Riley grabbed her bag from the passenger seat and stepped out into the misty evening.Even as she approached her front door, she couldn’t help running through the case details one more time, hunting for that elusive connection that might break everything open.
As she reached for her keys, she reminded herself that tomorrow would be another day of investigation, another chance to get ahead of the killer.Tonight, however, all she wanted was a few hours of peace with her family, a brief respite from the darkness she’d spent the day wading through.She had no way of knowing that even that small comfort was about to be denied her.
Riley pushed open the front door, the familiar scents of home momentarily displacing the web of frustrations the case had spun.The house was warm, alive with the soft hum of the television from the family room and the lingering aroma of whatever Gabriela had prepared for dinner.She had just set her bag down on the entryway table when Jilly appeared from the kitchen, her eyes bright with an excitement that immediately set off warning bells in Riley’s mind.The girl practically vibrated with nervous energy.
“Mom, you’re home just in time!”Jilly’s words tumbled out in a rush, her dark hair swinging as she bounced on the balls of her feet.“I think I can help you catch Leo Dillard!”
The name alone was enough to freeze Riley’s blood.She stared at her fifteen-year-old daughter, momentarily speechless.
“What are you talking about?”Riley finally managed.
Jilly thrust her phone toward Riley.“Look!Someone texted me this afternoon.At first, I thought it might be some creep from school, but the way they write, the things they know about our family—it’s him, Mom.It has to be.”
Riley took the phone and scrolled through the conversation.It began innocuously.":
Hey beautiful.Been watching you in class.Too shy to talk in person, but wanted to let you know I think you’re amazing.
Then Jilly had responded,Who is this?
“You shouldn’t have replied to him at all,” Riley said.
“Keep reading, Mom.”
The texts quickly became palpably creepier, with the texter claiming to be someone who understands Jilly extremely well:
Someone who’s noticed how different you are from everyone else here.How much deeper.
And finally came the text which amounted to a smoking gun, identifying Riley by name:
Riley is very protective of you.But I also know she’s working a case today.You could slip out for a little while.No one would have to know.
“He wants to meet me at Echo Bridge at nine o’clock,” Jilly said, pointing to the final message.“That’s less than thirty minutes from now.We could go together—you could hide somewhere nearby while I—”
“Absolutely not.”Riley’s voice cut through the air like a blade.“Jilly, do you have any idea how dangerous this is?This man is dangerous.He’s been stalking our family.”
“I know that!”Jilly’s eyes flashed with indignation.“That’s why this is such a good chance to catch him!He thinks I’m just some dumb kid, but I’ve been careful.I never told him anything important, and I made sure to sound like I was totally falling for his act.”
Riley closed her eyes briefly, wrestling with the conflicting emotions surging through her—pride at Jilly’s cleverness and horror at the risk she’d taken.When she opened her eyes again, she fixed her daughter with the steady gaze she typically reserved for interrogations.
“You are not going to Echo Bridge.You are not meeting this person.If this is Leo Dillard—and I believe you’re right that it is—then he’s playing with you.With us.”
“But Mom—”
“There is no discussion here,” Riley said, her voice softening slightly as she recognized the disappointment clouding Jilly’s expression.“I understand you were trying to help, but this isn’t something you should be involved in.”
From the doorway to the kitchen, Gabriela cleared her throat.The housekeeper stood with arms crossed, her expression making it clear she’d heard enough of the conversation to understand the situation.
“Your mother is right, niña,” she said firmly.“This man is muy peligroso—very dangerous.Not a game.”
Jilly’s face flushed with frustration.“I’m not treating it like a game!I’ve been careful!Mom catches killers all the time, and I just thought—”
“Your mother has training, weapons, and backup,” Gabriela interrupted.“You have none of these things.”
Riley placed a hand on Jilly’s shoulder.“I need to call Bill about this.And then we’ll need to turn your phone over to the forensics team.”
“What?No!”Jilly clutched her phone protectively.“They’ll take forever to give it back!”
“This is evidence, Jilly,” Riley said gently but firmly as she pulled out her own phone and dialed Bill’s number, putting the call on speakerphone.
