Page 52 of The Girls in the Snow

“From a parked car, or was she attacked walking down the street?”

“I found a fairly fresh oil spot along the street, but I can’t say for sure when it was left.”

“I canvassed that side of the park,” Miller said. “No one saw anything, and no one has security cameras with the right angle. I’ve got a deputy going to door-to-door to make sure we cover every side of the park.”

“At least we can rule out her passing out drunk and freezing to death.” Nikki went back to the first picture of the woman. “We’ve let the public believe that Frost is still a suspect in Madison and Kaylee’s murders. And this is a pretty clear attempt at copying his methods.”

“But Madison and Kaylee were too frozen to be manipulated into a specific position,” Liam said. “And why weren’t there red ribbons on their bodies?”

“Because I don’t think the killer initially meant for them to be considered Frost victims,” Nikki said. “Remember, that field is remote. He meant for them to be found in the spring. But fate intervenes and our public statement is that we aren’t ruling Frost out yet. So, when he dumps this woman, he makes an attempt at Frost’s methods, but he doesn’t get the body position right.”

Courtney’s eyes widened. “Meaning he thinks that adding another body to the mix will push you further toward Frost and farther away from him? But a basic internet search should have told him enough about Frost to realize you’d never buy it.”

“He’s not a planner,” Liam said. “This poor woman was killed out of desperation.”

“Exactly,” Nikki said. “We need to find out who she is. Liam, get her description on the news, along with a picture of her tattoo. Make sure the information goes to both Wisconsin and Minnesota media.” She turned to Miller. “Did your deputies turn up anything at Hanson’s house this morning?”

“Uneventful. He doesn’t have a freezer, and there’s no sign of one recently being moved,” Miller said. “His wife wasn’t surprised when we showed up with the warrant.”

“He probably gave her a sterilized version of events,” Nikki said. “Did you get my message about Amy on the security video of Kaylee’s?”

Miller’s mouth tightened. “I can’t believe she didn’t tell me that. Do you think she could be involved?”

“Anything is possible, although I have a hard time believing she killed her own child. I need to brief Hardin. Walk with me?”

“Absolutely. I stopped by Brianna’s place last night,” Miller said. “Her dad and I played football together, so I’d hoped that would be my in to talking with her. But her father’s out of town on business, and Brianna told her mother she’s got nothing else to say and that we needed to leave her alone. Apparently, she’s got anxiety issues as it is.”

“She definitely knows something more,” Nikki said. “But pressing her mother doesn’t sound like a good idea. She works at the library, right?”

Miller nodded. “I think her next shift is in a couple of days.”

“I gave her my card. If she does know anything relevant, maybe a third victim will convince her to call.” Nikki was determined that no one else was going to be killed on her watch. This case had to be solved as soon as possible.

Hardin had retreated to his vehicle, his big belly pressed against the steering wheel. Nikki rolled her eyes. If he got in an accident, that steering wheel would be coming out of his ass, she thought to herself.

Hardin rolled down his window. “Well?”

“Zero chance Frost did this,” Nikki said. “Good chance it’s somehow related to Madison and Kaylee’s murders.”

“How in the world do you get that?” Hardin asked.

Nikki explained her theory to Hardin. “From the disturbance to the snow, it’s likely she rolled around in the snow, probably fighting to get up, before she died. He came back and arranged her and probably put the ribbon on her.”

“Then why couldn’t this be Frost?”

“Frost immediately freezes his victims after they’re dead,” Nikki said. “Their bodies are pristine. He wouldn’t deviate from his routine and allow a victim to get frostbite. That mars the beauty of it to him.”

Hardin sighed. “You’ve already said Madison and Kaylee aren’t Frost victims, either.”

“To you,” Nikki said. “But not to the public. He’s still in play. The girls’ killer didn’t expect us to find their bodies, and when we did, he started to panic. Frost gives him a lifeline. I think this woman’s death may have been an attempt to push us towards Frost again.”

Hardin chewed his lower lip. Nikki didn’t remind Hardin of his earlier certainty that Frost had struck in Stillwater.

“You know as well as I do that most killers aren’t as smart as they’re portrayed on television. If this is someone who killed the girls and didn’t expect them to be found, he’s in a panic right now. He most likely believes killing this woman leads us away from him, and we need to let him believe that.”

“I can keep the press information brief,” Hardin said.

“You have to walk a fine line,” Nikki said. “Don’t commit one way or the other.”

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