Stolen Daughters (Detective Amanda Steele)

“That’s a chilling thought.”

“He could also just be getting started. I must admit I’m concerned by how fast he moved on to his next victim.”

“Yeah. I was also thinking it was disturbing that—assuming it’s the same killer for both victims—he’s demonstrated versatility.”

“He’s also shown that he’s not going to let anyone get in his way and stop him,” Brandon added. “By cutting out that woman’s tongue, it sounds to me like he’s definitely sending a message. Same with putting the house on fire with the girl inside.”

“Trent and I thought that too. Why burn her rather publicly? And does the location factor in?”

“Good questions. As for the fire, it’s often associated with cleansing and purification. The location… Well, it could be that your killer is making a statement with that too. It could also be that he’s recreating something from his own life. Besides the nine-one-one call, is there anything else that connects the victims?”

“Not that we’ve discovered. The young girl was tattooed with the mark of a sex-trafficking ring.”

Brandon’s eyes darkened. “Can you connect the second victim to that world?”

She shook her head. “Not from anything we’ve found out so far.”

Brandon pursed his lips, in obvious thought. “I don’t have a lot of information to go on here, but often killers who take out prostitutes and the like—”

“We’re talking about a sixteen-year-old girl,” Amanda snapped. She might be a little touchy, given the girl’s age—and how dare the killer proclaim himself on the same team as her? She amended her outburst with a calmer summary. “It’s not like it was her choice. She would have been manipulated and coerced into that lifestyle.”

“You and I know that, but the killer may see it differently.” Brandon’s cool demeanor in the face of the victim’s stated age surprised Amanda, but then again, he probably faced the worst murders imaginable. He went on. “There are four different types of serial killers: thrill seekers, visionaries, power or control seekers, and mission-oriented killers. It’s very early yet to determine which category your killer falls into. Given the girl’s history, though, perhaps he sees it as his duty to clean up society. He may see the world as a better place without certain types in it.”

“She was just a child.” Her heart was aching with rage and grief.

“He may have still held her accountable. Remember I’m going on the little I’m being given here, and it usually takes a lot more to build a profile. But one thing with mission-oriented serial killers is they can be easier to track down because they have a specific type. The second victim could have been killed simply because he saw her as blocking his mission. This type of killer is also rarely clinically insane. They often hold jobs and have stable and reliable lives. They are typically native to the geographical area in which they kill. They are organized and usually plan meticulously for their crimes.”

Trent might have been on to something when he’d brought up geography, but it didn’t help Amanda to think their killer was in his right mind. And there was that taunting note…

“The killer left me a message,” she said.

Brandon’s gaze flicked to Becky, then back to Amanda. Becky’s eyes were on Amanda as well, her mouth agape.

“What do you mean, a message?” he asked.

Amanda got to her feet and walked around the back of the chair, then stood there bracing herself on it. “I found a note at Lindsey’s grave.” She glanced at Becky. “It was addressed to me.”

“You never said anything to me about that.” Becky sounded almost wounded.

“I’ve been busy.” Truth was, she didn’t want to go around sharing that news with everyone—not even her best friend.

Brandon inched forward on the couch. “What did it say?”

“That we’re on the same team, and to be thankful that my angel—Lindsey—would always stay innocent.”

“Huh. He definitely wants acknowledgment and credit for his murders.”

“That thought had occurred to me.”

“This note could tell us that he lacked approval and acceptance in his own life. Possibly childhood abuse or neglect. The note could be seen as a cry for attention and approval, but don’t dismiss that there’s definitely a threat enclosed. See, as long as he considers you an ally and you’re not hindering his actions, he’s fine with you. Do you have any idea what put you on his radar to begin wi

th?”

“I have my thoughts… The first girl was branded, as I told you. I was in the local news back in January for rescuing fifteen girls from a sex trafficker. Still not sure how that puts us on the same team. I helped them. He killed one.”

“Yeah, it’s hard to know where his head’s at exactly. But it would seem apparent he justifies his actions, even sees them as necessary to achieve his end goal, whatever that turns out to be. I still say there may be some connection in his personal history that will intersect with human trafficking. Possibly just sexual abuse. And it is possible that he saw that article you mentioned, and it served as a trigger for him. He could have been drawn to you, figuring you’d understand him. Hence the note.”

Her legs buckled, but she retained her composure as far as they would see. It was one thing for her to consider that possibility and another to hear it coming back at her. But how could her doing a good thing have potentially set a psychopath on a killing spree?