Nina asked the awkward question they all seemed to be avoiding. “Has any of the evidence from M Street been compared with the samples collected from my case?”
“We’re in touch with Fairfax County PD,” Wade said. “They’re pulling the box from archived evidence storage. Our lab wants the original material to test. In the meantime, they’ve sent the digital profile over. We’ll know something soon.”
“Hold that thought,” Buxton said, looking down at his phone. “Public Affairs just sent me a text. Says to turn on the news.” He picked up the remote and aimed it at the flat screen on the wall behind Nina.
She swiveled her chair to face the monitor. “What’s going on?”
“The unsub put out a message.” Buxton clicked on the remote. “To the public.”
Chapter 9
Nina watched a distinguished silver-haired anchor in a dark gray suit on the wall-mounted television. A news banner flashed below him as he spoke into the camera.
“. . . message through the Channel Six News Facebook page. Out of a sense of obligation to our viewers, we investigated before going live with this report. We also reached out to the FBI for comment. For more on this breaking story, here’s Jerrod Swift.”
The frame switched to a two-shot that included a reporter in his late twenties seated next to the anchor.
“Thanks, Steve.” Jerrod pushed a dark lock away from his forehead and looked into the camera. “About twenty minutes ago, someone sent a direct message to our Facebook page claiming to be the person who killed sixteen-year-old Sofia Garcia-Figueroa in Georgetown two nights ago.”
Jerrod’s voiceover continued in the background as the screen switched to an image of the news channel’s Facebook page. “The person who contacted us used a fake profile and claimed to have knowledge of the crime only the killer would have. We can exclusively share the contents of the message.”
“What does it say?” the anchor asked as the screen cut back to a shot of the news desk.
“He’s angry about what he refers to as a law enforcement cover-up.”
“What kind of cover-up was he talking about?” The anchor swiveled his chair to face Jerrod. “And how did our news team conclude the message was legitimate?”
“We contacted the FBI and provided the image he sent us.” A photo of the cryptic message found in the plastic baggie popped up. “They wouldn’t comment, but sources close to the investigation confirmed it matched a note the killer left at the scene.”
“Sonofabitch,” Wade said, momentarily distracting Nina. She dragged her eyes back to the nightmare playing out before her as Jerrod continued his report.
“Whoever sent the direct message to our page claimed the message refers to FBI Special Agent Nina Guerrera, who recently appeared in this viral video. He called her the ‘Warrior Girl,’ which he says is the English translation of her name.”
Nina clenched her jaw to block the stream of obscenities threatening to burst from her as Jerrod’s disembodied voice narrated in the background while footage from Accotink Park filled the screen.
“We noticed something interesting when we reviewed the clip,” Jerrod said. “Here’s a still shot.”
This time the screen split, with an isolated frame of Nina captured from the viral video next to a high school picture of Sofia Garcia-Figueroa.
“There’s a definite resemblance,” the anchor said when the camera cut back to him. “What is the FBI telling us?”
“They don’t have an official statement yet.”
“So what does the killer want?” the anchor asked Jerrod. “Did he indicate why he’s speaking out through the media?”
“He said he’s not going to let the FBI hide information from the public,” Jerrod said. “Sounds like he wants credit for what he did.”
Wade let out an exasperated groan. Nina surmised he didn’t appreciate armchair profiling.
“And he shared a coded message with us,” Jerrod continued.
Nina held her breath as an image of a series of letters and numbers flashed on the screen. They were different from the ones he’d painted on the dumpster at the scene.
The anchor continued to fire questions at the field reporter. “What does that mean, Jerrod?”
“We don’t know yet, but we’re working on it.”
“So the killer contacted Channel Six News exclusively?”
“Yes. He didn’t say why.”
“Wait, I’m getting something from the producer.” The anchor lightly touched his ear. “We’ve got a bunch of hits on our Facebook page. People are trying to decipher the message.” He glanced at Jerrod. “We’ll be sure to share possible solutions with the authorities.”
Jerrod nodded, trying to cover his excitement with a somber expression, missing the mark. “Whatever else is going on, the killer appears to be focused on Special Agent Guerrera,” he said. “Let’s hope the FBI is hunting him down right now.”
“Thank you for this report, Jerrod, and please let us know about any future developments. This guy is as much of a cipher as the clues he leaves behind.” The anchor swiveled to address the camera. “After the break, we’ll catch up with a pest control company in Reston that uses psychics and crystal power to keep bugs out of your home.”
“Shut that damn thing off,” Buxton said, then looked around the table. “Did anyone get that?”
Breck read from her laptop. “Thirty-two, eighteen, ten, and thirty-six, followed by an F and an R.”
Wade glanced up from his scribbled notes. “If the first number is thirty-two, he didn’t use a simple substitution cipher this time.”
“I’ll forward it to Cryptanalysis,” Buxton said. “The game has changed. The unsub is pulling the public directly into the middle of our investigation.”
“He wants to control every aspect of the case,” Wade said. “Including the information we release. He’s also enjoying the spectacle, as long as it concerns him. Classic narcissist.”
“What’s our best guess for his next move?” Buxton’s pinched expression told Nina he dreaded the answer.
“He’ll double down,” Wade said. “Go after Guerrera personally. Prove his superiority by taking out a Fed.”
Nina had no intention of letting that happen. The monster believed he had unfinished business with her, but he had no idea what she had become. Their paths seemed destined to converge again, but this time she would be ready for him. “And if he doesn’t succeed?”
Wade’s eyes bored into her. “Then someone else is going to die.”
Chapter 10
Nina did not miss the implication. Sofia Garcia-Figueroa had died in her place and, if she couldn’t stop the monster, another girl would do the same. She felt a pall of culpability descend, settling over her.
Breck broke the silence. “What kind of killer communicates in code?”
“In my experience,” Wade said, “serial killers.”
“But we only have one victim.” Flicking a glance at Nina, Breck added, “One deceased victim, anyway.”