The Therapist: A completely unputdownable thriller with an incredible twist by S.A. Falk

Author:S.A. Falk [Falk, S.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Published: 2024-04-25T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-NINE

Three days after we receive the second package, the bodies of Jamie Cannon and Sophie Bennett are found on the shoulder of Interstate 5. Jamie’s remains were dumped near Pyramid Lake, and Sophie’s were left two hours north near Coalinga.

The discovery hits the news and social media like a typhoon. Everyone from journalists to internet sleuths jump on the bandwagon that there is a Bakersfield Vampire copycat terrorizing south-central California.

The coverage is ten times as extravagant as it ever was for the original crimes, people speculating wildly about who it could be and what is inspiring it. Immediately, Finley is targeted as a potential suspect, but then others who had a connection to Trent are thrown under the microscope. Musicians who played live with him when he toured. Record producers who worked with him on his albums. Anyone with an association with him is stripped down and scrutinized by the public eye.

To be honest with you, I find the coverage to be borderline perverse, as gratuitous and graphic as anti-abortion campaigns. People love sensationalism though. They always have.

As shocking as the discoveries are to the public, I am distracted by my own ruminations about Trent. Especially after the bizarre incident in the mailroom, I am wondering if he is no longer responding to his medication and either needs the dosage to be adjusted or a different antipsychotic drug altogether.

Later in the day, Navarro calls me with a breakthrough.

“The coroner found tissue underneath Catherine Davis’s fingernails,” he says. “We ran the DNA and got a hit on a guy from San Jose named Nelson Burch. He’s been in and out of prison for most of his life. Burglary, assault, arson. You name it. He was even on the hook for a second-degree murder charge until the prosecution had to throw the case out because of a technicality.”

“Does he have any connection to Trent?” I ask.

“Oh yeah,” he answers, his voice assured. “He’s a well-known SOS groupie. Even worked as a roadie on the last couple of tours. One of his assault charges came from an altercation when he was working backstage. He was high on meth and nearly beat another worker to death. Assaulted the security guards too when they apprehended him.”

“Jesus… he sounds like a monster.”

“He is. Literally. He’s six-eight and weighs three-hundred-fifty pounds. Definitely capable of what he did to Davis’s mother. I am heading up to Fresno now to interrogate him. See how Davis contacted him and maybe learn something about the copycat.”

“I wouldn’t hold my breath,” I comment, trying not to sound too despondent. “I really don’t think Catherine’s murder is connected to the other three. Especially now that DNA was found on Catherine, but not on the others. The copycat is more careful than that.”

“You’re probably right,” he replies. “But maybe he’ll have some guesses as to who it might be.”

“Maybe,” I say, although I have my doubts. “You’ll keep me posted if you do learn something?”

“You bet.”

We end the call, and my brain starts churning about the copycat.

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