Slenderman by CeeRee Fields (good novels to read TXT) 📗

Evan while Jo and Redden used Evan’s laptop.

“Yes.”

“These eight were some of them. What if the others are on there, but we’ve never seen their picture?”

Ice poured into Jo’s veins at that suggestion. She looked at the eight pictures all in Rian’s clan.

“I mean we had Kain who left and Tigerfan—”

“Oh, and Dummie,” Evan added.

“Were those three you mentioned in other countries?”

“Well, Dummie was in Germany. Kain—I think he was in England. Tiger was in Finland or Thailand? I’m not sure about him exactly. They were really private which is cool, but it means we can’t help you too much with the question.”

Jo needed to talk to her team. “Rian, why don’t you and Evan go grab the fruit Marta chopped up for dessert.”

“With whip cream?” Rain stood bouncing on the balls of his feet.

“Sure. There’s a can in the door. Eat it in the kitchen and wash your hands and face after.”

Both boys headed for the door, and Jo waited until she couldn’t hear them in the hall before she turned to the others.

“Eight out of twelve are in their clan.” She didn’t think that was a coincidence. Especially, considering this game had over a million players.

“And all twelve are now confirmed as playing that game.” Maker noted the fact next to each victim.

“You know it’s not out of the realm of possibility if the boys know eight of the twelve, they probably know all twelve,” Karma added.

Jo groaned. “Rhys is going to kill me.”

“Can you imagine going from over a million to three hundred? It would narrow the suspect list down a great deal.” Sullivan stuck a screenshot of the game up on the corkboard.

“Blair, do you think some of your contacts could get us members lists if we narrow the group down to three hundred?” Jo asked.

“Maybe. It’d be better if we could get it to a smaller number if possible.”

“Define smaller,” Redden said.

“Less than a hundred.”

“Okay, when the boys get back. How about we ask them about the friends that left the game? They said they had several that disappeared. So we start there. That’s got to be less than a hundred,” Maker stated.

Another thought hit Jo, and she pointed to Redden and Blair. “You two are staying at the Sheraton, right?”

“Uh-huh.” Confusion pulled their brows into a frown.

“If we have a call-out or a break, it’ll take too long to get from downtown to here.”

“What’re you suggesting?”

“Go and get your bags and you can stay in the guestrooms upstairs.”

“You sure?” Redden asked. “You and I haven’t always gotten along.”

Jo waved him away. “I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t sure. It’ll cut down on a lot of travel time and you two can still work the case while the rest of us work our day jobs.”

Karma snorted and shook her head. “Listen, Maker and I need to head out. We have to run down a pusher near Woodlawn—”

“The Vice case?”

“Yeah, it’s one of Dad’s contacts, so we’re not telling anyone in case the guy flakes out.” Karma shrugged into her leather jacket.

“Got it.” Jo didn’t like dealing with many of her bio-dad’s contacts as most of them were people not even the street scum would talk to. “Be careful.”

“Will do,” Karma said and turned to Blair. “And don’t think I’ve forgotten about movies and dinner tomorrow night.”

“Just pick me up here when you’re ready.” His brown eyes twinkled as he and Redden followed Maker and Karma out the door.

Redden leaned back in. “We’ll be back in about an hour.”

“Okay.”

Then it was just her and Sullivan, which Jo liked much better.

“When is Rhys due home?”

Jo slipped her cell from her pocket. “There was a wreck on highway 280, and the last text I have is ‘I’ll be late. Don’t wait up.’“

“How do you want to handle Rian and Evan?” Sullivan sprawled in the seat Redden vacated.

Just then Evan and Rian returned and scooted around the table.

“Rian, can you and Evan give us a list of the friends that haven’t logged in recently?”

Evan hummed. “You know it’d be better if we gave you a list of those who left the clan and then left the game.”

“Why would that be better?”

“Because these eight people left our clan to join other clans and then left the game.”

Jo’s heart sped up as she met Sullivan’s gaze. This could not be tied that closely to Rian. That would mean someone tied to their clan was killing people and the people dying were also their friends. At a loss for words, she was glad her partner stepped in.

“Can I ask if you recognize this person?” Sullivan pulled out a photo of Mark.

Evan gasped. “That’s our previous clan owner. He left our clan almost six years ago to start a bossing clan and like five months later he never logged in again.”

Jo rubbed her temple and checked the time. “Your mom is going to be here soon to pick you up. Can you get us a list of everyone who left your clan?”

“Sure.” Evan turned to Rian. “I’ll send you the spreadsheet, and we can go through it together when I get home. That way if I miss something, you’ll catch it.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Rian closed his laptop and stored it in its case, and Evan did the same.

Jo helped Sullivan finish up the board as the boys talked behind them.

“Oh, don’t forget to add QueenAmethyst and Spacedog when you make the list,” Rian said.

“I was glad when they left.”

“Me too,” Rian agreed.

That drew Jo’s attention. Rian liked everyone. There were few people he didn’t immediately befriend. It was part of his bright personality. But these two he didn’t like. “Why?”

“Because they’re hi-level bridge trolls,” Evan replied.

Confused, Jo looked to Sullivan but found the same befuddled frown on his face.

“I don’t understand.” Jo stepped over to the table.

“Well, like a bridge troll. They’re kind of sneaky hiding under the bridge, so you don’t see they’re a troll until you’re already out on the shaky bridge. Then they jump out and kill you