Page 30 of Forbidden Wish

“How can we figure that out? How would we know who—”

“We need to look at recent missing persons reports,” she said, finishing her coffee. “Come on. I know what we have to do.”

***

SAUNTERING INTO THE police precinct with Mila at her side, it was a relief to see a familiar face.

“Look who came to visit.”

“Hey, Lou,” she said, going up to the desk.

“What can we do for you? I don’t think McLeod’s in—”

“That’s okay,” she said. “Any chance we can have a look at missing persons reports for the last couple of weeks?”

He frowned. “You lose someone?”

“Maybe.”

“Can you narrow it down for me?”

“Women. In their twenties. Pretty. College educated.”

“This that murder thing again?” he asked, typing.

Laying her forearms on the counter, she leaned over them. “Maybe… Just playing it through to the end.”

“By starting at the beginning,” Lou said, reading his screen. “Got three hits for you.”

Oh, that was good. Not good that three people were missing, good that they were making progress.

She took her phone out and opened her notes app. “Can I have their socials?”

He let out a single short burst of laughter. “I shouldn’t even give you their names.”

“I know,” she said. Not like she wasn’t known for taking chances or pushing the boundaries. “Hit me.” He read out their names and first line of address. It was a start. A good start. “Thank you.”

“Don’t you be thanking McLeod for my hard work later.”

She laughed and offered a salute. “I promise.” Spinning around, she rushed along with Mila. “Now we have our beginning.”

***

“SHOULDN’T WE START by talking to friends and family?” Mila asked as they settled in their research room at the library.

“We will. That comes after we find out what we can. We have to know what to ask, don’t we? Who’s telling the truth or hiding things?”

“I guess.”

“Okay,” she said, reading the profile of their first potential victim. “Social media is an investigator’s friend. People post all sorts of… huh.”

Huddling closer, Mila’s attention zeroed in on the screen. “What?”

“She’s quite…”

“Depressed,” Mila said.

“Yeah.”

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