Page 244 of Rangers Unexpected Return

"They worked at the camp."

"Yes."

"But that's not what connects them."

She looked at Rylie.

"When Emily hid Emma..."

"Who knew?"

Rylie thought.

"Nine girls."

Judy nodded.

"Who knew after Emily disappeared?"

Rylie frowned.

"Eight."

"After Cynthia died?"

"Seven."

The realization hit all of us together.

The Keeper wasn't choosing victims.

He was...

Eliminating witnesses.

One by one.

Until only Rylie remained.

"He wasn't killing randomly," Trigger whispered.

"No."

"He was following a list."

Sheriff Tate slowly removed his glasses.

"My God."

"He wasn't hunting women."

"He was hunting memories. Who remembered Emma."

Nobody breathed.

Judy looked at the board again.

"Every murder reduced the number of people who remembered Emma."