Page 8 of Pretty Broken Dolls
“Special Agent Campbell,” she said. “Can you please explain to me why you were at the crime scene on Friday?”
The sheriff looked directly at Campbell, waiting for an answer.
Campbell chuckled and calmly explained. “I was just briefing Sheriff Scott about everything.”
“That’s it?”
“Detective Scott, take a seat,” said the sheriff.
Katie was about to say something, but dutifully, she took a chair and waited.
“I will let Agent Campbell explain.”
The room became quiet with an uneasy silence. Campbell waited a few extra seconds before he began—as if he wanted to build more tension.
Katie kept her eyes directly on him, trying to get a read on him.
“We’ve been working on three homicides that we suspect are linked,” he began, opening one of three files before him on the desk. The folder contained several photographs and reports. “Victim number one: Nancy Day, thirty-four years old, single, she taught Administration of Justice at a junior college in Placer County. She was found on a bench on the school grounds three years ago, throat cut, body posed, and her charm bracelet hanging in one of the trees like an ornament.” He passed Katie a few of the photos.
She slowly thumbed through them, immediately noticing that the body position was indeed posed, reminding her of a doll or a character in a play. There was dramatic makeup in dark reds drawn around the victim’s lips and eyes. Her long dark hair appeared combed and styled. It was clear that the killer wanted to express a message. But what?
“Who found her?” Katie asked.
“The first person who drove into Littleton College, who was the security officer by the name of Maynard Brighton. Luckily, after he called the police they were able to stop the students and faculty from seeing the crime scene. He has since been cleared of any possible involvement.”
“Administration of Justice. That would be mostly people wanting to become police officers or paralegals, lawyers…” she said.
“Yes. Also county and state jobs as well.”
Katie was intrigued by the crime scene and the potential motive of the killer. She looked at all the photos again—pausing on a close-up of the neck wound.
“Victim number two, Gwen Sanderson, thirty-one years old, she owned a small restaurant/deli called Gwen’s Place, had a boyfriend in Sierra County, and was well liked by the community.” He handed Katie the photos.
Katie passed McGaven the pictures of victim Nancy Day.
“Gwen Sanderson’s body was found two years ago at a Western resort, Roy’s Bed and Breakfast Dude Ranch, which was being remodeled and was closed for the winter,” explained Campbell.
Katie examined the photos of the body attached to a wooden fence at the entrance to the ranch. The body was also posed like a broken doll, with dramatic makeup drawn on her face. Bruises were prominent. Her body was bloodier than the first victim’s. Her throat was also cut, revealing a gaping hole.
Katie finally looked at Campbell and said, “What piece of jewelry was found? A ring?” She had seen the significant damage to her fingers, as if there had been a struggle.
“Very astute, Detective. Yes, it was an antique diamond ring her grandmother had given her on her twenty-first birthday. It was tied with a piece of red ribbon on the post next to her.” He handed her the photo of the ring.
Katie saw that the ribbon was tied nicely and evenly.
“I’m familiar with how you and McGaven operate, retracing the crime scenes from the beginning,” said Campbell.
“What do these cases have to do with us?” Katie looked at the sheriff. “These counties aren’t our jurisdiction.” She continued to study the crime scene characteristics.
“Do we have a cold case that is linked?” asked McGaven. He was clearly intrigued by the cases as he studied them.
Agent Campbell opened another file. “Third victim, Jeanine Trenton, twenty-seven years old, health care specialist, found impaled in her backyard in Raven Woods, in your Sequoia County, by her best friend, about a year ago.”
Katie looked at the agent.
“Why wasn’t she in the cold case files? I don’t recall the name or case.”
“Her case was tagged a couple of weeks after her murder investigation by the California Task Force as possibly linked to the other cases,” said the sheriff. “The case had been put on hold after we had exhausted every avenue available. The case was transferred to the California Task Force.”
