Page 27 of Dead Man's Wish
“Not even the half of it,” I continued. “This photo comes from a set of hundreds. When Noah originally collected and catalogued the boxes of Polaroids, he noticed the serialization had a chunk missing. There were only a handful from that day in Brent’s possession at the time of his death.”
“So, someone stole them?”
“That’s the gray area. Any decent person stumbling upon that would’ve called the police. Considering the copycat nature, we think he had a partner who liked to take things.” Mari nodded and I kept talking. “For instance, the journals are dated but there are a few missing. Noah collected seven that night, but based on the chronological dating, three are missing.”
“So, another perv just like him with an extra layer of thief?”
“You’re a fast learner, Bellevue.” She looked uneasy as she took it all in.
“If it’s missing and unrecovered then what were you talking about before?”
“I wish they kept this particular journal. It would’ve saved me a few sleepless nights. The day that he followed us to the mall, not only did he document it in writing, but he’d been taking pictures of us.” I waited for her silent nod to continue even though she looked pained. “By the written account, his main goal was to get me home alone.”
“Bexley, I would’ve killed him if he dared to touch you.”
“Sicker than that, if you can believe. He tried getting off on watching me change, but when that failed, he decided to go home and violate the hundreds of pictures he took of me.” I lowered my voice, a feeling akin to shame washing over me. “He masturbated over them.”
“I’ve never wished to kill someone twice, but there’s a first time for everything.” I laughed her comment off, but I agreed all the same.
“I know.”
“There are no leads at all?”
“Not forensically. I have a strong profile that I’ll be presenting to Noah and his team this week, but it doesn’t feel completely on the mark. No one is standing out in the circles he enmeshed himself in. I’ve even checked internet post threads for the true crime junkies—not a single fanatic. His journals are filled with hate toward everyone you can think of.”
“Well, is it wild to assume that it’s someone we know?”
“I doubt it. The discourse around Brent Hale is next to nonexistent. Ted Bundy had irrational women wanting to be with him, but Brent is a disease they aren’t chancing to catch.”
Mari picked up a journal and thumbed through the pages. She wasn’t reading the entries at length, but even quick skims had her uneasy and disturbed. I let her look through them in silence.
“Bex,” a gruff voice mumbled from the doorway. Mari was startled, but I looked up to a perfectly disheveled Jaiden.
“Hey, baby. Sleep well?” I left Mari to the leather-bound horrors and walked over to him. He fought sleep as he stretched and yawned.
“I did, thank you. Since today is your admin day, I was wondering if you wanted to call it early? Think a brunch date with them or even a regular lunch. It seems like you guys have been awake for a while.”
“Brunch sounds—” I was cut off by the sound of my phone ringing.
I turned to see Mari glaring at it suspiciously, and Jaiden’s entire body tensed. Walking over, I prepared myself for any possibility, but relief washed over me when Noah’s name flashed across the screen. I slid the green button and looked at the others.
“Noah, hey. What’s up?” Mari released her breath and Jaiden’s shoulders visibly relaxed.
“Kiddo, I was hoping I could convince you and Jai to come down to my office later today? I need some help with these new pieces of evidence.” Papers shuffled in his background noise.
“Our afternoon is free,” I said, but I was silently asking Jaiden if he was on board. “We have Mari and Kel over at the moment.”
“They’re more than welcome. Mari’s recall could be of use, too.”
“You want me to bring Mari?” Her head snapped in my direction. She scrunched her nose and shook her head in a hardno.
“It’ll be easier explained in person.”
“If you insist, we’ll be there.”
“That’s bullshit,” Mari protested as I hung up the phone.
“I can feel your morbid curiosity leeching into my soul,” I teased.
