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

far include any witnesses. No one saw Linda Kay, Margo, Sincere, Cynthia, or maybe a dozen others get into his van. This means they were happy to do it. They felt safe with a person that seemed the least threatening in their lives.

In the cases we’ve looked at, it’s reasonable to assume that Bunce had seen the victims in the parking lots of the establishments on his routes. They’d likely seen him too. In Margo Kasinski’s case, she was probably walking on her own or running away from the Smokey View Diner when Bunce offered her a ride.

In the case of Cynthia Hawkins, he’d likely seen her at the truck stop. It was where she frequently met Ned Wayne Ewald. Killing Cynthia Hawkins was Bunce’s way to throw the authorities off the scent. Though they never quite connected the dots between Cynthia and Ewald’s relationship, Ewald fit enough to make authorities believe he did it.

The van that Kevin Bunce was driving a few days ago offered a few insights into what happened after he invited his victims in.

By design, the passenger side door locking buttons did not work. Once his victims got into the van, they’d need him to unlock the doors if they wanted to get out.

Bunce didn’t use a gun or a knife. He used his hands to kill his victim, to strangle them, and to beat them.

The back of Kevin Bunce’s van was well stocked. Not only did he have the Vista Foods products for the businesses on his route, but he also had surgical gloves, garbage bags, and tape.

The issue of fingerprints wasn’t a concern for him, thanks to his meticulous use of gloves.

There was no DNA evidence to link Kevin Bunce to the eight victims we outlined in this case. There is also no evidence that Kevin Bunce’s DNA is on file anywhere. He has never been arrested for any crime. He has never received so much as a speeding ticket.

That, however, is about to change. His DNA has been collected and uploaded. The Hawkins family has provided DNA as well.

Suppose there are other victims who fell prey to this monster in more recent years. In that case, modern crime scene investigators will be able to match it.

And while some serial killers take items from their victims as souvenirs, Kevin Bunce didn’t want a thing from the women he killed.

He wanted to discard them like he did the refuse from the snacks he sold.

He regarded it all as garbage.

This is exactly what finally got him caught.

They weren’t garbage.

We debated about the name of this season because we hate it. We hate that anyone would call these women nobody. They weren’t. They might have been in the margins of society in some cases, but they were loved. They are still missed, profoundly, by the people they touched.

We made it our mission to reveal who they were. As best we could. But we didn’t succeed with two of the women. They remain Jane Doe One and Jane Doe Two. Even though the season is officially complete, the cold case solved, we will continue to search for their stories. For that reason, this season will continue to have an asterisk next to this final episode. The search continues as long as it takes.

Because they weren’t Nobody Girls in somebody’s eyes.

I’m Kendra Dillon, and this is The Cold Trail.

Chapter 30

It was Tuesday, so Kendra was going straight to Franzy’s to meet her Dad. She had no idea if she’d be dealing with Darleen as the future Mrs. Don Dillon. She hoped not. But she had admittedly ignored her family for the last three days.

Tony Franzy greeted her as she walked into the restaurant.

“I want to congratulate you on your continued amazingness. A prolific serial killer this time? It’s beyond.”

“Thank you, I appreciate that.”

“I want to say more, but I can’t. We have bigger things to talk about.”

“What is going on? Your eyebrow is practically touching your hairline. It’s so arched.”

“I could tell you, or I could just watch you go back to your Dad’s table.”

“I hate surprises.”

Franzy was trying to control hysterics or a burp or something.

“Right this way, ma’am,” he said. “Just a warning, in my entire life, I do not remember a scene like this.”

“Now I’m worried.”

Kendra walked through the restaurant to Big Don’s traditional Tuesday booth.

As she approached, she saw what had caused Tony to nearly explode.

There, next to Big Don, was Stephanie Dillon. Kendra had to blink to be sure she wasn’t hallucinating. Her independent woman of the world mother was dropping a piece of bread into his mouth!

“They’re acting like they’re on a honeymoon or something. It’s adorable,” Tony whispered.

“I think I’m going to be sick.”

“Awe, they’re in love,” Tony cooed.

Kendra never wished for her sister to be with her more than in this moment. Only Gillian would understand.

Her family was close-knit, her Dad was a generous giver of big hugs, but her parents, getting along and being romantic? Being sweet? This was just wrong.

And just like Tony had said, totally unprecedented.

“What the heck are you two up to?” Kendra said. She stood with her hands on her hips at the edge of the table.

“Hello dear, glad you could make it,” Big Don replied. He gave her a look that indicated he’d won a big prize. What that was, she hadn’t a clue.

“I told you I would.”

“What are you doing here, and what’s the meaning of all this, this, lovey-dovey crap?”

“Kendra, sit down. You’re making a show,” said Stephanie.

“I’m not the one making a show,” Kendra shot back. But she did look around and realized people were looking. She slid into the booth. And she kept a wary eye on her parents.

“We’re still married, for goodness’ sake,” Stephanie said.

Franzy showed up at the table.

“You’re sure about that order?” he asked Big Don.

Stephanie provided the answer. “He’s sure, and make sure to get her his former order. We’ve got two ends of the spectrum here, don’t we?”

Kendra assumed Stephanie meant that her daughter looked