“Andrew. His name was Andrew,” she says, and Cade’s eyes dart to mine. Same fucking name from the cell phone of another victim. “He was handsome. Dark-brown shaggy hair. Looked like your typical bad boy.” She shakes her head. “I should have known.”
“You can’t blame yourself, hunny,” Ms. Tizzy consoles her granddaughter.
“She’s right. Nothing you did or didn’t do could have prevented this. This man is sick,” I tell her.
“I think we got everything we need for now,” Cade tells her. “Thank you, Natalie. Would it be okay for us to send our sketch artist in to see you?”
“If it will help catch this guy, then yes.”
“You’re a fighter, Natalie. Now let yourself rest and heal,” I tell her.
Back in the car, I think I’ve figured out a piece of this puzzle. “She said he kept calling her Hadley. Do you think that’s why he keeps dumping at the river? It reminds him of whoever Hadley was to him?”
Cade nods in thought. “It seems that way. Let’s search past records for the name Hadley. Natalie mentioned him saying something about her escaping once before. You think this could be a domestic dispute gone bad? Wife left and he went manic searching for her?”
“It makes sense. Gives perspective to why all his victims look similar. This Hadley, she must have been blonde.”
After dropping Cade off, I quietly enter the house, tiptoeing upstairs so I don’t wake Jade.
“West?” she mumbles sleepily from under the covers. I stop and smile, my heart beating rapidly at the sight of her in my bed.
“It’s me, baby. Sorry if I woke you.” I bend to kiss her temple. “I’ll be right back,” I tell her before heading to the bathroom.
Joining her under the covers a moment later, I pull her into my chest.
“How’s Natalie?” she asks, snuggling into me.
“She’ll be okay. Physically anyway. I can’t imagine what it will be like for her mentally, though.” I run a hand down my face, thinking about the trauma she will now live with.
“Was she able to give you any information?” Jade asks.
“We got a little bit from her. She says the person that hurt her was named Andrew. Which matches evidence found with another victim. So, that actually helps quite a bit. We also think we know why he’s been dumping at the river.”
“Oh?”
“She said he kept calling her Hadley.”
I feel Jade stiffen, and it makes me curious.
“Do you recognize that name?”
“Huh? N-no.” Her voice wavers, and I shake the feeling of doubt away. There is no reason for Jade to lie about something as simple as a name.
“Anyways, we think Hadley must be the name of whoever has set this guy off. Maybe an ex or something. Cade’s going to send in a sketch artist to meet with Natalie, so hopefully that will give us more.”
“Th-that’s good.”
“You okay? We don’t have to talk about this anymore, I’m sorry if it’s upsetting you.” I kiss her forehead and run her hair through my fingers.
“It’s okay. I just feel for Natalie is all.”
Giving her a squeeze, I let her know how the progress is going on whoever has been watching her. “I also stopped by the station and spoke with Garrett. He gave a list of plates for all the redcars in town he could find. We’re going to figure out who’s been watching you.”
Her head nods, and I hear her swallow.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Jade. Now, let’s get some sleep, okay?”
The next morning, I’m going over all the license plates Garrett gave me, but no hits are popping up. Two were both women, which I can look further into in case there is a spouse or male that has access to the vehicle. Another belonged to a deceased man and wasn’t insured anymore; the daughter claims the car hasn’t moved from its spot in over a decade. And the last one belongs to an old man who claims he’s the only driver of the car.
