“I don’t think I’ll stay here forever,” she answered. “I like the snow, but the winters are long. I think I want to experience a change in scenery eventually.”

My ice rattled in my cup as I swirled the latte around, trying to mix in the vanilla syrup that collected at the bottom.

“Virginia is perfectly mild. We still experience summer and winter, but it’s a perfect balance between the two.”

“Maybe that will be my first stop when I finally get out of here,” she teased.

My heart jumped. I didn’t mean to let my hopes rise, but the promise of seeing Len again, even when this was over, was far too great to ignore. If I could hold on to that possibility, it would make the painful reality feel dulled.

“Then I’ll have to show you around,” I answered, trying to keep the desire from my voice.

For a moment, there was a pause in which she stared back at me, her eyes full of longing. Before Len could answer, her phone began to ring inside her purse. She grumbled at the noise and ignored it.

“You should really check that,” I said. “What if it’s your parents or Calvin with news on their visit?”

“Fine,” she sighed.

Her eyes widened the second they saw the screen, and I caught a glance over her shoulder at the number scrolling across it. I’d memorized it the last time they called. My hands scrambled for my phone and dialed Mags.

“Mags, I need you to trace a call on Len’s phone,” I said when she answered after barely a single ring.

Len answered her phone, and I knew Mags would already be well into trying to trace the caller. She’d need only a minute to find the exact location.

“Hello?” Len said, her voice hesitant.

“Keep them talking,” I tried to mouth as softly as I could.

“Did you like your gift?” a robotic voice came through the speaker, muffled.

Len looked to me for guidance. The killer was seeking her praise, almost like they relied on it. She was the key to this all; we just didn’t know how yet.

I nodded slowly.

“Yes,” she said, and I could tell the word physically pained her. “It was thoughtful for you to think of me on my birthday.”

Perfect answer.

It kept the Coastal Killer satisfied with her praise without mentioning the severed finger or victim at all. Len was doing great, and I reached out for her hand to give her reassurance. Her face flushed a little, and I felt her hand shaking.

“You’ve got this,” I whispered.

“Another thirty seconds or so,” Mags said into my ear.

“There will be more,” the voice said through the speaker again.

“Please don’t,” Len said before I could cue her not to engage. Her voice trembled, and I knew the killer would hear it too.