Rachel read the details of the page out loud, a habit she had never been able to break herself out of. DUI four years ago but most recently, she did a very brief stint of jailtime for assault against a woman in a public park a little over a year ago. The other woman required stitches and pressed charges.

Seems like someone filled with aggression to me, Jack said. Throw in failed fertility treatments from two different clinics…yeah, I think that might be a pretty good fit.

Same, Rachel said, clicking on the tab for personal info. She plugged Gemma Chapmans current address into her phone and got to her feet. So, lets go pay Miss Chapman a visit.

***

Gemma Chapman lived in a modest home in a blue-collar neighborhood. A tilted plastic flamingo sat all alone just in front of an entirely dead flowerbed. A few hanging ferns gave the porch a bit of color but other than that, the house was unremarkable. The porch showed signs of disrepairpaint flaking from the posts, a single spot where termites had feasted at some point in the past.

Rachel took the lead and knocked on the door. As she waited to see if there was anyone home, she was answered in the form of a television at low volume. Shuffling footsteps could be heard a few moments later and then the door was opened just a crack.

Whos there? a woman said, revealing only one eye and a long, angular nose.

Im Special Agent Rachel Gift, and Im accompanied by my partner, Jack Rivers. We were hoping to ask you a few questions.

Me? she asked, sounding genuinely confused.

Yes, maam.

The woman, presumably Gemma Chapman, opened the door the remainder of the way. Can I ask what this is about? she asked. She was dressed in a ratty tee shirt and a pair of sweatpants. She was slightly overweight, most of it showing in her face. Her brown hair looked as if it had not been washed in about a week. And though Rachel hated to think such a thing about anyone right off the bat, the woman just looked straight-out sad.

Youre Gemma Chapman, correct? Rachel asked.

I am. Please…come on in and have a seat.

She gestured to the couch and armchair in her small living room. A TV was mounted on the wall, currently tuned to the Weather Channel. Rachel sat down, always aware that it was best to look at ease and non-threatening when getting information out of people.

Mrs. Chapman, we are currently investigating a series of murders that seems to be targeting women that are scheduled for fertility treatments.

Gemma nodded, as if she understood perfectly. I saw something about those killings on the news this morning. Its terrible.