Chapter 16
I SAT AT my desk in the Hall of Justice, searching for some kind of link between several cases that might not even be connected.
I had photos of Nicole Snaff and the two other young women Eric Snaff had said went missing from the San Julio area. Cindy had sent me all three photos this morning, but I hadn’t heard anything from my friend since then.
I also had several photographs of Tina Barnes, the woman found dead in Golden Gate Park. Even though her real name was Audrey Ware, Tina Barnes was her name on all official documents because that was technically still her identity from witness protection.
I needed more information. I hoped it would somehow all lead back to the unidentified body from Marshall’s Beach.
I stood up from my desk to stretch. Randy Hicks walked through the bullpen.
He stopped just before my desk and hesitated before he said, “I got called into court on an old homicide case. I’m expecting the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to get back to me shortly with any information they’re willing to share on Tina Barnes.
Do you mind if I tell the guy to call you while I’m in court?
I know you were a little interested in the case. ”
“Yeah. No problem, Randy.”
“Also, we found a blurry photo from a security camera at a cheap motel near the park. You couldn’t use it in court, but we think it shows Tina with her killer at about 6:30 on the night she was murdered.
I’ll forward you a copy.” He pulled up a picture on his phone and held it out to let me examine the photo more closely.
I took the phone right out of Randy’s hand and stared at the image. I could tell it was definitely Tina by her outfit. I couldn’t identify the man. But his dark hair and tall, lean torso made me think of Eric Snaff. That bothered me.
After Randy headed out, I decided to go get some fresh air. But before I could make it all the way out the main exit of the building, I ran into Yuki Castellano. She was the picture of fashion in the smart, stylish business suit from Neiman Marcus, but she looked frustrated.
“Hey, Yuki,” I said. “How’s the trial going?”
Yuki growled. Then she regained her composure.
“Two defendants took overly generous plea deals. That caused a break in the trial while the others do the calculations about the two testifying against them.” She smoothed out a few wrinkles in her jacket.
“For a change, the State is in a pretty good position in this case. But my schedule is screwed up until it’s all resolved.
What about you? Have you heard anything from Cindy about that guy who crashed Claire’s party? ”
Even though it was my turn to growl with frustration, I resisted the urge.
Instead, I said, “Cindy sent me photos of some other girls who’ve gone missing from the same area as that guy’s daughter.
Something about the case is making me want to connect the girls to a couple of homicides here in San Francisco, but I can’t figure it out. ”
“Have you found anything in common between them?”
“Not yet. I have almost no information on most of them.” I held up my phone and let her swipe through a series of photographs.
Yuki looked up from my phone and said, “These are some of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen outside of a fashion magazine.”
I looked at the faces of Nicole Snaff, then Tina Barnes, then the other two missing girls. I stared at my phone for a few moments. And I said out loud, to no one in particular, “Son of a bitch. That’s the connection.”
My mind started to race with all of the new possibilities.