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Sheriff Waters rolled a pen between his fingers. “According to those dates, no single suspect was in each place at the time of all of the murders.”
Ellie breathed out, her theory of a conspiracy mounting. “Because we aren’t dealing with just one killer. These men conspired to kill and covered for each other by copying the others’ MOs, to throw off the police so we wouldn’t make a connection.
“The bloody smiley lips were found on Beverly’s mirror, not her body, which could also point to a conspirator or copycat,” Ellie pointed out. “But he did hack off some of her hair.”
“Maybe he panicked when she screamed but he still wanted us to know he was there,” the sheriff said.
“Possibly,” Derrick said. “Currently we have four possible victims, who are missing. Beverly Hooper, Janie Huggins, Sarah Turner and Lorna Bea Jones.”
“The timing of the reunion is key,” Ellie said. “What if they’re meeting in one place for a grand finale?”
Derrick drew a question mark on the board. “My thoughts exactly. But where are they meeting?”
Ellie aimed her response at Shondra. “Deputy Eastwood, contact the counselor at the prison and Dr. Dansen. See if either of them can find something specific on a place the men might have mentioned.”
“On it,” Shondra said then left the room.
Captain Hale’s phone buzzed and he stood, stepping out to answer.
Deputy Landrum started tapping on his computer. “I’ll search this chatroom and see if they mention a physical location.”
Captain Hale returned, his expression stony. “We’ve got another body.”
A restlessness vibrated through the room and Ellie rubbed her temple. Who now? Ellie thought. This case was like dominoes, one body falling after another.
“They found the guard who helped Radcliff escape,” the captain said. “Throat slashed, body left naked and exposed in the woods slightly north of Widow Lake. That road is en route to Widow Peak College.”
“Definitely Radcliff’s MO,” Derrick said. “And fits with our theory about the reunion.”
“Sheriff, why don’t you get up there to the crime scene,” Captain Hale said.
Bryce stood, his keys in hand. “On my way.”
As he left the room, Ellie stood and gestured to the map on the wall. “That would be here,” Ellie said, her mind sorting through the information.
Landrum spoke up, “In the chatroom, the men mentioned a bar called Knights where they played chess. They also made references to a hospital.”
Ellie grabbed her laptop and began a search, looking for places that might fit the descriptions. A minute later, her pulse jumped. “There’s a bar on campus named Knights. It sits over a tunnel in the mountain.”
Ellie rubbed her temple as she studied the whiteboard then moved to the map on the wall. “The prison counselor said Radcliff fantasized about killing and putting body parts together to create a person.” She studied the map. “Look, there’s an old abandoned hospital north of campus.”
Cord interjected, “I’ve worked SAR in the area and know the location. The building’s still there but it’s been abandoned for years.”
“We need to divide up,” Ellie said. “Agent Fox, take Deputy Landrum with you to the bar. I’ll take McClain with me to the hospital.”
With a plan in motion, they rushed out the door.
ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN
SOMEWHERE ON THE AT
Janie was so cold, her fingers and toes were numb. Her wrists hurt from struggling to free herself. The room was dark and she smelled chemicals that might be used in a lab. Or maybe a morgue.
Terror filled her.
Why was this monster doing this to her?
And where was Beverly? Had he already killed her?
