The Hunt

Nineteen

"Hey, Tom, what's up?" I answered the phone , while Mark stared at me with a quite puzzled look in his eyes.

"There's news. Someone just reported about a missing woman . Apparently she goes under the name of Jessica Thomas, she was supposed to attend a family event but didn't show up." 

I felt how rage invaded me. "Hang on, Tom. I 'm connecting free hand mode so that Mark can hear too. When and where was this reported?"

"Just one hour ago, I took it. I checked with Kate about the missing girl, every information about her matches with what the victim's girlfriend told you. It looks like she false Jessica made a good research. I send you the picture of the girl, even that is similar to the fake girlfriend."

"Thanks Tom. We're on the road now, as soon as we get to Norfolk and talk to Vicky's family we'll contact you again."

"Talk soon then, if we find out something more we'll call back. Bye."

"Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck!" Mark yelled after a while "She's completely fooled us." His hands gripped tightly the wheel. "Not even her DNA, she was too smart as to give us a sample." 

"Calm down, what's done it's done. Let's focus on talking to the girl's family and we'll locate Jessica later. Or whatever her name is."

"How on earth will we locate her, Dana? We don't have a fuckin' clue about her actual identity or about where does she come from. "

"I'll text Tom to do another search at the victim's house, we might have overlooked something."

"You're too optimistic, Dana." He said bitterly." I don't think we even get to solve this, it was too well planned."

The buzzing of my phone alerted me of an incoming message. It was Tom's, with the picture of the actual Jessica Thomas . She looked astonishingly alike to our now number one person of interest.

"Wow, they really look like twins." I showed Mark the picture. Both girls had the same blonde short hair and blue eyes. 

"This isn't something improvised, they must have checked on the victims' lives and acquaintances for a long time. "

I opened the folder with the case information and took the family picture we had found in Martin's house, hoping to get some answers from it. I examined closer the two boys faces and expressions. Every single detail in them irradiated their intention of protecting the girls in the center of the photograph. They wouldn't be more than fourteen or fifteen, but the way they looked at the camera made them seem older. And the girl in the middle, Vicky, it was all about her. All the hopes and dreams and expectations of a family, resting on the shoulders of a girl who smiled at the unknown photographer, with a mixture of determination and hope.

"If only this picture could talk!" I closed the folder again and put it on the dashboard. Bitterness was invading me too as I slowly began to accept we would never find the murderer of those three men. And worst of all, we would never find the real Jessica Thomas. I thought of her, maybe she had witnessed the first murder and the killers had made her disappear. 

Another incoming call from Tom pulled me out of my thoughts. I connected the free hand mode before answering.

"Any news, Tom?"

"Yeah, good ones. A girl was admitted into emergency a couple days ago, she had been severely beaten but she's slowly recovering. She had no I. D on her but her physical description matches with both Jessicas. I'm going to talk to her right now, hopefully she can give us some information."

"Thank God she's alive. We've almost arrived in Norfolk, will call you back when we have talked to Vicky's family."

"Ok. Bye."

"Looks like things are getting themselves together." Jack finally said. "You were right."

"As usual." I teased him."Pwrk the car there, according to the GPS we can't be too far from the house. I'm calling Caroline to tell her we're here, we'll meet her after we talk to the Reynolds."

"Fine." Mark answered."Hope she's as good as you recall her." 

After a short conversation with Caroline to update her on the news, we agreed to meet on a small cafe near the piers,  not too far from the Reynolds house. It was a rather big house, built in a colonial style. A couple in their late sixties or early seventies were in the garden, each one of them reading a book."

"Mr and Mrs Reynolds?"

The couple looked at us , clearly startled "That's us, how can we help you?" The man got up from his armchair. He was rather tall, and had the same air of determination I had seen in the picture.

"I'm detective Davidson and this is my partner detective Mitchell. We would like to talk to you."

"This way, please. Harriet, will you make us some coffee? " The man got up and led us to the inside of the house. All along the walls, there were several photos of a younger Mr Reynolds, in uniform, proudly smiling from his ship.

"So, you served in the Navy." I said.

"I'm honored to say I was, yes. But I guess that's not the reason for your visit." Mrs Reynolds brought a tray with coffee and sat by her husband 

"No, it's not. Look, I know this can be painful but we need to make you some questions about Vicky."

Mrs Reynolds let go a small cry and rushed out to the room."Vicky..." Mr Reynolds finally whispered."What do you need to know?" The militar was clearly winning the father.

"We want to know what happened to her, and why."

Reynolds got up and walked to the window. He stood there, looking at the sea."Am I wrong if I say you already know something?" 

"No, you're not.  But we need.~"

"Mom, Dad, we're home!" Someone yelled from the garden. 

Mark and I looked at each other.

Jessica .