“There is a male victim one week after every female, except for a couple where there is no male,” Trask said.
“Because?” Troy tipped his head.
“Because they were afraid to report their attack. The men’s injuries can be concealed. Damn.” Trask shook his head.
“And one more thing. Two attacks did not occur at Twentynine Palms: Gwendolen and Dr. Brody Garrett. Why? I need you stop by Tech and speak with Tiki Milton. Take Gwen and Brody’s lives down to when egg met sperm.” Troy pressed his lips together.
“You got it, Boss. I’ll keep you updated.” Trask headed out.
“Before you go, anything new from this morning?” Troy asked.
“We’ve identified them. They’re all Marine applicants. Their lawyers have shut them down.” Trask said.
Troy chewed his lip. “Where did they go to school?”
“Got it.” Trask left.
C’mon, put it together.
Troy’s intercom buzzed. “Mr. Wentworth and Ms. Kennedy are here to see you.”
“Send them in.” Troy stood and went to his door. “Hey.” Troy kissed Saoirse’s cheek and shook Zach’s hand.
Zach crossed his arms over his chest, and his blue eyes projected like a laser as he circled Troy. “Hmm.”
“Your buzzard is going to go hungry. I don’t plan on harming myself,” Troy insisted. He held a chair for Saoirse. His brow quirked at the bottle of ginger-ale in her hand. “Congratulations.”
“Now that makes me happy.” Zach smiled. “I told you he never missed anything. You’re going to be an uncle again in time for Christmas.” He blew out a breath. “Kip gave me a heads up, told me about the interview. And I saw the statement that’s going out companywide at 1700 hours. You sure you’re okay?” His brow quirked.
“That’s a relative question. I’m tired of being scared, but I’m wobbling like a toddler, even though I’m managing to stand on my two feet.” He smiled at Saoirse. “Since I was twenty and spoke to my first special victim, I hated the pain in their eyes and wanted to take it away. Ellie West told me I needed to do the hard work to grow whole again. Saoirse, you said I needed to control my situation. To do that, I need to take some steps into the unknown. I know how to accomplish this: I have to do it with my friends.”
“We are with you. What do you need?” Saoirse got up and looked around.
“Bathroom is there.” Troy pointed.“Ice, I found my first clue. Every woman attacked is involved with someone. That’s a whole new set of associations to run.” He went on to explain his other thoughts. “I interviewed Gwen again today.”
Zach’s face contorted. “Not the best choice.”
Troy held up his hands. “I’m a baseball coach from now on. She’s still holding back. Something more happened to her there.” He dropped the memory card into Zach’s hands. “Listen. Three things I’ve put together. One, the group that held her in that prison wanted an item from her, and ‘Gwenny’ means something more than just a name. Harry Desmond, the last Marine she saw before her capture, was her team leader. He left her behind.”
Zach’s eyes hooded over and opened. “Okay, I’ll listen and then work up a plan.” He steepled his fingers, tapping his pointers together. “I’ll take the lead. Who do you want as my second chair?”
“Wes. He knows her better than Kip.”
“Okay.” Zach nodded.
“Thanks. What are we missing?” Troy shook his head.
“We will figure it out. Who’s doing your TV interview?” Zach asked.
“Alec Kunzleman, Global News Network.”
“Where?”
“The most secure place, the conference room on two,”Troy advised.
“Who is running security?”
“You volunteering?” Troy’s lips turned up.
