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“Those four women have been identified from the remains found at the crime scene.” Brook kept Margo’s picture on the display as she set it down in front of Millie. “This is Margo Urie.”
It didn’t come as a surprise that Millie bore a striking resemblance to what was now the first victim. Her physical appearance must have been a trigger of some sort for Kolsby.
“Ms. Urie worked in admissions, and she’s been missing for three years,” Brook explained before leaning back in her chair.
“We look so much alike,” Millie whispered in what could only be taken as fear.
“I can only guess why you’re here, and I’d like to go on record that I think it’s a bad idea.” Brook glanced out in the foyer to see Kate speaking to the two men. No doubt that she was offering them coffee or water. “I understand that it’s an inconvenience to have them around all the time, but we’re talking about your life. Four murders in the span of three years, and you are the sole reason that those victims’ families can now have some peace.”
“Does that mean you know for sure that Dr. Kolsby is the one responsible?” Millie asked, a tinge of hope in her voice that the situation would soon be over. “I saw on the news that Dr. Cranston was brought in for questioning. I heard that the hospital assigned another surgeon to his scheduled operations. You have no idea the amount of guilt I had over the last few days believing that I accused the wrong man.”
“We aren’t sure who killed any of those young women. The point that I’m trying to make is that you could still be in serious danger.” Brook stood from her chair before walking around her desk. “Millie, regardless if Dr. Kolsby is involved with these murders, the bottom line was that he knew about them. Your physical appearance is very close to that of Ms. Urie, and I’m assuming that is what prompted Dr. Kolsby to say the things that he said to you last month as he was coming out from under sedation. The hospital’s board must agree with my assessment. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have fully reinstated you without any restrictions.”
“They don’t want me to sue now that the spotlight is on them and their actions,” Millie replied wryly as she sat back in her chair. She still had her dress coat on, sans any gloves. “Why would I still be in danger, though? Everything is already out in the open.”
“I agree, but I say we err on the side of caution. The unsub may try to eliminate anyone who could testify against him in court. Then there is a very real possibility that he needs to feed his addiction.”
“Because I look like them?” Millie asked, referring to the victims.
“In part.” Brook hadn’t been able to finish the profile due to several things, but now that the identity of Margo Urie had been established, there was a starting point. “Serial killers have a signature. In this particular case, the victims are all brunette, and they all worked at the hospital. You fit that signature.”
It was evident that Millie had come to the office with expectations that her life would finally return to normal. That could be a dangerous assumption, and Brook needed her to see reason.
Witnessing Jacob go to the extreme to finish what he’d started with Sarah Evanston, Brook couldn’t allow the same thing to happen with Millie. Until an arrest took place, it was best to keep things status quo.
Brook spent the next five minutes making her case.
“Okay,” Millie said almost in a whisper. “Let’s keep the protective detail in place for now.”
“Good.” Brook had been leaning against her desk, so her tablet was in easy reach. She tapped on the display until Margo Urie’s picture reappeared on the screen. “You said that you were familiar with Laura Keery. What can you tell me about her and possibly the other victims?”
“Our hospital employs over a thousand employees,” Millie said reluctantly. “Laura Keery had an internship, but I had no idea that she’d gone missing or was presumed dead. You mentioned that Margo Urie worked in admissions, but I only know a handful of admissions personnel. Darla and Francis, mostly.”
“Did Laura work with you at any point?”
“No. She followed Josh around for a few shifts, though.”
“Josh Perisot?”
“Yes.”
“What about Natalie Thorne or Andrea Firth?” Brook asked as she picked up her tablet. She typed in a note regarding Laura Keery and Josh Perisot so that Sylvie could follow up on the connection. “Did you ever meet them?”
“No.” Millie gave a rather hopeless shrug. “I’m sorry. I wish I could be more help.”
“Millie, what you’ve done for the families of these four victims can never be put into words,” Brook praised as she placed the tablet back on the desk. “If you hear anything around the hospital regarding this case or any other woman who might have left without notice, please give me a call. I’ll keep you posted on the progress of the investigation, as well.”
Brook walked Millie out of the office to where her protective detail waited, noticing that Kate was near the Christmas tree. She was putting a few gifts on top of the red tree skirt. Not needing the pressure of the holidays, Brook started to walk back to her office to grab the yellow string that she needed to finish the impromptu murder board.
While the 4k monitor had everything that she’d ever need in that regard, creating a murder board from scratch helped her see details that she would otherwise might have overlooked…such as the fact that two of the victims had gone missing right after a social event at the hospital.
Chapter Twenty-One
Brooklyn Sloane
December 2022
Friday — 11:02pm
