Page 100 of Blood Moon

“Something that hasn’t occurred to you is that… that if the episode airs, and if it’s as untrue as you say, your reputation will be shredded, too. Brady generously added your name to the credits as associate producer.”

“Are you free?” John asked as soon as Gayle Morris answered.

“Not for long.”

He’d saved her for last after having spoken with Roberts and Cougar. The result of those conversations was mixed. From the start, Cougar had been lukewarm at best on the moon having anything to do with their young woman’s disappearance.

The new information John gave him on numerology and his speculation about a secret society on the dark web had made the other investigator even more leery. But he’d grudgingly agreed to look back through his files and see if they might have overlooked a weirdo who had a thing going with a moon goddess.

John really couldn’t blame the guy for his sarcasm.

Roberts in Jackson was a bit more receptive. After listening to John’s spiel, he told him he remembered a guy they’d questioned because he’d been acquainted with their victim and had a prior arrest for exposing himself. “During questioning, he admitted to routinely visiting porn sites on the dark web. ‘Routinely’ turned out to be three times a day.”

“You cleared him?”

“His wife provided him with an alibi for the night Annawas taken. But in light of what you’ve told me, I’ll follow up on him and get back to you when and if I have something.”

“Might be wise to have someone watching him tomorrow night.”

“For sure.”

John had thanked him and, now, he was lucky enough to find Gayle Morris with a few free minutes. “I’m short on time, too, but I wanted to bounce this off of you. It comes with a warning. It’s going to sound crazy and like I’m losing it, or am already around the bend.”

“I wish I still smoked,” she sighed. “Go ahead.”

“Numerology.”

“Oh, hell, that’s dense.”

“Very, and I’m skimming the surface.” He told her about Victor Wallace and gave her a rudimentary lesson on how the system worked. “All four girls have double letters in their names. The professor said that would arouse a numerologist’s interest.”

“You think that’s the common thread we’ve been looking for?”

“I don’t rule it out. Neither does Beth.”

“But?”

“But maybe we’ve been looking for the common thread in the wrong place.” He then advanced his theory.

When he finished, she whooshed. “Wow. Four crimes, four culprits, but one motive whose underpinnings are Roman mythology and mysticism.”

“Does it have legs?”

“Shaky ones, John. Like earthquake shaky.”

“I admire your candor.”

“It’s waaaay out there.”

“I know. I also know it’s asking a lot, but could you go back to Larissa’s family one more time? Ask about her friends, a relative, anybody in her realm who was into numerology or the paranormal of any stripe. Anyone who might, just might, surf the dark web in search of like-minded people. That person may not be guilty of anything, but he or she could play on the same playground as the men who are, and could point us toward it.”

“John, I’d help, but I’m working a case where either parent could’ve drowned their two-month-old baby girl in her little pink bathtub. They’re lying to cover for each other, and there’s a mistress in the mix. I have a lot on my plate.”

“I get it.”

“Larissa Whitmore’s disappearance is a cold case.”

“I understand the pecking order, Gayle. Ido. But just for a nanosecond pretend that Patrick Dobbs didn’t pitch Larissa into the Gulf. Some other dude did.”