Page 37 of The Hanging Dolls
She nodded, flipping to the next section. “Yeah, and it says here, ‘Hydration levels consistent with regular intake of fluids; no signs of dehydration typically seen in prolonged captivity.’ He kept her well-nourished and hydrated.”
Scott turned to Aiden. “You were right. He’s being a caretaker. But why?”
Zoe chewed on the pad of her thumb—a habit Rachel hated. She could still feel Rachel flicking her hand away. “Are you sure we are clear on the finances of the Bakers? Tim and Mary?”
“We got those. There’s nothing there.”
“They don’t owe anyone any money?”
He shook his head. “Why?”
“There’s another possibility. Something more basic.” Zoe floated the idea. “Hesitation.”
Aiden pondered, then said, “Lily is the first victim.”
The color drained from Scott’s face. “Does that mean that he might not take four days with Tara?”
“It’s a possibility.” She nodded against that sharp blade of time pressed against her throat. It could nick her at any time. “Why these two victims? What do Lily and Tara have in common?”
“Lily was seven years old and Tara’s eight years old. They are in different grades but same school.”
“Maybe they knew each other then? What about Tara’s father? What does he do?”
“He’s an environmental scientist for a consulting firm. Has nothing in common with the Bakers,” Aiden confirmed.
Zoe threw her head back, trying to connect the dots. There had to be a reason why these two girls were targeted. The killer had snuck into Tara’s room to abduct her. It couldn’t have been convenience. Was it random? Did he watch Tara from a distance one day and a switch flipped that he justhadto have her?
“Could it be an obsession that he’s following up on?” Scott voiced her train of thought. “He saw these girls and just had to have them.”
“In my experience, obsession is linked to sexual acts. Are the cops still canvassing the neighbors?” Aiden asked.
“Yeah, they’re there right now.” He chewed his lip, trying to make sense of it all, when his eyes lit up. “Lily said there was a man she knew. What if Tara did too?”
Zoe straightened. “Kids talk to their friends, you know. We need to interview them. Maybe Tara talked about the same man to her friends.”
TWENTY-ONE
Zoe and Scott walked down the hallway of Harborwood Elementary, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the polished floors. The school was quiet, the usual hum of children’s laughter and chatter subdued as they made their way to the classroom. They exchanged a glance as they reached the door.
Inside, a group of young children sat in a semi-circle, their faces focused on a teacher reading aloud from a picture book. As Zoe and Scott entered, the teacher looked up, her expression softening. She stood, closing the book gently.
“I’m Ms. Davis,” she said, extending a hand. “I heard about Tara. How can I help?”
“We’re here to speak with Tara’s friends,” Scott said.
“Tara’s friends?” She arched an eyebrow.
Zoe nodded, offering a polite smile. “Yes, we need to ask them a few questions. Just to see if they might have noticed anything unusual. Kids often share information with each other that they don’t tell their parents.”
“Who were closest to Tara?” Scott pressed, eager to move things on.
Ms. Davis nodded, her brow furrowing with concern. “Of course. Caleb and Mona were Tara’s closest friends. They’re a bit shy, though. I’ll stay with you while you talk to them.”
Zoe and Scott followed Ms. Davis to a corner of the room where two children, a boy and a girl, sat huddled together, their expressions anxious. Caleb was twisting his fingers nervously, while Mona clutched a stuffed animal to her chest. They looked up with wide eyes as the officers approached.
“You good with kids?” Scott muttered in Zoe’s ear.
“I’m a delight,” she responded, grinning widely. “Hi, Caleb. Hi, Mona.” She crouched down to their level. “I’m Zoe, and this is Scott. We’re here to talk to you about Tara, to see if you can help us. Is that okay?”
