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Ellie rolled her eyes. “Unless you put the wrong man in prison.”
His breathing grew heavy. “Listen, Detective, I did my job. The couple broke up the week before. Another student heard Theo say she’d be sorry. He was the only one with motive. And there was blood in his car.”
“How about her mouth? Did he paint her lips with blood?”
“No,” he said. “Why would you ask that?”
Maybe the case wasn’t connected. Or maybe the boyfriend did kill her. Or… maybe the killer got interrupted before he could finish and the boyfriend made the perfect scapegoat. The killer could have even planted her blood in the boyfriend’s car.
“Did it occur to you that a stranger might have killed her? Or that she had a stalker?”
A thick silence riddled with the man’s labored breathing again. “There was no evidence of that. Besides, his DNA was all over her apartment and car. And hers was in his car.”
“Because they dated,” Ellie said through gritted teeth. “That DNA could have been there for days or weeks.”
“I don’t know what to tell you,” he said. “Jury convicted him. I moved on. You find something says he’s innocent, I’ll take another look.”
With that comment, he hung up.
SIXTY-SIX
Ellie scribbled a note about the detective’s reaction regarding the Zelda North case, then moved to the next name on her list. Kitty Korley. She was killed on Halloween, only two months after Amy disappeared. She called the Brunswick Police Department in South Georgia and asked to speak to the lead investigator, Detective Geoffrey Lambert.
A quick introduction and she explained the reason for her call. “Tell me about Kitty.”
The detective sighed. “Seemed like a nice girl. A real pretty one, although some kids at the school described her as aloof. Family had money, lived in a mansion on Sea Island.”
Ellie had heard of it. The island was home to multi-millionaires and the famous and exclusive Cloister Hotel.
“Did you have any suspects in her murder?” Ellie asked.
“Afraid not. We canvassed faculty, students and her friends but got no leads. That area is a tourist draw. College kids gather on the beaches to party and sometimes things get out of hand. Lots of booze and weed, that kind of thing. Halloween brings out the crazies. But never anything like this.” He drew a breath. “We figured whoever killed her left town fast. But that one won’t leave me alone. I don’t like knowing someone got away with murder in my town.”
“Was there anything unique about the way the killer left the body?” Ellie asked.
The man muttered a sound of disgust. “He left her in front of the school. Students that found her were pretty upset.”
“Understandable. Did the killer cut her hair or paint her lips with blood?”
Another beat that seemed to drag on. “How did you know that? In respect to the family, I never released those facts.”
Ellie inhaled sharply. “Because there are other murders with a similar MO. I’ve been trying to connect them to a case I’m currently working.”
“Geez,” he hissed. “That means her killer may have murdered again.”
“It’s possible. Do you mind sending me photos of the way she was found?”
“I’ll get right on it. I’d like to nail this guy. The family was devastated. They still call me monthly to ask if there are any new leads.”
“Thanks, Detective. I’ll be in touch.” Ellie hung up, frustrated that he didn’t have more. But at least he wanted to help.
One more call. Dawsonville, where Vanna Michaels’ body was found. The detective in charge of that case was out of the office so she left a message.
She didn’t like the way things were shaping up. If she kept looking, how many more victims would she find?
SIXTY-SEVEN
HALL OF ZOOLOGY
