be he’s much older and someone in a position of power, or perceived power. The girls are scared of him—he likely threatened to harm them if they talked, maybe told them no one would believe them, or he could’ve threatened their families.”
“That’s my opinion as well,” Jonny agreed. “And the two girls we found, they were taken three months after Kimberly. Both blondes.”
“If you’re working a profile, Elliana and Ayla don’t fit. They said they were together the whole time.”
“Upping the thrill factor,” Jameson tossed out, and Holden’s stomach revolted at the suggestion.
Holden hadn’t been with Jonny, Nixon, and Weston when they’d found the girls but he’d heard the story they’d given Jonny and it didn’t add up. From start to finish, it sounded like bullshit. The girls said they’d been at a bonfire with a group of friends when they’d wandered off and gotten lost. Holden and Jameson had searched the stretch of beach they’d claimed to have been at and there was no evidence of a bonfire or a party. And there was the small detail that the road they’d been found on was over ten miles away from where the party had supposedly happened. Not to mention there were a lot of hours unaccounted for between the mid-afternoon when neither set of parents could get ahold of their children and when the party started. And another long stretch of time from when they’d wandered away from their friends and when they were found.
“Have they changed their story?”
Jonny frowned and nodded. “So many times, I’ve lost count.”
“What about the nine-one-one caller?” Nixon inquired.
After hours of searching, they’d caught a break when the 911 call came in from a motorist that two young girls were walking down a dark country road in the wee hours before dawn. The caller was a man, had told the dispatcher he didn’t want to approach and scare the girls but he’d keep them in his sights until units could arrive.
“His name’s Cory Saddler. He said he didn’t see anything. No other cars on the road, he didn’t pass anyone else walking. Just Elliana and Ayla.”
“Do you know this guy?” Weston asked.
“I know of him,” Jonny answered. “His daughter, Miranda, graduated a few years ago. Went to Ole Miss on a full ride.”
“Academic?” McKenna rejoined.
“Soccer. Cory coached rec soccer until Miranda went to the high school, then he started coaching there. He still does.”
A tingle of concern hit Holden and he glanced at Nixon. The apprehension he saw there confirmed he wasn’t the only one who didn’t like the sound of the 911 caller having ties to the high school.
“What was Cory doing out on Caulks Field Road at four in the morning?”
“Leaving for work. He lives in Rock Hall and works in Annapolis. He leaves early to avoid the Bay Bridge traffic.”
“That’s mighty early,” Weston noted. “As in two hours earlier than he needs to. Is he married?”
“Divorced.”
“Did you ask his ex-wife if this was normal?”
Jonny’s face bleached and he shook his head. “No. I didn’t question anyone in regard to Cory. Why would he call in the sighting if he had something to hide?”
“Cover. Establishing doubt,” Micky started. “He’d call it in to do exactly what you’re doing right now—dismissing him.”
“I’ll contact his ex-wife.”
“What do you need from us?” Nixon shuffled the papers in front of him.
“I need a fresh set of eyes. If this is what I think it is, we have just about two months before he’ll find his next victim. Something happened to one or both of those girls and they’re lying through their teeth. Something also happened to the other four girls but they’re shit scared and won’t talk. Vaughn and I are working it on our end but Kent County’s experiencing a crime wave and we’re low on resources. I can’t give this case the manpower it deserves. I need your help.”
“Anything you need,” Alec joined the conversation. “How open is Kimberly Lot’s mom to talking to the police? She might be the key.”
Jonny’s guilt-ridden gaze went to Alec and Holden felt bad for the man. This last year had not been good for him personally, and by the sound of it, he was taking hits professionally as well.
“She is, or she was, a single mom. Kimberly’s father lives in Florida. As expected, she’s completely undone. We offered victims assistance and she turned it down. Her house is on the market and last I heard she wants away from Cliff City as fast as that can happen.