Page 62 of Forever Gone

Kelly read the entries in silence.

Connor pointed to the most recent address. “Still local.”

“Forty minutes away,” Selena said. “Close enough to reach both scenes and get home before anyone notices. Check his plate on any street or traffic cams.”

“Vehicle?” Connor asked.

“Registered pickup. Ten-year-old black Ford F-150.”

Connor picked up a notepad and copied the plate.

Selena opened the first restraining-order summary. The petitioner alleged that Boyd had waited outside her workplace, damaged a rear tire, and left messages accusing her of ruining his life. The second order described repeated visits to another woman’s home after she ended their relationship.

Nothing proved murder. The pattern still drew a line in the right direction.

“Methodical grievance,” Kelly said. “Women who reject him or report him. He blames them and keeps returning.”

Selena nodded. “Karen’s statement helped end his schooling. If he’s carried that for more than two decades, the storage break-in could’ve been him searching for something connected to it.”

Connor tapped Boyd’s address. “Why Ruth?”

“That’s what we ask,” Selena said. “She may be the second girl in the report. If the missing Linda Mercer is the third point, Boyd could connect all of them.”

“The ages work,” Kelly said. “Linda would’ve been younger, but she might’ve witnessed something.”

Selena printed the disciplinary pages, the criminal summary, and the address return. The old printer near the wall woke with a clatter and drew paper through in uneven jerks.

Connor studied the board. “We should run him through recent traffic stops and see whether anybody noted damage to the truck.”

“I’ll have Arnold do it,” Selena said. “We also need someone checking whether Boyd knew the Montgomery property or had work near Ruth’s street.”

The printer released the final page.

Selena gathered the sheets and stood. The long afternoon of dead links and ordinary posts had finally produced a person whose history pointed toward Karen.

It was not probable cause. It was movement.

“Okay, Connor,” she said. “Let’s roll.”

Connor remained beside the table. “Actually, I’m going to chase up Linda’s missing persons case.”

A grin appeared.

Selena recognized it immediately and disliked what followed before he spoke.

“But I think you should take Kelly.”

Kelly pushed her chair back and stood. “Sure.”

“Maybe I could go on my own,” Selena said.

The objection sounded petty as soon as it left her mouth. Kelly had done nothing that afternoon to justify being excluded.

Connor picked up Linda Mercer’s report. “Given you both fit the murder profile, safety in numbers.”

Selena glanced at Kelly, then at the address in her hand.

“Fine,” she said. “But I’m driving.”