Okay, that he could answer. To make it look like Rebecca’s murder was part of that larger and earlier pattern. Candy’s abduction helped foster the illusion that the Huntsman was back.
Except…if someone really wanted to make it look like the Huntsman was back, Candy should have been killed too.
So the real question was why had Candy not been killed?
No. Skip that for a second. If he was right about Candy’s abduction simply being smokescreen…it brought him full circle back to why kill Rebecca?
As much as Jason wanted Boxner for this, he knew Kennedy was right about Boxner not fitting the profile—any profile—of a serial killer. Asshole Kennedy might be, but he did know his stuff.
Therefore Rebecca’s was not the first death in a new series of copycat slayings.
Rebecca’s homicide was a unique and separate crime.
Opening up new avenues of investigation—and a much larger roster of potential suspects.
Rebecca’s character was key. Victimology became crucial once more.
So what did they have?
Not a lot really. Rebecca was the daughter of wealthy parents. Wealthy and demanding parents. She was sexually active. She was described by a number of people as smart, sassy, headstrong, spoiled, entitled, bratty…put it together, and they were left with a girl you didn’t want to mess with if you were a young ambitious cop on a small-town force.
>
A girl who could do your career a hell of a lot of damage.
Boxner.
Right?
As hard as it was to believe after the drive to Kyser’s that morning, it had to be Boxner.
Because if it wasn’t Boxner, who was left?
“Everything okay?” Officer Courtney asked when Jason returned the key to the property room.
“Yep.”
She studied him sympathetically. “It does get pretty warm up there in the summer, I know.”
Jason smiled. “A little. I’ve got to compliment you. That’s a well-organized property room.”
She smiled back.
Jason said, “That noise complaint at the Madigans’ on Friday night. Was Officer Boxner alone when he responded to that call?”
“Yes.”
“Small department, solo patrol?”
“Yes.” She gave him a rueful look.
“And that was the only call to the Madigans’ that night?”
“Yes.”
“Officer Boxner asked Rebecca to turn down the music, and she obeyed, and everything was peaceful and quiet for the rest of the night?”
Officer Courtney gave a dry little laugh. “I wouldn’t say that. There was a second noise complaint. The chief said he would look into it, but he ended up having to help a stranded motorist.”