She Found a Forgotten Case File at Work — Then Realized the Recent Murders Were Following Its 20-Year-Old List
Chapter 10
Edward Mercer had been the county prosecutor for twenty-two years.
He had overseen the department when Mara’s father disappeared.
He had signed the original investigation.
He had authorized every sealed document.
And now he was publicly declaring that the recent murders were the work of a lone serial killer.
Mara watched the press conference in silence.
Daniel stood beside her.
“He knows we’re getting close.”
“Then why hold a press conference?”
“Because he’s controlling the narrative.”
Mara looked at the old list.
Five names.
But there was something she had missed.
The first letters.
Richard.
William.
Robert.
They spelled RWR.
Mara rearranged the names.
Nothing.
Then she noticed the dates.
Twenty years ago.
Exactly twenty years apart.
The killer wasn’t following the order of the list.
He was following the dates.
Daniel stared.
“Look.”
The dates formed a pattern.
Every murder occurred on the anniversary of a specific event.
The night of the original crime.
Mara suddenly understood.
“They’re not being killed because they were witnesses.”
“Then why?”
“Because they were involved.”
Daniel looked at her.
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
She pulled out the old photographs.
“The five men weren’t the people who discovered the conspiracy.”
“They were the people who helped cover it up.”
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“And your father?”
“He was the one who tried to expose them.”
Mara turned the final page.
There was one last name.
She had never noticed it.
Jonathan Bennett.
But beside his name was a date.
Tomorrow.
Mara’s hands began shaking.
“Tomorrow.”
Daniel stared.
“Your father?”
“He isn’t dead.”
A message appeared on Mara’s phone.
YOU’RE FINALLY READY.
Then another.
COME TO THE OLD COURTHOUSE ALONE.
And a final message.
BRING DANIEL REED.
