The Nobody Girls (Kendra Dillon Cold Case Thriller Book 3), Rebecca Rane [best book club books of all time txt] 📗

time. Perhaps too much time had passed to tell the victim’s stories accurately and compellingly.

The body of who they believed was the fourth victim, found in Kentucky, Susan Hodge, was still just a name. They hadn’t found additional news coverage on her, or a family, or frustratingly, anything.

Shoop had been spending her time trying to find more while Kendra had been out retracing Sincere’s steps and dealing with Big Don.

Kendra was mulling, and Shoop was digging when Kendra’s phone buzzed. It was a number she didn’t recognize.

“Kendra Dillon,” she answered.

“Special Agent Sylvia Price. You requested a few files from our archives, murders in the late ‘70s?”

Aha! Finally, a response from the FOIA requests.

“Yes, yes, I’m doing some profiles on the victims. And I’d need to see case files, see where the investigation wound up, that kind of thing. Find out where it all stands.”

Kendra believed they had pinpointed four victims, but only three were old cases. The fourth was the one that had started her down this path, the woman found at High Timbers. That was still in the hands of BCI. Just like the local news stations were, she was waiting on word on that one. The rest, well, whatever was known, was locked up at the FBI.

“Yes, I see you requested three from the archives.”

“Yes, on Sincere Anderson, Linda Kay Ellis, and Susan Hodges.”

“I’ve fulfilled that document request, but well, there’s more.”

“More?”

“Yes, in the years 1978 to 1982, there were likely other victims that matched in several key ways.”

Kendra was shocked. She waived at Shoop to come into her office as she continued the conversation.

“How many other victims?”

“We have eight, with several characteristics that indicate they were the same perpetrator, over that time period.”

“I need the files, and we need to interview you, on the record, for The Cold Trail podcast.”

“I figured as much when the request crossed my desk. I wanted to be sure that we had a complete picture for you. The original agent on this case, he passed way long before I or any of us in this field office got here. There was a bit of research that we had to do to make sure we had the right information for you.”

“I appreciate that. Are you authorized to speak on the record? We’d need an interview, officially, for the podcast.”

“Yes, I’ve familiarized myself with the case files and am authorized to provide you with the official statements. When do you need this?”

“Does tomorrow work?”

“I, uh, let me check.” Ad Kendra waited. She put eight fingers up. Shoop’s eyes widened. “Okay, Ms. Dillon, I’m available tomorrow morning. Where did you want to meet?”

“Can you come here, to the WPLE studios? That way, we can get the best quality audio and all that.”

“Yes, I’m in a morning meeting but could make myself available at 10 a.m. Does that work?”

“Perfect, see you then.”

They ended the call.

“Well, eight, what in the actual heck?” Shoop exclaimed.

“Our number just doubled.”

Kendra was shocked by the information Agent Price had conveyed.

Tomorrow, the floodgates in this cold case would be opened to them.

Kendra planned to be ready.

Kendra reread all her notes. She was ready as she could be to interview the FBI on what sounded like a killing spree that had been hidden for longer than she’d been alive.

The receptionist for the station, Sharon Holcomb, buzzed Shoop when Special Agent Sylvia Price arrived.

Shoop brought her to the studio, where Kendra was waiting.

Agent Price was impressive, to say the least. She wore a black pants suit with pressed pleats that looked sharp as armor. A cornflower blue collared blouse was tightly tucked into her slacks, and she was wrinkle-free from her forehead to her pumps.

She wore a chin-length blond razor-cut bob haircut. She was chic, imposing, no-nonsense, and beautiful.

A lot about her reminded Kendra of her sister Gillian. There was a no quarter asked, no quarter given demeanor required of high-level female law officers. They had to have every aspect of their exterior on lock so they could get to the point of their jobs: Fighting the bad guys and the patriarchy from within it!

Kendra shook Agent Pierce’s hand. “Please, have a seat. We’ll begin right away. I’m sure you’re busy.”

Agent Price nodded, and they arranged themselves across from one another, microphones covered in foam to minimize the sound of popping “p”s were lowered in front of both of them.

“Lean into the mic and just use your regular speaking voice.” Kendra looked over at Miles, and he gave her the thumbs up. “Let’s begin. Can you let our listeners know your official title at the FBI?”

“Special Agent Sylvia Price, Port Lawrence FBI Field Office.”

“What can you tell us about the Linda Kay Ellis case?”

“The body of Linda Kay Ellis was found in 1978. It was clear immediately to the citizens that found her and to all law enforcement that she’d been the victim of foul play. Her body was wrapped in a garbage back and secured with masking tape. Initial investigators observed that she’d been beaten and likely strangled. She’d also been sexually assaulted. Her blue jeans were wrapped tightly around her neck. Though the autopsy revealed, she was strangled by hands, not the fabric. She was last seen at a diesel gas service station off I-75, just outside of Port Lawrence, but there were no witness reports of her getting in a vehicle or talking to a specific suspect.”

“What did the FBI know about her life or activities before her murder?”

“Agents learned she was a sex worker, that she frequented several truck stops and restaurants, and likely her work funded a significant drug addiction.”

This all tracked with what Kendra had learned.

“You’ll see we included all her files.” Agent Pierce put an accordion-style folder on the low table between them. Kendra picked it up and gently thumbed through it.

“Are there suspects in here who were interviewed?”

“Dozens of people were interviewed. They’re all in there, as you’ll see. And more was done after the discovery of Margo Kasinski.”

This was a name Kendra