Page 15 of Silent Night

"Another thing," Dr. Zihao said. "Jennifer wasn't the first victim found in the Great Salt Lake. A week ago, another young woman was discovered under similar circumstances."

Sheila's eyes widened in shock, her surprise mirrored by Natalie and Finn. "Who was she?" she asked.

"Her name was Hadley Ferguson. She was discovered by a group of birdwatchers early one morning, just after sunrise."

"Strangled?" Finn asked.

Dr. Zihao nodded. "The fact that both victims were left in the lake like that...it's difficult not to suspect there's a connection."

Sheila's thoughts raced as she considered the implications of this new information. If there was a pattern emerging, it was vital to find the link between the victims and put an end to these brutal murders.

"Can we get the report on Hadley Ferguson?" Natalie asked, her voice steady despite the weight of the situation.

"Of course," Dr. Zihao said, walking over to a filing cabinet in the corner of the room. He pulled open a drawer and rifled through the folders within, finally extracting one and handing it to Natalie. "Here's Hadley's report. I'll give you Jennifer Bainbridge's as well for comparison."

"Thanks," Natalie replied, taking both files and spreading them out on a nearby table. Sheila joined her, her eyes scanning the documents with an intensity born from years of athletic focus.

Finn frowned as he looked at the two victims' photos. "Why would the killer leave them in the Great Salt Lake?" he mused aloud. "If they wanted to dispose of the bodies, why not weigh them down and drop them into a regular lake? The salt in the Great Salt Lake only buoys the bodies and preserves them."

Sheila considered Finn's question, the gears in her mind turning. She glanced back at the reports, searching for any clues that might reveal the significance of the salt.

As the two sisters studied the reports, Sheila began to notice differences between the two young women. Hadley was an aspiring artist, while Jennifer worked as a waitress. Jennifer had a wide social circle, whereas Hadley seemed more introverted, with just a few close friends. Their hobbies, interests, and backgrounds appeared to have little in common.

"Other than living near each other, these girls don't seem to have much in common at all," Sheila observed aloud, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What could be the connection between them that would make the killer target both?"

Natalie's eyes narrowed as she continued to scan the documents. "It's strange," she said, tapping a finger on Hadley's report. "They lived only a few blocks away from each other, but their lives seemed to be worlds apart."

"Could it be just a coincidence?" Sheila wondered, her mind racing with possibilities.

"Maybe," Natalie said. "But it's our job to find out if there's more to it than that."

"How do you propose we do that?"

Natalie sat back, coming to a decision. "We need to dig into their backgrounds, learn all we can about them. There may be similarities we just can't see yet."

Sheila nodded, looking down at Jennifer Bainbridge's report. "Jennifer's family lives nearby. We could start by talking to them, see if they can shed any light on this."

"Good idea," Natalie replied as she began gathering the files.

Finn, who had been quietly observing the sisters and pondering his own thoughts, cleared his throat. "While you two follow that lead, I'll see what I can learn about that nail you found, Sheila. Maybe it's nothing—but then again, maybe it's important."

"Sounds like a plan," said Sheila, curious about what Finn might uncover.

"Keep us posted on what you find," Natalie said.

"Will do," Finn replied with a nod, then left the coroner's office, determination in his stride.

As Sheila and Natalie exited the building, the cold morning air hit them, causing Sheila to shiver involuntarily.

"Whoever this killer is, they're smart and meticulous," Natalie said, breaking the silence. "But their motives are still a mystery. We need to find out what ties these victims together, because until we do, there's no telling who the killer might attack next—or when."

CHAPTER EIGHT

The sun was high in the sky as Sheila maneuvered the van through the narrow streets of the dilapidated neighborhood. The cracked pavement bore witness to years of neglect, and the once vibrant murals on the walls of the crumbling buildings were fading echoes of a different time. Every now and then, she spotted a cluster of children playing amidst the litter and debris, laughter ringing through the air like a stubborn defiance against the hardships they faced.

As she drove, Sheila couldn't help but think of Star, the troubled young girl her sister had taken under her wing. She wondered how the girl was faring now that Gabe had stepped in to mentor her. A pang of worry tugged at Sheila's heart, but she quickly pushed it aside, reminding herself that there were other lives at stake, too.

Parking the van in front of a rundown house, Sheila glanced over at Natalie. Her sister's face, usually so confident and self-assured, was drawn and serious. They both knew what they were about to do wouldn't be easy.

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