Page 257 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Ruger awakenedWade in his usual way by placing both paws down on his chest. He scratched the canine behind his ears and rose to face another day.

In time, he took the dog out for his run. About halfway around the lake, his cell rang, so he slowed to a walk and answered.

“Please tell me you have good news?” he asked when Molly’s scratchy voice greeted him. The crime-scene technician rarely contacted him directly, so he expected something big.

“You’ll be happy to hear we’ve identified two more victims. One required DNA analysis. Her name is Amanda Curtis. She was reported missing in?—”

“July 2018. I’ve been studying missing persons files.”

“What do you need me for?”

“You know I couldn’t get by without you, Molly. Who is the other victim you’ve identified?”

“Victim’s name is Lorraine Moore. We were able to identify her by running her prints through IAFIS.” She coughed. “There’s something peculiar about this one.”

“What’s that?”

“She hasn’t been reported missing.”

“That’s odd.”

“She’s not in the missing persons database. You’ll need to notify next of kin.”

“I’m finishing up my run with Ruger. I’ll call once I’m inside, so I can write down the details.”

“No need. I’ll email you the information. Call if you have questions.”

“Sounds good.”

Jamie wasat her desk when Wade arrived at the office an hour later. “Did I miss anything?”

“The report from Molly was emailed to both of us, but I’m wondering about something.” She waved a printed copy at him before setting it back down on her desk.

“What’s that?”

“It says here they found her through fingerprints. Why do you think Lorraine Moore had her fingerprints on file?”

“No criminal record?”

“None.”

“Sometimes fingerprints are taken from individuals who take inpatient jobs working with minors.”

“Maybe that’s it.” She shrugged. “It’s another lead we can follow if it becomes necessary. I’ll make a note of it. It’ll be easy enough to get her work history. We can ask when we make the notification to her next of kin.”

“No local cops in her jurisdiction?” Wade picked up the printed email.

“Nope. She lived in Penn Forest Township.”

“It looks like there was a Mr. Moore. Let’s pay him a visit.”

Forty-five minutes later, they arrived at Lorraine Moore’s address of record on Fox Lane. The front door opened as they approached the charming cottage-style Tudor surrounded by wooded acres.

“Can I help you?” a young man asked.

“I hope so. We’re looking for a Mr. Rodney Moore.”

“Junior or the third.”

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