Page 36 of The Graveyard Girls
Ellie couldn’t deny the similarities.
“We don’t know the significance of leaving one shoe and taking the other, but it’s possible the color red triggers a past trauma,” said Derrick.
“It’s the color of blood,” Ellie said simply.
Exactly what he was thinking. “Unfortunately, we have no suspects. But we believe the same person, the killer, was in all these places at one time. And that north North Georgia is his hunting ground.”
FORTY-ONE
Ellie’s stomach churned. If this killer was the same one who’d abducted Ruth fifteen years ago, there could be victims they hadn’t found. The enormity of that and that they had no definitive persons of interest worried her even more.
She drummed her fingers on the table. “The fact that there are multiple victims in different locations could suggest that our killer either travels around or his job takes him to these areas.”
“The work angle would definitely fit,” Derrick agreed.
“But that’s another needle in the haystack,” Ellie said. “He could be homeless and moving around or his job involves travel, which could be anything from a traveling salesman to a writer to a truck driver, delivery guy, handyman, a traveling nurse, even Uber driver.”
She gestured to Deputy Landrum who was their resident tech expert. “Landrum, start looking into that. Check with the detectives working the cases Agent Fox just added to the murder board. See if the families mentioned someone related to them or acquaintances who might fit those descriptions.” It was a long shot but they had to start somewhere.
“On it,” Deputy Landrum said. “Send me copies of the police reports, Agent Fox.”
Derrick nodded. “My partner at the Bureau is searching the girls’ social media, emails and texts for connections to one another. Maybe a teen chat room or something. Our killer could be a cyber stalker.”
“Good point,” Ellie said. They needed more manpower. The FBI had sophisticated technology and more expertise in doing that than their police department. “We need as much help as we can get.”
“I’ll ask Angelica Gomez here for another press conference,” Captain Hale added.
Ellie didn’t want to create panic, but if the news story brought in a helpful tip, it was worth it.
Derrick cleared his throat. “Detective Reeves, if our first victim was Ruth Higgins, I suggest we go to Brambletown.”
“Agreed. Maybe someone remembered something that seemed unimportant at the time. Or if they’ve kept secrets, the realization that the kidnapper/killer may have not stopped with Ruth, might shake them up enough to talk.”
Cord shifted restlessly. “If you need manpower to question locals, I’m in.”
Ellie nodded. Cord had proven helpful on all the cases they’d worked together. Not officially being a cop might make it easier for some people to open up to him.
Time was not on their side. They needed answers before the killer struck again.
FORTY-TWO
Athens, Georgia
Jacey Ward shoved her fingers through her tousled hair as she slipped from the mattress on the floor where she’d been sleeping with her boyfriend, Cameron. He lay on his back in his boxers, arms and legs sprawled, snoring.
She dragged on her T-shirt and skirt, then slipped on her red boots. When she’d first met Cam, he’d been the guy of her dreams. Cute, buff, sweet and flirty. She’d met him with one of her friends at the local coffee shop and fallen head over heels in love.
The first time she’d snuck out of her parents’ house to meet him at one of his friend’s parties she thought she’d died and gone to heaven. All her friends were so jealous. Three months later, her parents had found out and grounded her for life.
But that hadn’t stopped her. She’d run away with him. After all, she’d dreamed about attending UGA and he was in Athens, right where she wanted to be.
At first it had been romantic. He rented a tiny apartment and they hooked up all the time.
Until he’d turned to weed then cocaine with his buddies. She’d experimented once but drugs made her paranoid and she’d regretted it.
But Cam went down the rabbit hole and never came back.
His parents had cut him off money wise, then he’d lost the apartment and they started couch surfing with anyone who’d put them up. That didn’t last long so now they stayed here in this hostel, packed in with some homeless guys who gave her the creeps when they looked at her.
