Page 75 of An Evil Heart
“Too much of a coincidence not to be,” Tomasetti mutters.
“Gotta be something there,” I add.
Rasmussen tosses us an annoyed expression. “According to the geniuses that have graced this room this evening, we’re fresh out of ideas.”
I look down at the cup of coffee in front of me that’s long since gone cold. I didn’t want to leave without finding something—anything—that might move the investigations forward.
Shoving the mug aside, I pick up my notes from the day Glock and I interviewed June Rossberger. The words are blurred.
No ties to Painters Mill
Fired from job
Possibly still working the street
Not answering cell—calls or text—responds to texts
No boyfriend
No close friends/associates
No known enemies
Vehicle missing—red Altima—BOLO!!
“If I had to guess, I’d say it was one of her men.”
“Only dates safe guys.”
I drop the papers with enough flourish to draw the attention of both men.
“Paige Rossberger’s mother told me her daughter only dated ‘safe’ guys,” I say.
Rasmussen sighs. “I’m just not buying into the Amish-kid-calls-hooker theory.”
“It’s viable,” Tomasetti puts in.
“Paige Rossberger was careful about who she hooked up with.” I look from man to man. “She would have considered Karn safe. He was Amish. A twenty-one-year-old farm kid. He called her for a date. And she came.”
“Loose connection.” But some of Rasmussen’s skepticism falls away. “If you want to run with that theory, you’re going to have to back it up with something.”
I don’t have anything solid, but I run with it if only to see where it goes, if there’s something there besides a brick wall. “According to his roommate, Karn’s girlfriend refused to have sex with him until after they were married. But Karn liked women, liked sex, didn’t want to wait. Let’s say he made contact with Rossberger.”
“He didn’t own a car,” Rasmussen points out.
“She did,” I counter. “The red Altima, by the way, which is still missing. Let’s say she drove from Massillon to Painters Mill and they met up.” I remind them of the sex toys I found in Karn’s closet. “According to Wayne Graber, Karn was sexually active with other women, even though he was engaged. So, it’s feasible that they met up.”
“Scenarios?” says Tomasetti.
Rasmussen goes first. “Where did they meet?”
“Karn’s place,” I say. “Wayne Graber told me Karn had brought women there on occasion.”
“Would be easy to check registration with the Willowdell Motel, too,” Tomasetti puts in.
I make a note to follow up. “I’ll do it.”
“Sex toys and hookers is kind of risqué for an Amish kid, isn’t it?” Rasmussen mutters.
