By comparing Madison Knowles’s mother to the wailing woman in the legend, Viv Kantz had done her a huge disservice. It took Carla five minutes on the internet to track down the woman’s name. Tammy Knowles had refused to let her daughter’s death slide from the news and had become Madison’s advocate. By Carla’s reckoning, she had mounted a campaign of press attention, political lobbying and street activism in an attempt to bring the killer to justice. Lucy Keyes’s mother, if the accounts were accurate, had been a lost figure, calling her daughter’s name in the woodland around her house. Tammy, in contrast, was a modern day activist and a thorn in the police’s side.
On the ‘Justice for Madison Knowles’ Facebook page, there was an email address, but the text warned that any information should be directed to the police in the first instance. It also specifically asked mediums and psychics not to contact them, so that had clearly been an issue in the past. Carla sent an email explaining who she was and that she was Lauren Powers’ replacement at Jericho College. She didn’t add any detail – she was pretty sure Tammy would know who Lauren was. Sure enough, within ten minutes, Carla received a reply offering to meet her at a coffee shop in town, the same place Erin had taken her at the start of term. She wanted a meeting within the hour.
Tammy was already waiting for her by the time Carla got to the venue. The look of desperate hope she gave her as she clambered onto the high stool made Carla’s heart ache and she was pretty sure she was about to disappoint the woman.
‘What can I get you? This one’s on me.’ Tammy had a hand in the air to attract a server.
‘I’ll have an espresso, thanks. I’ve a long day to get through.’ Carla pulled out Lauren’s notebook.
Tammy gave the order, all the while looking at the scuffed jotter on the table. ‘You been doing some research of your own?’
Carla shook her head. ‘This belongs to Doctor Powers, who I mentioned in my email. She was a prolific notebook keeper.’
‘Can I see?’
Carla handed her the book. ‘This is from the period just before Lauren died. The notebook which covers the dates when she visited Wildmarsh Street in the aftermath of Madison’s death is missing.’
Tammy kept the notebook in her hand but didn’t open it. ‘Missing? You mean you can’t find it?’
‘All the notebooks were kept in a cupboard in Lauren’s office. There’s one missing.’
‘You think someone took it?’
‘Not necessarily. Lauren might have had it on her or left it at home rather than keep it with the others in the office. She might also have given it to someone. I need to do a lot more digging. However, what I do have is that notebook from this year and I’d like you to look at this page.’
Carla took the spiral pad from Tammy and flipped to the page where Detective Baros’s name was written next to the three numbers and the row of burn marks.
‘Is this it?’ Tammy couldn’t keep the disappointment from her voice. ‘Detective Baros was one of the investigators.’
‘I’m aware of that, but I wanted to know whether you knew the significance of the numbers? They might be related to Madison’s case. I know that your daughter’s killing was the only investigation Lauren was asked to assist with.’
Tammy puffed out her cheeks. ‘They mean nothing to me. Why don’t you ask Baros?’
‘I will when I can track him down.’
Tammy kept her eyes on the page. ‘And what’s your role in all this?’
Carla hesitated, wondering how much to tell her. She didn’t want a summary of this conversation appearing in the Facebook group. ‘I was asked if I’d assist as an expert consultant for the killing of Tiffany Stoker at Silent Brook. You may have read about the death in the paper.’
‘She worked at the Lake House, right?’
‘That’s her. Did you know her?’
Tammy shrugged. ‘I’ve dined there a few times. You think there might be a connection?’
‘There might be and possibly with other crimes that have occurred.’
‘Which others?’
Carla swallowed. She had to remember this woman was an advocate. Anything she told her was unlikely to remain private for long. She could just about get away with suggesting a connection between her daughter’s death and that of Tiffany. Carla, after all, had a semi-official role in being called to Silent Brook. However, she wouldn’t want to incur the wrath of Viv by making any other connections she couldn’t prove.
‘I’d rather not say at the moment.’
‘Crimes in the past.’
‘Yes.’
‘Jesus.’ Tammy put her head in her hands. ‘Do you know what I’ve spent the last two years doing? Waiting for Madison’s killer to strike again. I mean, he had to be some kind of psychopath, hadn’t he? We never proved any connection between Madison and him and as far as I’m concerned, they never met before the night she died. I’ve done a lot of reading about how psychopaths stalk their victims. They deliberately choose strangers. You know he tried another girl’s door, don’t you?’
‘I heard about it. It appears he was prepared to strike any girl in the building. So why squeeze past a more accessible sorority house?’
‘I don’t know. Given that we’re assuming it was nothing personal against Madison, I’ve been waiting for him to strike again, but there’s been nothing. And now you tell me there might be a connection to others. The girl at Silent Brook was burned alive, wasn’t she?’
‘She was.’
‘God, I’m no expert, but that doesn’t sound like Madison’s killing at all. Do you know how many books I’ve read about Ted Bundy? I was sure the killer was focusing on college students, and I’ve been pushing for better security on campus before he attacked another girl. Now it looks like I’ve been focusing on the wrong thing.’
Carla could feel the outpouring of the woman’s grief. She reached out and touched Tammy, holding her hand. ‘I lost my husband a few years ago. I can’t even try to compare heartaches, but I do know the despair you’re feeling. I can’t tell you what I suspect because it’s so flimsy that the theory, if it’s dismissed out of hand, could end any potential investigation. Do you understand that?’
‘Of course.’ Tammy withdrew her hand. ‘What can I do to help?’
‘You’ve become well known as Madison’s advocate. Could you use your channels and see if you can discover what became of Lauren’s notebook? The police may have it if Lauren was carrying it with her when she killed herself. Can you put in a formal request emphasising that it might contain key information relating to your daughter’s death? They might tell you to get lost, but it’s worth a try.’
‘I’ll do it as soon as I get home. Anything else?’
‘Not that I can think of at the moment. I’m going to try my own approach with Baros, but I don’t think he’s my biggest fan.’
Tammy snorted. ‘I know the feeling – the police think I’m a complete pain in the ass, but so what? You’ve given me a glimmer of hope though that there may be a way of solving my daughter’s death and that’ll do for today. You think this monster is still killing?’
Carla thought of the knotted thread next to Jessica Sherwood’s body. ‘I do.’