Page 45 of The Perfect Revenge
Ten minutes later, they were on a roll.
After ending the video call with Devin Hayes, they’d immediately reached out to Jamil and Beth to get whatever they could on Sienna Tropper.While the researchers looked into that, she called Veronica Sterling’s husband, Gray.Susannah did the same with Maggie Caldwell’s ex, Teddy Borowitz.They both asked the men the same question: did you ever use Sienna Tropper as a surrogate?The answer came back the same: yes. Both couples had used her before going to EFS.And in both instances, Tropper had miscarried.
Jamil and Beth filled in the biographical details.Sienna Tropper was currently 35 years old.She had first become a surrogate at 23 years old, when she was trying to earn money for medical school.It became something of a second profession for her.Over the course of five years, she successfully served as a surrogate for three couples.
Then, according to financial records, came Lena and Devin Hayes.After their unsuccessful efforts, Tropper worked with the Sterlings.And then the Borowitzes.Over the course of three years, she had three miscarriages.
“Maybe something happened to her physically while pregnant for the Hayes,” Susannah suggested.“It seems like that was where the issues started.”
Jessie thought that made a lot of sense.
"If that's the case, and if she's our murderer, that would explain the timeline.Lena Hayes was found last, but she was killed first.Next was Veronica Sterling, followed by Maggie Caldwell.That's the same order in which she worked with them.If she somehow held these women responsible for her inability to carry a pregnancy to term anymore, then this sequence might make some kind of disturbed sense."
Beth leapt in with another realization.“And as a surrogate for all those women, she probably would have been in their homes previously and known the layout in order to sneak in.”
"That or she could have simply knocked on the door, and they probably would have let her in," Jessie added."I suspect that's what happened with Lena Hayes and maybe with Maggie Caldwell too."
“Do we know where she is now?”Susannah asked excitedly, clearly confident that they had their person.
"It looks like she lives with her mother in Santa Monica," Jamil said."I'm sending you the address now."
Jessie and Susannah got up and left the conference room, headed for the car.As they did, the researchers continued.
“It seems like she really fell on hard times after the series of miscarriages," Beth said."She dropped out in the middle of her medical residency and ended up going to nursing school.Then she dropped out of that, too.She's currently working as a medical aide at a surgery center.”
“That would explain how she got access to the Propofol,” Jessie noted.“Should we go there instead?”
"It's 6:08 now, and they close at 5:30, so I don't think so," Beth said."But when we hang up, I'll call them just in case they're open."
Jamil piped in.“It looks like her personal life took a downward turn around the same time as her professional life.She was evicted from two apartments in the years after the miscarriages and leaving her residency.She has several misdemeanors on her record, mostly drug-related.She was always able to avoid jail time but got probation twice.And based on some records, it looks like she may have spent a stint in a mental health facility in the last year as well.”
They reached the car and got in.Susannah was just backing out of their spot when Beth spoke up.
“The surgery center is closed for the day,” she confirmed.
“It looks like we’re headed to Santa Monica then,” Jessie said, plugging in the address of Tropper’s mother.“With traffic, this says we’re nine minutes away.”
Susannah shook her head.
“With me driving, we’ll be there in half that.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Susannah wasn’t wrong.
Using her siren, cherry light, and lead foot, they pulled up in front of Eileen Tropper’s cottage house four minutes later.
Jessie was impressed but borderline ill as a result of her partner’s driving style.At least Susannah had taken her advice and shut off the siren and light when they got close so they wouldn’t tip Tropper off to their arrival.
They jogged up the path to the cottage.While Susannah stood off to the side, Jessie knocked on the door of Eileen Tropper, a retired, widowed librarian.She was ready to identify herself through the door when asked, but it turned out not to be necessary.It opened to reveal a pleasant-looking woman in her mid-sixties with shortish gray hair and bifocals.She was wearing an apron over jeans and a casual, floral top.
“Hi.Eileen Tropper?”Jessie confirmed.
“Yes dear.How may I help you?”She wiped what looked like flour on the front of the apron.
Since Tropper was being so accommodating, Jessie decided to use a less confrontational approach than she might have otherwise.
"Ma'am, my name is Jessie.This is Susannah.We work with the LAPD, and we were hoping to talk to your daughter, Sienna."
