And that is when I realize I can’t stop, because when that boy is my age, I want him to know his mother’s murderer was caught, not still out there somewhere.

“I think I’m losing it,” I whisper.

“Stay strong, darling,” Nan says. “We’re in this together.”

Chapter 83

I almost don’t call, but what choice do I have?

When the policewoman, Lorraine, answers her phone, I say, “I have some clues.”

“Okay.”

“There was a comment on one of my videos. It said ‘wrong perfume.’”

I realize how stupid this sounds, but I’m scared I should have told the police sooner.

“I’m not sure I understand, Jessica.”

“He knows what perfume my mother wore. I think he’s watching me.”

“Or maybe it was a lucky guess.”

“There’s more,” I say. “I’ve been getting these articles…newspaper clippings. I’ve had two now. I think they’re from someone at school.”

I hear Lorraine sigh down the phone and hate her for not taking me seriously.

“It’s connected,” I say. “I don’t know how, but I think it can help us catch him.”

“We appreciate what you’re trying to do,” she says. “But I’m sure you’ve seen the news. Everyone is working twenty-four-seven to find him.”

“Are you?”

Lorraine doesn’t reply right away. And when she does, she ignores my question and says, “The texts, the articles, this comment…it was all to be expected. There are some cruel people out there.”

There are, except some are a lot crueler than others.

Chapter 84

Another Monday morning: just me and Danny in my bedroom, me slowly opening my eyes and him with a serious look on his face.

I thought about doing another piece directly to the camera, reaching out to the family of Lorna Banks and apologizing for their loss. But Danny advised me not to. He said that after some of the online comments, I should avoid the word sorry in case it looked like I was taking the blame.

I know Nan was right. The Magpie Man would have killed again, with or without me. But right now, it’s hard to separate that. Especially when I know he’s watching.

The day passes quietly, nothing new, nothing exciting. Without Michael standing outside my window, my life is pretty boring, at least for an audience, and I understand why he did it. He wanted to make the best possible show. He wanted to make something everyone talks about the next day.

I wanted that too. We just went about it in different ways.

The news has an update on Lorna Banks. A reporter standing in the rain says police now believe she was killed by the serial killer known as the Magpie Man.

My mom’s picture flashes on the screen, then other people’s moms and wives and sisters.