I ended the call and stared blankly at the dark screen. Slowly, I was starting to get a fuller picture of the monster that was TSK. He was sixty to seventy years old, intelligent, extremely organized, religious, had or has a job that involves travel, and probably owns other properties. He was likely good with technology and physically fit. And then of course, there’s the ketamine usage that I didn’t share with Beccah. Did she know about it and just didn’t say? It wasn’t a lot to go on but it was something. At least I had a few more characteristics to keep in mind moving forward. And hopefully the next time I spoke with Beccah, if I could gain her trust, perhaps I could learn more from her. She was clearly hanging onto some details that might be important.

I heard the front door swing open and then shut again, the ding of Andie’s keys hitting the bowl in the entryway. ‘Lizzie?’

‘Yeah, I’m on the couch,’ I called back.

‘Oh, good,’ she said, turning on a light as she entered the room with Travis on her heels. I hadn’t even realized how dark it had gotten during my talk with Beccah.

‘Oh hey, Trav,’ I said, giving them a small smile.

Andie sat down on the cushion next to me while Travis headed to the kitchen. I could smell the lingering scent of beer on her warm breath as she leaned in.

‘I’m sorry if I was insensitive back at the bar, Lizzie. I know you’re going through a lot. This whole thing just has me so spooked. I mean, his victims are so much like us. And we live in this apartment, where we sacrificed security for budget. Now that we know he’s still active, I’m worried.’

‘I know. I’m sorry, too. I wish I could turn off this need to know but it’s my family. It’s like there’s this huge gaping hole in my life that won’t feel complete until I fill it in. But I know it’s dangerous. I’ll try to be careful and I’m sorry you’ve been dragged into this.’

I fingered the locket dangling around my neck, thinking about my twisted family history.

‘Oh my God, Liz. The locket!’ she exclaimed, pointing at my neck.

‘What?’

‘Cris mailed you the locket.’

It took a moment before the weight of her words sunk in. I had given Cris our address. It had seemed harmless at the time but now in light of TSK’s recent activity, I couldn’t help but wonder whether it had been a ruse to learn where we live. I felt sick. If it was Cris, I’d inadvertently put Andie and I right in TSK’s crosshairs.

‘Oh, Andie, I’m sorry. I didn’t know at the time that things would escalate to this level.’