Lets assume, just for the sake of argument, that the scene where there were no signs of foul play were actual suicides, she went on. Lets say the caller contacted them and talked them into it somehow. But with the other two, the callers words werent quite enough. They had to give an extra bit of effort and met with them…maybe even pushed them.

Its plausible, but feels like a stretch.

Oh, for sure. But what if? What if the killer was there at the scene for the first two. Maybe just watching. And if either Nick Harding or Joseph Staunton had changed their minds at the last minute, the killer would have been there to make sure it was done. As she said these things out loud, something in her gut told her she was on to something. And the more she thought about it, the more foolish she felt for letting Lisa so easily off the hook.

So the big question remains: why? Jack asked.

No clue. Based on some of the other reasons weve gotten for getting the numbers of suicidal people during this case, Im nearly afraid to ask. But I do know this…if someone was going to talk a suicidal person into going through with it, who better than someone who has been trained to talk them out of it?

Theyd come to another red light and traffic was getting thicker. She looked at Jack and saw that a faint dawning sort of expression had come over his face. He wasnt completely sold on her idea yet, but it had hooked him. I think it warrants at least another discussion with her, he said. Its not like were drowning in leads anyway.

With the light still red, Rachel pulled up Shelbys personal number. She answered right away and Rachel matched her urgency, wasting no time.

Shelby, is Lisa on shift right now?

No, shes not due to come in until midnight.

It felt a little off, as two of the four victims had been killed after midnight, but it was still worth looking into. And they didnt have time to sit down with Lisas schedule to compare it with the times of each victims death.

In front of Rachel, the light turned green and she pressed on. Gripping the phone in determination, she said: Then if you have it, Im going to need her home address.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN