Page 60 of Forever Gone

Kelly rotated the laptop so they could see her notes.

“Karen belonged to two online writing groups and followed four local author pages, but she rarely posted. The only messages I can see without the full warrant return are public replies. Mostly encouragement and questions about publishing. Ruth Keller didn’t belong to any writing groups. Her accounts are limited to family contacts, coworkers, and community pages.”

“No shared contacts?” Selena asked.

“Not yet. There are a few names that appear in both follower lists, but they’re local businesses and people with hundreds of connections. Nothing meaningful.”

Connor pulled the murder board closer by gripping its wheeled frame. “What about school records?”

“That’s where I think we should concentrate,” Kelly said. “We’ve linked Karen, Ruth, and Linda Mercer to Elmsview High. We should pull the full class rosters from that period and cross-reference everyone. Former classmates with grievances, old scandals, disciplinary records, anyone who might carry an old grudge into something this methodical.”

“The records may be harder to get after this long,” Connor said.

“It’s worth checking since the victims have that connection,” Kelly replied.

Selena considered the photographs on the board. Karen at forty-one. Ruth at forty-two. Linda at thirty-nine. Their years at school overlapped even if they had not graduated together.

“I agree,” Selena said. “There’s nothing on their personal accounts that feels out of place or dangerous. If the connection began before social media, we won’t find it by staring at recent posts.”

Kelly turned the laptop back. "Dana said archives have digitized most yearbooks and some district records when I asked earlier. The disciplinary material is patchier."

Connor reached for the phone on the table. “I can ask her to bring whatever she has.”

“She’ll love being rushed,” Selena said.

“I’m the sheriff. I know how to handle my staff.”

From the corridor, Cheryl called, “No, you don’t.”

Connor paused with his hand above the receiver. “I swear that woman hears through walls.”

Cheryl’s footsteps moved away without further comment.

The yearbook database loaded slowly on Selena’s screen. Dana had obtained the files from the district archive after the county attorney secured an expedited court order. Scanned pages appeared in blocks before sharpening into names and photographs. Selena selected the years spanning Karen’s first term through Linda’s graduation and began listing students who appeared more than once in the victims’ activities.

Karen had joined the school paper for a single year. Ruth appeared in a business club photograph and two volleyball team pictures. Linda’s name showed in the same athletic records several years later. No club, teacher, or event connected all three.

Kelly opened another year. “There are more than four hundred names across the overlap.”

“We narrow by disciplinary history, criminal records, and continued residence in the county,” Selena said. “Then we work outward.”

Connor remained beside the board, reading over their shoulders. “You know, it comes to mind that you two need to be careful.”

Kelly turned. “What do you mean?”

He pointed toward Karen and Ruth’s photographs. “The three women we’re dealing with all went to Elmsview High around the same time both of you did.”

Kelly’s posture changed slightly. “You think anyone from that era could be under threat?”

“It’s just a precaution. We don’t know whether the killer has a list, a grievance, or some other connection we haven’t found.”

Selena returned to the roster. “Karen and Ruth were both killed at home. Linda disappeared after leaving hers. The killer’s targeting particular women, not everyone from school.”

“We don’t know what makes them particular yet,” Connor said. “Where are you staying, Kelly?”

“The Wilson Motel.”

A laugh escaped him.