CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Owen jumped up from his chair so fast that May had to grab the back of it to stop it from falling over. She guessed, from his sudden turn of speed and the excitement on his face, that he had been as frustrated as she was.
They headed to the back office, which was now empty. Sheriff Jack must be out on the road doing community policing, or perhaps coordinating the search parties and roadblocks with the other police departments.
"I can't let this go," May whispered. "It's ridiculous to sit here waiting for a bag snatching to be called in, when there's such a huge case on the go and lives at stake."
"I agree," Owen whispered back.
He glanced at the reception desk where the young officer, Philips, was sitting twiddling his thumbs.
“Kerry did say that if a weak lead was called in, we could go along and check it out,” May said, wondering if this represented a useful loophole they could use.
“Yes, she did.” Owen looked suddenly thoughtful. “You know, I did receive a weak lead just now when I answered a call.”
May decided a little subterfuge was in order.
She called out, "Philips?"
He turned around. "Sure. What is it?"
"We've had an anonymous call on the hotline. It doesn’t sound like a strong lead, but just to be sure, we’re heading out. Will you hold the fort here? Please call us if there are any developments or any emergencies," May added, not wanting to abandon her responsibilities.
"Sure. I will," Philips said.
May rushed out, with Owen in hot pursuit.
They climbed into her pickup and May started it up.
Turning, she stared at Owen excitedly. They were on the case, and it felt all the sweeter for being against her bossy sister’s wishes.
“I know where I want to go,” she said.
“Where’s that?” he asked.
“I want to go back to the home of the first victim, Savannah Knight.”
“She lived in Snyder, if I recall,” Owen said.
"Yes," May said. “I want to speak to the Knights again. We never got a chance to question Savannah's mother.”
“That’s correct. I was disappointed about that even though it was understandable. But I would have liked to find out more from her about Savannah’s movements over the past few days,” Owen said.
May could have hugged him. He was exactly on her page.
"Me, too. I think we need to look for a common thread. There must be one. How is this killer selecting his targets?"
"Good point," Owen agreed.
"They all went to different schools. They lived in different towns. But the killer can't just be driving around the area, looking out for girls of the right age?"
"If he did that, people would notice," Owen agreed.
"So, he must be doing it in a more subtle way. I mean, what's the best way of selecting someone you can kidnap and hold captive? What are you looking for?"
Owen nodded. "He must be doing it in some other way. Maybe they all had a shared interest?"
"It's something to check out," May said. "And their ages. They're all within a year or so of each other. They're all young. They're all female. They're all attractive. He seems to be seeking out a certain type, and if so, how is he doing it?"
May was getting into this. It was like piecing together a complicated puzzle.
She sped along the main road to Snyder, hoping that she wouldn't get into trouble for what she was about to do.
"Maybe there's a possibility that they all know each other?" Owen suggested.
"That would make sense," May agreed. "It’s something we need to explore. But the question is: why have they been taken? Why those girls? Are they being held because they are connected to the killer in some way? Where is he looking for them?"
"All very good questions," Owen said.
She turned onto the highway at Snyder, and then onto the next road, which wound through the hills.
Beyond, was the road that led between the woods and the lake, and down the dirt road where the Knights lived.
May parked, feeling nerves surge inside her again. Now that she was actually here, she felt as if her actions had been impossibly reckless.
She'd defied Jack’s orders - well, sort of. They’d used the hotline as an excuse because they had been instructed to do so. But she didn't want her boss to think badly of her or be disappointed in her.
In fact, May felt absolutely torn as she sat in the car, biting her lip as she stared at the house ahead of her, knowing that this decision would have repercussions.
"I think we’ve already made up our minds. Shall we go and knock on their door?" Owen asked.
May took a deep breath, glad that he understood how she felt and clearly felt the same. She was lucky to have such a perceptive investigation partner, she thought. She’d never gotten to know Owen that well, as he’d only moved into their precinct last year after transferring from the neighboring county where he’d begun his police career. But now that the chips were down, Owen was showing himself to be a strong and tenacious person.
It was time to make the call.
"Let’s do it," she agreed.
She found herself tackling the walk to the front door with a sense of dread. So much could go wrong, and they were deviating from their mandate. But Owen’s presence gave her courage as she headed towards the house, her heart hammering.
When she knocked, the door was opened almost immediately by a woman dressed in black, with a pale, tear-stained face.
Undoubtedly this was Savannah's mother, and May felt her heart clench with sympathy.
"Mrs. Knight, I'm deputy Moore. I'm so sorry about your daughter," May said.
The woman nodded wordlessly.