Page 27 of Three Girls Gone

“I assume it was processed for prints?” Trent asked.

“It was, and there weren’t any. All this was back when I was officially on the case. I didn’t like the angle of the shot either. Most of the shots of Julie were of her performing on stage. This was more intimate, behind the scenes.”

“Then you never found out who took the picture?” Amanda said.

“Nope, and after talking with Dickson, that drove me crazy. The photographer must be someone with backstage access.”

“Right, so pageant contestants, their mothers, agents…?” Trent rattled off.

“Whoever was an integral part of the entourage.So I also considered cosmeticians and costume designers,” Katherine put in.

“Costume designers…” Amanda said. It might not hurt to disclose one thing about the Tanner case. “The note that Rideout found was stitched into the hem of Hailey’s dress. I don’t know if it looked professional or not but…”

Trent shook his head at her. She might have crossed the line by disclosing that.

“There were a few male costume designers. I’ve got their names on my laptop in the storage unit.”

“We’ll want them,” Trent said. “Did you ever question them for Julie’s murder?”

“I did. None of them flagged as suspicious. Maybe I made a mistake in assuming that.”

Amanda laid her hand over Katherine’s, and her friend looked at her. “There’s only so much time,” Amanda assured her. “You follow the strongest leads you have. Now we know more, it will help us look at things differently.”

“Now you have another victim you mean. All because of me.”

“The only thing you’re responsible for is trying to find justice for a little girl,” Amanda said with conviction.

Katherine pulled her hand back and nodded. “So it was after talking with Dickson, part of what I did was reach out to the NYC venue again for employee names. I figured they’d have access backstage.”

“And you have those?” Amanda asked.

“I do, and they matched what I already had, which was disheartening. I haven’t had a chance to go any further than that.”

“The killer is likely someone who knew your interest in those backstage,” Amanda said.

“That is a lot of names with no way of narrowing them down.”

“Let’s say the killer was also Dickson’s photographer, what’s his end game? Why submit the photo?” Amanda asked.

“We know most killers have egos and God complexes,” Katherine said. “It’s a game to him. He’d have to know the photo would flag as suspicious. I think it was to steer the investigation away from himself.”

“And they go as far as calling in the tip,” Trent said.

“He may have thought you’d run into a similar photo of Dickson anyhow. Why not push the limelight off himself?” After she spoke, something else occurred to her. “Katherine, you would have employee names for the venue already, but you never came across Dickson’s name before? Pulled a background or seen his picture?” Amanda was trying to understand why Katherine hadn’t identified him on her own.

“It’s possible I had seen the name, even his picture, but he never flagged for me. And you know how different a person can look in their license photo compared to real life.”

No one said anything for a moment.

“What is it about this case, Katherine, that has you holding on?” Trent asked, breaking the silence.

Katherine looked at Amanda.

“I didn’t miss that,” Trent said. “Is there something I should know?”

The story wasn’t Amanda’s to tell. She said to Katherine, “Considering where we find ourselves, it might be best to lay it all out.”

Katherine rubbed her forehead. “I suppose you’re right. I haven’t even told Aunt May, so if we can keep this quiet until I’ve at least had that chance?”