Page 9 of Colton's Second Chance
Eli seemed to measure his response, taking a beat before saying, “Allison was the second victim found. We’ve found five bodies with similar traits linking them to the same killer so far.”
“And what is the unifying link between victims? Do you have any leads on who the killer is yet? Where were the bodies found? Were they together, like in a mass grave? Is there reason to think Allison knew any of the other victims? Why would the killer have singled out Allison?” She rattled off one question after another. While she had him talking, she intended to get as much information as she could. “You mentioned a fake diamond ring earlier. Is that what ties the victims to each other?”
Eli frowned and glanced away. “Like I said before, I’m not allowed to divulge detailed information—”
She held up a hand to cut him off, her mouth firming in frustration. “Eli, I understand the police have their policies, butsome information has already been reported in the press. And while I read what I could find online on my trip up from Seattle, I know there’s got to be more. I’m just asking you to fill in a few gaps, give me a better understanding of the big picture.”
Eli shook his head. “I understand why you have questions, but I really can’t divulge much. It could jeopardize the case. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”
Noelle twisted her mouth, keying in on one word. “Much? Then you can tell me something. Right?”
He glanced away, and she gripped his hand to drag his attention back to her. “Come on, Eli. You know I won’t tell anyone. I mean, I want this guy caught as much as anyone. I won’t do anything to hurt the case.”
“Noelle…” he said, his tone skeptical.
“You can trust me to keep everything you say confidential.” The look she gave him pleaded for his cooperation, for his trust.
Eli pinched the bridge of his nose. Finally, with a sigh, he said, “Here’s what I can say. Based on forensics, the first victim was killed about three years ago, indicating this guy has been operating for a while.”
“Three years? That long?” She goggled at him. “H-how long ago was Allison killed?”
He leaned forward, angling his head as he narrowed his gaze on her. “Actually, you can help us with that question. When’s the last time you heard from her? Did she mention anyone new in her life, romantically or otherwise? Maybe someone who was stalking or harassing her?”
Noelle dropped her gaze to the tabletop and chortled. “I rarely talked to anyone in my family after I left when I was eighteen. Don’t you remember that I stayed on campus for holidays and worked internships during the summer?”
He nodded. “I remember everything about you and our time together. Including the fact you rarely talked about your familyand changed the subject when I asked questions. But things could have changed since college. And you mentioned earlier you’d had some limited contact with Allison.”
For her sanity’s sake, she ignored his comment about their time together and focused on the investigation, on Allison. “I only had a handful of phone calls from Allison. One on my nineteenth birthday, another when I graduated from UW, and one when Mom and Dad were killed in the plane crash three years ago.”
His expression shifted, and something akin to sorrow crossed his face. “Your parents were killed in a plane crash? I’m so sorry. I knew they were deceased because of our search for Allison’s next of kin, but not…” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. That’s terrible.”
She pursed her mouth and gave a dismissive shrug. “Yeah, well, it was harder on Allison than me. I’d already grieved the loss of my parents for all practical purposes long before their plane went down in the mountains.”
“What do you mean, you’d already grieved their loss? What happened?”
She waved off his question. “Not important now. All you need to know is that the call three years ago about our parents was the last time I talked to Allison. So, no, I know nothing about her love life or friends or new people.”
Eli grunted. “Another dead end. Damn.” His gaze flicked up, embarrassment flushing his cheeks. “Sorry. Poor word choice.”
“Whatever.” She wasn’t concerned with semantics or tiptoeing around each other based on false sensibilities. Gathering her thoughts, she tried a new line of inquiry. “You keep saying ‘he.’ You’re sure the killer is a man?”
He sipped his coffee, then nodded slowly. “Based on what little DNA we’ve found on the victims, yes. He’s careful, though, and leaves little trace evidence behind. Unfortunately, his DNAis not in CODIS, which is the US database, or in Canada’s system, either, so we haven’t got an ID on him yet.”
Their waiter appeared at the table again and asked if they were ready to order. When Noelle hesitated and scrabbled for the menu, Eli ordered his “regular.”
“Grilled salmon sandwich with fries,” the waiter said, not bothering to write it down.
Even though she could get all the fresh salmon she wanted in Seattle, Noelle told the waiter, “I’ll have the same.”
The waiter left, and Noelle nibbled her bottom lip as she processed what she’d learned. “So…he’s not in the system. Meaning he’s never been arrested before?”
“Not every person arrested is swabbed for DNA, but he likely hasn’t been arrested for a sex crime, violent crime or a number of other significant felonies.”
She frowned and lifted her beer for a sip, ruminating. “So what leads do you have? What ties the cases together? The news reports dubbed this guy the Fiancée Killer because of the diamond ring the victims wore, right?”
He nodded. “That’s right.”
“And I read that they were all found wearing a black dress. Right?”
