"I can check the backgrounds," Owen said. "But I think it would also be good to personally interview someone close to one of them.”
“That means the easiest witness to interview will be Molly.” Seeing as how the first victim had died two years ago, and the most recent one lived one, Molly was the only logical choice.
“I think we need to work separately for now."
She saw Owen nod in agreement. Time was a vital factor here. It was ticking away, and with their own sheriff involved in this case, they couldn't waste a moment.
"You do background checks on Anthony Mulligan and Dave Tyne," she said. "I'll go and speak to Molly again and get more information from her on all of Ed's friends and activities."
“If you drop me at the closest police department, I’ll get started in the meantime,” Owen said.
Hoping this would help them make solid progress, May rushed to the car. She drove down the road, dropped Owen off at the local police station, and then she headed back, on the short drive to Molly's neighbor's house, where she hoped the not-so-grieving bereaved wife was still holed up.
As she went, May felt that tight knot of fear in her stomach again, and she knew that they had to get this killer fast. He was unpredictable, and that was the scariest thing.
What would he do next? Who would he kill next?
And why?
When she pulled up outside the neighbor's house, May saw that there were a few cars parked outside. It looked like friends and possibly family, too, had rallied round to support her.
May climbed out and walked up the garden path to knock on the door.
A moment later, it was opened by a woman she'd only seen in photographs so far. But her face was familiar. She had a broad, calm face with bright, blue eyes and thick, brown hair held back from her face by a series of hairpins.
This was Sheriff Jack's wife.
"Good morning," she said. "I'm Deputy May Moore."
"Oh, May Moore!" To May's surprise, Sheriff Jack's wife looked as surprised as if she'd met a VIP. "I've heard so much about you!"
"You have?" May asked, surprised.
"Jack and I might be divorced, but we're still friendly. We chat often, and he speaks so highly of you. I'm sorry we have had to meet under such difficult circumstances. I'm Rachel, by the way." Now, the sadness at her daughter's plight was visible in her eyes.
"I'm sorry for your loss," May said, as she was invited inside.
She heard voices from the kitchen and smelled the aroma of cooking food. Definitely, Molly’s friends were rallying around, and she was being comforted and cooked for.
“Ed was a lovely man," Rachel said, tears welling up in her eyes. "Always very polite and friendly, though I did wonder if he was the right person for Molly. I sometimes thought they weren’t as happy as they could have been and always hoped they’d achieve that soon."
"It must be very hard for you all," May sympathized.
"Thank you. It's like a mother's worst nightmare," Rachel said.
"I need to speak to Molly again. In private, if that's possible," May added, knowing that there were secrets between Molly and the parents, and not sure how much the mother knew. But from what she’d said, she definitely didn’t know how bad things had been between her daughter and Ed, and she didn’t know that Molly had been having a passionate affair with a man she wanted to be with.
"Of course. I'll call her now," Rachel said, as she gestured for May to sit down in the living room. "I still can't believe it," she added, shaking her head.
Rachel disappeared into the kitchen, and May heard her speaking to Molly, who appeared a few seconds later, looking much calmer and more composed than the last time May had seen her. She'd gotten over her tears, which May guessed had been as much from shock as from grief.
"I'll leave you to it," Rachel said softly, stepping out of the living room and closing the door.
Molly sat down, now looking suspicious.
"What is it now?" she asked bluntly. “Why are you back here?”
"We have linked this crime to another two murders. The most recent one happened last night and was discovered this morning," May said.
