Drained (Edgars Family #6) - Suzanne Ferrell Page 0,72
comes to serial murderers,” Carson said. “Nothing is unimportant. Even the slightest details may be what helps us find him.”
“What did Flora say?” Aaron sat forward to rest his elbows on his thighs and listen, encouraging her to voice her thoughts.
“She said that when they met at the tailgate party,” Brianna paused to flip through her notepad, “Which was October nineteenth, by the way. Flora said Mia was very excited that a man was interviewing her for a magazine article. He promised to pay her royalties on it if it sold.”
“Did she say which magazine?” Katie asked.
“No, she said Mia didn’t tell her that or the man’s name.” Brianna turned to Paula. “Did Art mention a magazine article to you?”
She shook her head. “No, but he did say some newspaper guy was hanging around and talking about exposing the homeless vets’ problems one day at the shelter. I remember seeing them talking while Art ate his dinner.”
“Did you recognize the man?” Brianna asked.
Paula drew her brows down in concentration, then slowly shook her head. “I barely got a look at them together. There were lots of people to serve that night.”
“Could he have meant an exposé?” Aaron asked, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up.
Paula thought about it. “He might’ve, but he didn’t use that word. He said expose.”
“What’s the difference between an article and an exposé?” Kirk F asked.
“An article can be about anything. An exposé is more of a piece of writing that shines the light on something hidden about a situation or a person. The flaws or lies, the hidden skeletons in the closet kind of thing,” Aaron explained.
“Kinda like what Brianna went through with the Senator and his cronies?” Kirk F said, nodding his understanding.
“If someone had discovered it before I stumbled into it,” Brianna said, “and they’d written an article in the news or on TV, then it would have been an exposé piece.”
“What was Mia’s article supposed to be about?” Paula asked.
“Flora said it was about Mia being homeless and supporting herself as a street musician.”
“Don’t suppose she gave you any details on what this guy looked like?” Kirk F asked. “Like great big and hairy or really skinny with nerd glasses?”
That got him some laughs and even a smile from Paula.
“What? I don’t know about you, but I hate to think the dude doing this looks like any ordinary guy.”
“Unfortunately, they do,” Carson said. “Ted Bundy got his victims by being handsome and charming.”
Aaron nodded. “The BTK killer looked like everyone’s regular old father.”
“That’s not very reassuring,” Paula said. “I’d rather the person who killed my friends look like the monster he is.”
“I would, too,” Brianna agreed. Then she paused and tilted her head to one side. The way Aaron had seen her do on more than one occasion when she was trying to figure out a puzzle.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
“It was something else Flora said to me.”
“And that was?” He gently nudged her to tell them.
“Flora thought he might be handsome because Mia had that look teenage girls get when they’re talking about the boy they have a crush on.”
“Ah,” Paula and Katie both said as if they knew exactly what Brianna was saying.
Aaron exchanged looks with Matt and Carson then Kirk F, who, as the most clueless among them, simply shrugged. “Okay, so we’re looking for someone on the Ted Bundy side of serial killers.”
“Not necessarily,” Brianna said.
“I thought you said it would be the kind of guy a girl would get a crush on?”
“It’s not always about looks.” She sat a little straighter and her lips pressed into a thin line. The topic of looks had been a sore subject with her since he’d known her. Once, during one of their lunches she’d told him that it had taken her nearly being sold as a sex slave to learn that a person’s beauty or handsomeness could hide evil inside.
“He could be average looking at first, but come across as charming,” Katie said, taking up the explanation.
Paula nodded. “He could simply just pay attention to her.”
“So, we’re looking for a handsome or charming journalist,” Aaron said, shifting his attention to Carson. The profiler had been conspicuously quiet, but observant while they discussed what they’d learned about their killer. Aaron didn’t know him very well, but the guy seemed to be contemplating something as they talked. “Got anything to add to that?”
21
“Was wondering if you could trade a shift with me tomorrow?”