Ripley wheeled herself over. ‘How psychotic?’

‘Any psychotic is enough.’ Ella pushed the file over. ‘Check that out.’

‘Jeremy Caldwell. Says he did a stint in prison.’

‘Yup, and akiller like this is going to have a history. No one just wakes up one day and decides to start branding foreheads.’

Ripley wheeled back over to her laptop and hammered the keyboard. ‘Caldwell. Let’s take a closer look.’

Ella joined her partner at the other side of the desk. The police database came to life on the screen. Ripley threw in the nameJeremy Caldwelland clicked search.

One result.

‘Got him.’ Ripley clicked into the suspect’s file. ‘Well, well. Caldwell’s been a busy boy.’

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