Page 55 of Girl, Deceived

‘We got it,’ she said.

Ella opened the result with trembling fingers and prayed there was something usable inside.

Overview: At approximately 01:15 on the morning of 08-09-12, the home of Sergeant Jason and Megan Parker at 23 Rosewood Avenue, Maywood was breached by an unknown perpetrator. The subject fatally wounded Megan Parker, 21, with a blade before being chased out of the home by Sergeant Parker. The subject’s features were not visible due to a disguise.

‘Holy crap,’ Ella said.

‘A cop. Looks like his daughter was killed by a masked intruder,’ Ripley said. ‘But look, are you seeing what I’m seeing?’

Ella double-checked it. 'Yes, I think I am.'

She was already out of her chair. There was no time to wait around.

Because not only did Sergeant Jason Parker fit the psychological profile, but his daughter had been killed ten years ago to the day.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

The Los Angeles skyline painted streaks of orange and purple as dusk set in, the city's familiar hum replaced by an eerie silence. Ella sped through the streets, somewhat distressed by the unexpected lack of traffic. Mia sat beside her, eyes glued to the tablet as she scrolled through Sergeant Parker's background.

'Parker served on the force for over twenty years,' Mia began, her voice tense. He was awarded numerous accolades for his exemplary service, but his record isn't without blemishes. There were complaints of excessive use of force and questionable investigation methods. But all these red flags started popping up only after his daughter's death.'

Ella clenched the steering wheel. ‘That explains the downward spiral. From hero to maniac cop. Another horror trope.’

Mia nodded. ‘His daughter, Megan, was only twenty-one when she was killed. Home from college for the summer. And get this, she was studying to be a teacher.’

Ella's heart sank. ‘Student, teacher. That’s Jessica Owen and Kathleen Carter rolled into one.’

Mia shook her head. ‘Yup, but this was a dead-end case. No DNA evidence, no camera footage. Parker’s statement said the attacker was in a plain white mask.’

‘That must've crushed him,’ Ella said.

Mia continued scrolling. 'He took a leave of absence after that. He came back six months later, but he wasn't the same. They made him part-time, banished him to a desk, mental health deteriorated.'

‘And now he's out?’

‘Left the Maywood PD six months ago,’ Mia confirmed. ‘From what Daniels told me before we left, Parker became obsessed with the unsolved case of his daughter. Spent nights at the precinct pouring over files, chasing every lead, even those that seemed unrelated.’

‘So, Parker's daughter is killed by a masked attacker, and ten years later, a masked killer starts terrorizing LA.’

Mia sighed, her face a picture of concern. ‘The timing is suspicious. But why now? Why after ten years?’

Ella pondered as the car's headlights illuminated the street ahead. 'Trauma doesn't have a timeline. The anniversary? Maybe because his career is over, but he's still seeking justice? The desk job might have crippled his mental health, but he stayed put for years because it would have given him access to resources. When he couldn't solve the case… boom, trigger.'

As they approached Parker's residence, a quaint single-story house with a picket fence, they noticed a faint light emanating from a window. The curtains were drawn, but shadows moved within. Ella parked the car at a discreet distance, then took a moment, gearing up for the confrontation ahead. ‘This could be our guy, Mia,’ Ella whispered, her voice heavy with uncertainty.

'We need to tread carefully. He might be deranged, but he's capable. He isn't deluded like a lot of other psychos. He's fully aware of what he's doing, and that means he has an empty conscience. If he thinks killing us will help him go free, he will.'

They got out of the car and headed to the front door. Her hand hovered for a moment before she knocked three times, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet street. Minutes felt like hours as Ella waited in the silence. No answer came.

Ella exchanged a glance with Mia, her look conveying the question they were both contemplating: Should they breach?

‘What’s the legalities?’ asked Ella, one hand on the doorknob.

‘Not in your favor,’ Ripley said.

Ella knocked again, louder this time.

A minute passed, and still no answer.

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