The Missing Link
***POV of Anna***
“Joe, I’ve compiled a list of names of several individuals who appear to be somewhat suspicious and have connections to the missing people in one way or another,” I said, handing him the paper.
Joe glanced down at the list, his expression unreadable. “Call them tomorrow. I need to speak with them,” I added.
“Okay, ma’am. It’ll be done,” Joe replied, slipping the list into his jacket pocket.
I looked at him, waiting for him to say more, but he didn’t. Instead, I pushed forward. “You didn’t tell me what you found out about the deceased girl,” I asked, keeping my voice steady despite the growing tension in my chest. This case had been eating at me. The more I uncovered, the more things didn’t add up.
Joe shifted uncomfortably, his hand brushing his face as he spoke. “Ma’am, the girl’s name is Leah Evans. She was a foster child of Samantha and John Evans, who live near Haines Highway.”
I nodded, encouraging him to continue. “Go on,” I said, my pen hovering in my hand.
“Leah was adopted by Samantha and John after her parents died in a car crash. Her biological parents were cousins to John, so they decided to adopt her and give her a chance at a normal life. Leah had a good relationship with her two twin brothers and seemed quite happy with her foster parents.”
“And she was in high school?” I pressed, my mind piecing things together.
“Yeah, she was. She used to go swimming every day. The family had a lake house near the outskirts of town. Two weeks ago, she went for a swim and never returned,” Joe said, his voice growing softer, almost reluctant to continue.
“Was she reported missing right away?” I asked, already knowing the answer but needing him to say it.
“Yeah, her parents reported her missing. Then, yesterday, they found her body in the national park, just a mile away from their lake house. Her body was… badly mutilated, ma’am,” Joe finished, his voice trailing off as if the words themselves were too much to say aloud.
I closed my eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. It was another tragic case of a young life snuffed out too soon. "Have you called Leah's parents in for interrogation?" I asked, my mind already processing the next steps.
“Yeah, I scheduled them for tomorrow morning. Officer Jeffrey Browns already questioned them, but I thought you’d want to speak with them too, so I arranged it,” Joe replied.
“Good,” I said, my voice a little more even now. “But the more I think about it, the more it seems like there’s something we’re missing. Too many people have gone missing, and we still know nothing about the actual culprit. Instead, you all kept blaming a mountain, giving the true culprit the chance to continue his heinous crimes.”
Joe shifted on his feet, glancing at the floor. "Ma’am, the forbidden mountain is cursed."
I exhaled sharply. "If it's the forbidden mountain responsible for the disappearances in Seward, then who’s behind the disappearances in other cities of Alaska? And who abducted Leah and murdered her in such a horrific way?" I snapped, my frustration bubbling over. "You can't seriously believe in this curse nonsense."
Joe lowered his voice, almost as if he were afraid someone might overhear. "People are saying the evil spirits of the forbidden mountain have been unleashed. They think those spirits are responsible for tearing apart the girl’s body, killing her in such a horrific manner."
I rubbed my temples, trying to ward off the headache that was creeping in. "Oh, stop this nonsense. When will you people understand that there’s no such thing as spirits or ghosts?" I said, my voice laced with irritation. My approach to these cases was grounded in reality, not supernatural myths. The killer was real, and I intended to find them.
Before I could say anything more, a knock on my office door interrupted me.
“Yeah?” I called, trying to keep the annoyance from my tone.
Captain Sophie stepped into the room, her face set in that professional mask I’d come to recognize. "Ma'am, the assistant of Dr. Wayne called. He said that the forensic report of the murdered girl is ready."
I stood up immediately, my heart pounding. This was the moment I’d been waiting for. "That's good. I was thinking of calling Dr. Wayne myself to inquire about the report," I said, my mind already shifting gears.
"I’ve informed Dr. Wayne's assistant that someone from the police station would pick up the report soon," Sophie replied.
“No, I’ll go get it myself and have a discussion with Doc,” I said, grabbing my jacket from the back of my chair. I didn’t want to waste time waiting around for someone else to handle it. This was personal now. Too many pieces were missing, and I needed to get my hands on the details.
Joe stood from his seat, looking at me with a raised eyebrow. “You’re going personally?”
“Yeah, I am. Let’s go, Joe. We have work to do,” I said as I grabbed my phone and slid it into my pocket. My pulse quickened, but I had no time to waste.
Joe followed me out of the office, and we made our way to the parking lot. The cold air hit me the moment I stepped outside, but I didn’t care. We climbed into the white Chevrolet, and I focused on the road as we drove. The tension in the car was thick, and I could feel the weight of the case bearing down on us.
Twenty minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot of St. Richard Forensic Lab. I could already see the lab’s glowing sign in the distance. This place had always given me the chills, but it was the best in the business. We needed answers, and we needed them now.
We stepped out of the car, the cold biting at my skin as we walked briskly toward the building. The lab was a large, double-story structure, with all the sterile, efficient vibes of a place where gruesome work got done under harsh fluorescent lights. Inside, the hum of those lights echoed in the hall as we crossed the spacious corridor to the examination room.
“Hello, Doc,” I greeted Dr. Wayne as I entered the room. He was seated behind a desk, scribbling notes on a pad. He looked up, a faint smile crossing his face as he stood and slipped on a pair of gloves.
“Oh, hello. I was waiting for you folks,” he said, his voice calm as he handed me a thick file. “Here’s the detailed forensic report.”
I took the file and opened it immediately, scanning the contents with an experienced eye. "Doc, what did you find out?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. My mind raced, but I couldn’t afford to show any cracks.