Chapter 85: The Missing Link
“The girl was supposedly abducted by the same killer responsible for the deaths of Ryder, Jonathan Miller, and Pauline Miller,” Jim said, his tone grim, as the weight of the situation became apparent to everyone in the room. “But there’s something the police don’t know—Sasha Paula was also a member of the Pathway of Ascendants.”
The room quieted as the group processed this new information. Jim’s gaze swept across the others, waiting for their reaction. After a moment, he continued, his voice steady but heavy. “Sasha joined the cult two years ago and spent four months with them before cutting ties completely. She severed all contact with the members and even created a Facebook page where she posted content openly opposing Satanism.”
Jira’s sharp gaze locked on Jim. “And how exactly did you come by this information?” she asked, her suspicion evident but curiosity beginning to creep in.
“Albert and I persuaded one of the cult members to talk,” Jim replied, a subtle hint of pride in his voice, though his expression remained serious.
Albert shifted forward, his posture confident but his eyes darkened with the weight of what they had uncovered.
“That’s right. A former cult member, someone who’d had enough of the life, told us everything he knew. He confirmed that both Ryder and Sasha were once part of the Pathway of Ascendants. But after they left, they didn’t just quietly walk away. They turned on the cult—speaking out publicly against Satanism and denouncing the beliefs they once followed. That made them a target.”
Jira’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Getting information from a cult member isn’t exactly easy. How did you manage that?” Her voice was sharp, but there was an edge of admiration in it now.
Albert leaned back in his chair, folding his hands in his lap. He spoke slowly, his voice carrying the calm authority of someone who had navigated dangerous waters before.
“I found a guy who was looking to get his family out of Australia. His previous ties with the mafia had made their lives a constant threat. I offered to help him arrange their safe relocation. In return, he gave me everything he knew about the cult. And that’s how we found out about Sasha and Ryder.”
Jira’s eyes flicked to Albert, impressed despite herself. “A resourceful person, to be sure.”
“He was,” Albert agreed, nodding thoughtfully. “He had contacts all over Australia—and he was more than willing to use them to get his family to safety.”
One of The Watchers, a tall, dark-haired man, spoke up from the far side of the room, his voice low and thoughtful. “So, if the killer’s targeting people who were part of the cult, but later left and turned against it… what does that tell us about his motives? Is he trying to erase the threat of anyone who might expose or condemn Satanism?”
Jim ran a hand through his hair, a contemplative look in his eyes. “That’s exactly what it looks like. The killer’s methodical—he’s eliminating those who could pose a risk to his twisted cause. Sasha, Ryder, and the others are victims, but their real crime was leaving the cult and standing against it. They’ve become symbols of defiance in a world where the cult can’t afford to have any enemies.”
Jira absorbed his words, the weight of the situation beginning to settle on her shoulders. “So the question is—do we have records of all the cult members?”
Albert nodded and pulled out a thick file from his bag, carefully placing it on the table in front of Jira. “I’ve compiled a list of every known member. Most of them are accounted for—I’ve tracked them down. Some are still in Australia, while others have fled abroad. But there’s one name on the list that doesn’t show up anywhere.”
Jira’s eyes narrowed. “And who is this person?”
Albert flipped through the file, scanning the pages. His fingers paused on one sheet, and he looked up at Jira, a hint of frustration in his eyes.
“This person—he’s the only one on the list we can’t locate. I’ve gone through every channel I have—local police contacts, underground networks, even the mafia ties we’ve used in the past. But there’s nothing. His address was fake, and everything he told the cult about himself was fabricated. It’s like he disappeared into thin air.”
Jira leaned forward, her brows furrowing as she processed the new piece of the puzzle.
“You’re telling me this guy—this missing cult member—is connected to the killer somehow? Or is he just another victim?”
Albert’s jaw tightened, his gaze darkening. “I can’t say for sure. But the fact that we’ve lost him and that he’s deliberately hiding means he might be the key to everything. The killer could be using him as a pawn—or he could be working with him. Either way, we need to find him. If we can’t, we’re losing our best lead.”
The room fell silent, the weight of Albert’s words hanging in the air. Every eye in the room was fixed on the file, and there was an unspoken understanding among them all. This was no longer just about finding a missing girl or solving a series of murders. This was about stopping a killer who was methodically erasing people, one by one.
Jira picked up the photograph Albert had placed on the table, her fingers brushing over the grainy image. The man in the picture looked young, but there was a coldness in his eyes that sent a shiver down her spine.
“Do we have any other leads on him?” she asked, her voice low and tight with urgency.