The Hunted Girls by Jenna Kernan (best book club books for discussion txt) 📕

Tina, now wearing a yellow sundress, her makeup flawless and including false eyelashes, looked younger than her twenty-one years. Juliette, by contrast, wore jeans, cowboy boots and a paisley peasant blouse. Her only makeup was mascara and a tinted lip gloss, scented with mint, Nadine knew, because it helped mask the smell of the bodies she dissected. She wore a cross-body bag large enough for a phone, wallet and her handgun.

“We waited on dinner for you,” said Tina. “Reservation at a Caribbean place.”

“We had appetizers at the tiki bar. But I’m starving again,” admitted Juliette.

“Great. Let’s go,” said Nadine. But Juliette didn’t move.

“We got a hit on the second victim.”

Five

“The lab has DNA to verify,” said Juliette, “but we believe we know her name. It’s Rita Karnowski.”

“I recognize that name,” said Demko. “Sheriff’s office gave me a list of all known missing persons. Her boyfriend reported she disappeared during a hike. Right?”

“Yes. On March 20th. One of Skogen’s team called to tell us they made a match on a tattoo. The parents at first denied she had a tattoo, but the older brother came forward this afternoon. It’s a match. They were at the ME’s office and made the identification.”

“Why didn’t you call me?” asked Nadine.

“I called Tina. She told me where you were.”

“And she fits with our time of death?” asked Demko.

“Sure does,” said Juliette.

“They contacted the boyfriend yet?” asked Demko.

“I’ll find out.” Nadine drew out her phone.

In a moment she’d sent a text to Skogen, then waited the endless seconds for the chime notification of his reply.

She read his text aloud.

Heading to Hugo Betters residence. Meet us. We’ll wait.

He furnished the address of Betters, Rita’s boyfriend.

Demko drove and they met Skogen and the sheriff at a single-family, squatty cinder-block box with a double carport larger than the building. The only vehicle present was a Camaro missing an engine.

The house was dark and the window A/C unit wasn’t running.

“You sure this is the right house?” asked Demko.

The sheriff nodded and made the approach. Unsurprisingly, there was no answer.

“Did you try his phone?” asked Nadine. Death notifications were done in person when possible, but the phone was better than nothing.

“We did. No answer and no voicemail,” said Skogen.

“What about his work?” asked Demko.

“He’s a subcontractor. Electrician. Working several jobs. We’re trying to pin down his current location.”

Skogen rested his hands on his hips, glaring as the sheriff tucked his card in the gap of the screen door and frame.

“We’ll keep trying the number,” said the sheriff. “And call some of the contractors I know are building in the area.”

Nadine didn’t like leaving a death notification, but it was Skogen’s call.

He nodded and told Nadine he’d see her back at their temporary office.

At Demko’s vehicle she sighed.

“So… dinner?” said Demko.

Nadine hung back. “I need to add Karnowski to my profile. Begin gathering details on—”

Demko cut her off. “You need to eat.”

She nodded, accepting defeat, and climbed into his vehicle.

“I sent Juliette a text. She just got back to the hotel. We’ll pick her and Tina up on the way.”

Nadine said nothing. She was itching to get back to work. Both victims identified. There was so much to do.

“Maybe Skogen will locate Darnell while you eat.”

At the restaurant, they stepped into cool air-conditioning in the lively, pink-and-turquoise-decorated interior. In the corner, a lone musician worked a set of steel drums. Her stomach growled at the smell of the Caribbean and American food. With a jolt, Nadine thought of the two young women who’d never again go out for a casual meal with friends or enjoy the atmosphere of a relaxed restaurant. But the best she could do for them was to stop this killer before he tore apart the lives of another family.

At the hostess station they were greeted by a spunky young woman who seated them at a great table in the center of the busy room. Nadine was thrilled that she had never been there before, so she could enjoy her meal without the shadows of the past encroaching.

Demko told the hostess that they were in a hurry and she took their order, instead of waiting for the server. Nadine’s cheeseburger and fries were a big, delicious mess and she ate the entire thing.

“How’s Molly?” Tina asked Demko.

“Good! A little confused at the change of residence. But I took her to a dog sitter today. The woman has a four-year-old shepherd and a golden retriever. Molly is in heaven!”

“That’s nice. My cat spent the day under my bed. But I’m sure Muffin will adjust. I’m keeping the maid out for now.”

“Wise,” said Juliette. “Jack-Jack is welcome in the lobby when Rosie is there. She’ll watch over him and their little gal, Petunia.”

“I saw some of the kids talking to Jack-Jack,” said Tina.

“Yeah, he had a busier day than I did.”

At last, everyone had eaten their fill.

“That was great,” said Juliette, dropping her napkin beside her empty plate.

It was the first real sit-down meal Nadine had had since leaving DC. She was finally full but had yet to relax.

That would come only after they caught this unsub. She knew this sort of killer. He was just getting started and finding him would take all of them.

She glanced about at her team. She’d never led a team and felt suddenly grateful and terrified.

“I think we should swing by the body dump,” said Demko, bringing the conversation back to the case.

“At night?” croaked Tina.

“That’s likely when the killer was there. Might help Nadine with her profile.”

They turned their attention to her.

She was itching to get back to her laptop and the new details on their victims, but this also had value.

“Yes. Anything that will help us find this killer.”

“Ready?” asked Juliette.

Tina reached for her margarita, draining the remains in two swallows.

“Now I’m ready.”

“Bathroom,” said Juliette.

“Good idea.”

The two headed out, leaving Demko and Nadine momentarily alone in the crowded restaurant.

Nadine received the bill from their server and calculated the tip as Demko finished his final onion